EQ3 Flashcards
1
Q
8.7 a
the united nations is a global organisation
A
- formed 1945 to make peace n fair world
- 193 members
- the uns aims:
1. maintain global peace n security
2. develop friendly relations between nations
3. use cooperation to solve international problems
4. bring countries together to settle disputes - tries to deal w global issues so sets up of agencies n organisations: enviromental- UN framework convention on CC 1992
socioeconomic-some to reduce poverty n inequality or support vulnerable groups
political-UN security council=maintain global peace n security while general assembly acts as ‘parliment of nations’ n makes decisions on range of issues
2
Q
members of un security council have diff ideas about geopolitics
A
- unsc has 15 members-some r permamnet, some change every 2 years=ensure every country=represented at some point
- members have diff political systems,allies n foreign policies eg china=authoritaruian state n france=democracy.
- =lead to disagreementsover decisions eg whether to launch an intevrention to protect human rights
- they vote on how UN should respond to situations that threaten global peace n security eg wars.
3
Q
8.7B
IGO meaning
A
- an organisation composed primarly of sovereign states (referred to as member states) or of other intergovermental organisations
4
Q
UN has intervened directly n indirectly to protect human rights
A
- it tries to maintain peace n security n protect human rights by intervening in situations where these=threatened
- they might apply economic sanctions or launch a direct military intervention:
-Un n its member countries put political n economic pressure on countries involved in crisis
-can range from writing letters to leaders applying economic sanctions eg trade embargos that restrict trade w/a country
-in v serious crises, the UNSC choose to launch a military intervention, sending the uns peacekeeping forces
5
Q
economic sanction:
trade embargo imposed on iran
A
- 1979 lifted in 1981
- most sanctioned country in world till russia n ukraine
- reasons for it: students seized control of US embassy in tehran n took hostages. uranium enrichment programme-nuclear weapons
- sanction incl: freeze $8.1bn assests, ban on iranian oil imports, 1980 sanction on usa trade w iran so no travel n no vessels leave iran
- it deterredcountries doing same nuclear routes as them
- lost $60bn investment annually
- but theyre still threat to USA
- n failed to prevent irans proxy wars in syria, iraq n afghan or terrorist attacks on tankers in 2019
6
Q
UN intervention in democratic republic of congo
A
- 1998-conflict between rival ethnic n political groups in DRC
- each side was supported by neighbouring countries eg rwanda n angola
- over 5 mill died between 1998 n 2008
- un security council called for ceasefire n warned countries not to get involved
- but this was ignored eg simbabwe sent over 10,000 troops into DRC n over 300 prisoners of war
- the UNSC set up a peacekeeping mission to help diff groups to reach agreement n hold democratic elections-involve deploying over 19,000 troops
- mission resolved conflict n elections held for 1st time in over 40 yrs
- but violence n serious human right abuses continued in E DRC
- 2013- UNSC approved creation of ‘intervention brigade’ to tackle armed groups
- aim=strengthen peacekeeping mission n stabilise conflict in region
- progress=slow-end of 2022 there was still around 12,800 un soilders in drc n conflicts continued
7
Q
direct military intervention:
involvement in bosnia
A
- 1995 attack on bosnian muslims=8,000 deaths n known as ‘srebrenica massacre’= led to NATO operation deliberate force
- this was a sustained air campaign conducted by NATO in concert w/UNPF to undermine military capability of army of republika srpska
- NATO intervention was to help prevent the bosnian war spilling into eu countries
- it was asked to intervene after allegations of war crimes against civilians was made
- it designed a safe zone
- happened between 30 aug n 20 sept 1995-involved 500 aircraft n 5,000 personnel from 15 nations
- not succesful in protecting muslims
- safe zones= seiged=killed 8000 men n depot 23,000 women n kids=many suffered rape
- ## food supplies ran low n many muslims died of staration
8
Q
8.7c
russia vs ukraine
A
-
9
Q
8.8a
3 igos play big role in global trade- the imf, wb n wto
A
- after ww2 the winning allied nations set up new economic situatiosn to promote international trade n help to maintain dominance of capitalism
- igos that grow out of these still play an important role in global economic system
- theyre all best in west n based on west ideas about what a capitalist economic system should look like
- the main ideas r: free trade, privatisation n deregulation, democracy
- they use their influence to manage the global economy eg overseeing agreements betwee countries n lending money to countries to prevent economic crisis
- also use influence to promote their western capitalist model
- eg establishing policies about trade n financial markets as well as offering countries loans that=conditional on adopting free trade policies
10
Q
IMF
