Case Studies Flashcards
What is an example of a strategic partnership with a ‘friendly’ dictatorship?
The US supporting Egypt from the 1979 Israeli- Egyptian peace treaty
Why did the US support Israel post 1945?
For being a democracy amidst many authoritarian states
Who criticised Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy and why?
Jeane J Kirkpatrick, as she stressed that he didn’t understand the difference between alliances with friendly dictators and unfriendly dictators, for example his support of extremists in Nicaragua and Iran
When was the Gulf War?
1990
Why did Iraq attempt to invade Kuwait?
They saw it as an artificial creation of imperial powers. Also, they had economic motives following their losses in the Iran- Iraqi war. They assumed the west would not retaliate due to their support of Iraq in the Iran- Iraqi war.
When did Iraq invade Kuwait?
2 August 1990
What was the UN reaction to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait?
Economic sanctions, and then US lead forces in Saudi Arabia- operation ‘desert storm’
What did George H Bush claim the purpose of the gulf war was?
‘A big idea; a new world order’
What are Marxist criticisms of neoliberalism?
- widens inequalities between developed and developing world
- facilitates the developed world’s access to raw materials as the developing country’s become reliant on their export
- there are recurrent crises as the market fails- eg 2008, where the governments had to intervene in the banks, which caused the governments to go into debt. As a result they implement austerity which impacts the most vulnerable citizens.
What was the far left party that was elected in Greece after their financial crash?
Syriza
To whom was the term ‘refugee’ first applied and why?
Russians fleeing the Bolsheviks, as it is easy to accuse rival states of persecution
When did the Kurds present their claim for an independent state and where?
1919 at the Paris peace conference they claimed ‘Kurdistan’
Why could the Kurds not create a self determined state?
Turkish nationalism succeeded, and they were opposed to ‘Kurdistan’
How did the 2003 Iraq conflict help Kurds?
They created an autonomous Kurdish region and have negotiated oil supplies with turkey
Where else has Kurdish nationalism prevailed?
Diaspora nationalism
When was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand?
28 June 1914
What was the result of the assassination of arch duke Ferdinand short term?
Austria occupied Serbia and the Serbian government until 1919
What happened to Serbia in 1919?
Serbia joined with ‘south slav’ to form ‘Tribune Kingdom of Slovenes, Croatia and Serbs’ which then became Yugoslavia. This was justified by Woodrow Wilson’s speech of self determination.
How was Yugoslavia restored after 1945?
As a communist state under Tito, separate from USSR
What happened to Yugoslavia when the USSR collapsed?
Slovenia broke away and the Serb ex-communist Milosevic used ethno- nationalism to spark conflict. Belated western intervention ended the violence.
Why was individual criminal accountability shocking?
It overpowers sovereign immunity
What are different means of individual criminal accountability?
- international criminal tribunals
- post-authoritarian states’ domestic prosecutions over former leaders
- other countries courts seeking prosecution of other states leaders
Who were there international criminal tribunals held for?
Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda
What is the most famous example of other countries courts seeking prosecution for other states’ leaders?
Spanish court seeking persecution of Pinochet, the ex-Chilean dictator, under the idea of universal jurisdiction for gross human rights
What are international tribunals criticised for?
Slowness, unfairness and they are seen as quasi-imperial tools of the west
How does South Africa criticise the ICC and why?
They demanded for African signatories of the Rome Statute that created ICC to leave court, as they claimed that the chief prosecutor unfairly targeted Africans
What is a counter argument for South Africa’s criticism of the ICC?
In negotiation of the Rome Statute of the ICC, African states were enthusiastic supporters. Also, the ICC’a first 4 cases came from Africa, 3 referred from African governments
When was UNCTAD created?
1964
Why was UNCTAD created?
It was created to promote international trade, a challenge by developing countries to the dominant GATT
What was the agenda of UNCTAD?
Stability in international commodity prices and additional funding for developing states through IMF
Why did UNCTAD fail?
It was supposed to have a ‘1 state, 1 vote’ system, but developed states opposed this, as they were outnumbered. As a result, only minor changes were made by developed states.
What is the purpose of the IMF?
It provides states suffering from a ‘balance of payments deficit’ with ability to borrow foreign currency.
How does the IMF work?
Member states put capital into IMF commensurate, proportionate to their economies, and they can borrow up to this amount.
Why is it argued that the IMF is US biased?
It was initially apolitical, staffed by economists, but has a weighted vote system. A quota of capital provided by a state determines the states share of the vote. The US currently has 16.79% of the vote, which means they can veto decisions that need 85% minimum. As a result, it delayed increasing the vote for emerging economies for 5 years until Dec 2015.
What are the implications of borrowing money from the IMF for states?
There are demands for large scale economic reforms for borrowers, which support the basis of the Washington Consensus, which enforces the enhanced role of the free market.
When did the US invade Iraq to remove Saddam Hussain?
March 2003
What was the justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq?
Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction, defying earlier UN resolutions. US and UK pointed to the UNSC resolution 687 of 91, which required destruction of Iraqi weapons under UN supervision.
How was the US’ justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq undermined?
They failed to find weapons of mass destruction and a civil war erupted subsequent to their invasion. There was also no UNSC resolution to invade, and France and Russia threatened to veto 2nd UNSC in favour of intervention.