A
- international monetary fund monitors the global economy n advises govs on how they could improve their economic situation
- it also gives loans to countries w/economic issues
11
Q
wto
A
- world trade organisation was set up to ^ trade n help resolve trade disputes between member countries
- it sets rules about how countries should trade w/each other
12
Q
world bank
A
- provides loans to developing countries to invest in areas like health, education n infrastructure
13
Q
8.8b
igo policies on trade n borrowing have helped developed countries
A
- igos=help ^ economic growth in dev countries
- policies that encourage international trade n reduce economic barriers have helped these to export their goods n services n to import cheaper goods from developing ones=boost economic growth of dev c
- estimated usas membership of wto ^ its gdp by around $87 bn a year
- they set borrowing rules eg IMF only lends money to mitigate/prevent economic crises
- benefit dev countries eg 1976-uk gov=approve loan of $3.9bn from imf to help it avoid a financial crisis
- interest rates fell n overall economic situation improved as result of loan
- DC=more influence on running igos=more power to make rules work in their favour
14
Q
structural adjustment programmes
A
- the imf or world bank agrees to provide loan to country, on condition it makes big changes to its economic policy
- this can incl reducing gov spending, privatising state-owned industries n reducing regulations n other barriers to international investment
15
Q
heavily indebted poor countries initiative
A
- the imf n wb offer debt relief (reducing amount of money that countries have to pay them back) to developing countries that meet strict criteria
- these criterea incl adopting economic reforms n take steps towards reducing poverty
- idetified 39 eligible countries but by 2016 only 36 of these had recieved full/partial debt relief
16
Q
jamaicas sap
A
- developing country in caribbean
- 1970s+80s it struggled w/economic recessions n debt
- led to jamaica accepting loans from imf n wb w/SA conditions
- main condition: adopting austerity measures-reduce gov spending on public services=big impact eg no of nurses fell by 60%
- 1991-agrred to more saps for more loans-focus on deregulating jamaicas economy w/policies like keep wages low to encourage fdi
- social n economic wellbeing=declined eg 1990 97% of kids completed primary skl compare to 85% in 2019
- doesnt qualify for HIPC bc its gdp means its considered an upper middle income country n so ‘too rich’ for this financial assistance
- its debt in march 2015= $1.85 trillion
17
Q
hipci conditions
A
- each country had to show good financial management n lack of corruption
- national gov had to spend the savings gained via cancelled debt repayements on poverty reduction, education n healthcare programmes
18
Q
8.8c
regional trade groups
A
- most countries=part of imf,wb n wto bc they r so influential that countries find it difficult to take part in global economy w/out becoming members
- some r part of regional TB like NAFTA
19
Q
NAFTA
A
- was a treaty between canada, usa n mexico
- signed in 1992 n commiteted the 3 countries to removing any trade barriers bteween them
- eg tarriffs n custom duties on imports n exports
- this alllowed corporations from canada n usa to take advantage of lower labour costs in mexico n they was able to import high quality goods from canada n usa
- also had agreements about how to resolve trade disputes between 3 countries
20
Q
nafta pros n cons
A
- pros: increased trade n foreign investment between countries
- cons: issues in some sectors eg family farmers in mexico have struggled to compete w/cheap agricultural imports from usa
- it was replaced by new US-mexico-canada aggreement in 2020
21
Q
the EU
A
- common market area-most barriers to trade n movement of ppl,goods n money between member countries have been removed
- some member countries use a shared currency(euro) to remove these barriers even further
- eu members have shared policies on trade w countries outside eu
- but it isnt a trade bloc- its also developed its own political aggreements n institutions eg eu parliament
- eu members have joint policies or make joint decisions on issues like agriculture, climate change n foreign policy
- the eu parliament is an eg of how the eu has led to closer political unity
22
Q
8.9a
montreal protocol
A
- the ozone layer=mostly found above earths surface in stratosphere. it absorbs suns harmful ultraviolet rays=make earth safe
- 1970s-scientists realised industrial chemicals such as CFCs were damaging ozone layer
- 1987-un set up agreement between countries to limit n ban production n use of cfcs= called montreal protocal on substances that deplete the ozone layer n was signed by every country in world
- 2010- it succeeded in phasing out 98% of ozone damaging chemicals that were being emitted in 1990
- biggest area of ozone damage above antractic has shown signs of recovery
- but from 2012-2017 there was an ^ in emissions of one type of cfc suggesting some countries broke global ban in this period
- global ozone levels r expected to fully recover by around 2050, but damage over antarctica may not fully recover until around 2100
23
Q
CITES
stops ppl trading endangered species
A
- the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild flora n fauna
- international agreement between govs about trading wild plant/animal species n products made by them
- convention start in 1975, covers around 6,000 animal species n 32,000 plant species
- these r sorted into 3 categories-depend on how high risk of them being traded internationally is
- trade involving most endangered species eg tigers=strictest rules
- some low risk ones can be traded if monitored n regulated
- it holds training workshops to help countries to enforce treaty n tackle illegal trade
- can be enforced by national legislation
- its helped to make trade more sustainable n protect some species
- eg the vicuna was seriously endangered in 1970s bc of demand for its fur but populations have now recovered- 2020 its 450,000
24
Q
cons of cites
A
- sanctions=rarely imposed
- membership=voluntary n can be slow to take action
- eg pangolins were designed as threatened w/extinction in 2014 but werent added to cites most endangered list till 2017
25
# 8.9b
the un convetion on law of the sea
- covers governance of sea incl enviromental management n use of marine resources
- under convention, countries have responsibility to protect oceans n marine creatures
- eg countries have right to fish, but only w/in sustainable limits
- ensures all countries sign up cooperate in protecting the marine enviroment
- provides basis for laws for using marine resoruces more sustainably but dont cover all- some aspects=covered by other organisations n agreements
- some argue to really protect oceans there needs to be overarching treaty that covers all aspects of marine conservation n sustainability
- its hard to enforce- eg some places get around restrictions on fishing by moving their catch onto other boats in international waters
- exclusive economic zones were adopted as part of unclos
- these=areas where coastal nations have exclusive rights to resources w/in 200 nautical miles of their shore
26
helsinki water convention
- many countries share water resources
- eg rivers flow thru many countries or lakes that border more than 1 country
- **1996**- convention on protection n use of transboundary watercourses n international lakes came into force after being set up in helsinki to help countries manage share water sustainably
- helped countries develop agreements about specific water resources
- supported lots of monitoring n research around water quality eg monitor chloride levels
- but not all countries have joined the water convention-**2022** **47** countries have ratified convention
27
the millennium ecosystem assesment
- un set up MA in 2001 to carry out global study of state of enviroment n monitor change
- idea was it would provide scientific basis for tackling enviromental problems n impact they can have on human wellbeing
- over 1360 scientists n experts contributed to MA
- findings of ma: most earths ecosystems r damaged n degraded n human activites have caused huge biodiversity loss
- results were used to inform enviromental policy n on going work on exisiting agreements like convention on biological diversity
- but some countries/organisations=ignore results
- ma=summary of global enviromental situation but didnt have any political/legal power to drive change
28
# 8.9c
**the antarctic treaty system**
protects antarctica from exploitation
- isnt owned by any1 country but countries made territorial claims to it
- aggreements have been set up to make sure its governed peacefully n used for scientific research not exploted for its resources
- signed by 55 countries
29
antarctic treaty 1959 rules
- antarctica should only be used for peaceful reasons- no army bases or weapons r allowed on antarctica
- countries should cooperate on scientific research in antarctica by sharing plans, researchers n results
- antarctica should remain in global commons- indivual countries cant make any claims to it
- protocol on enviromental protection to antarctic treaty=sign 1991 n added to AT- banned all mining n helps portect plants/animals/pollution etc
- under 1991 protocol an enviromental impact assesment is required for any new activities
30
antarctica treaty as a success
- ended territorial claims being made n its remained unexploited
- scientists working there have collabed=^ knowledge
-
31
unsuccess AT
- theres no system to ensure all countries abide by rules
- if disputes between countries then theyre encouraged to negotiate
- or disputes go to interntaionl court of justice
- but all countries must meet a consensus
- so tackling issues=slow n difficult
- eg between 2012-16 plans for antarctic marine reserves repeatedly failed bc of opposition from russia n ukraine
- number of countries involved in treaty n diff priorities can make decisions around further enviromental protection hard
- although its a success theres big threats the treaty cant deal w/ like climate chnage=warm sea=^ melt rates n encourage spread of non-native species
