Exam Flashcards
UN: Role
To assist in the development of friendly relations among nations based on equal rights and national self-interest
To promote diplomatic power to resolve economic, social, political, cultural and humanitarian problems
Challenge by Thrid Agenda Issues
Issues that require the joint action of the international community if they are to be resolved successfully. Leads to the creation of international Laws and Treaties which, if ratified, reduce state sovereignty
Challenge by Third Agenda Issues Example
2008 Convention on Cluster Munitiions
UN: Aims
To keep peace throughout the world
To develop friendly relations between states
UN: Aims example
Supported the intervention and sanctions against the Gaddafi Regime in Libya 2011
Oversaw Geneva Syria Peace Talks in Feb 2016 to reach temporary ceasefire
UN: Power
Can promote or condemn certain actions.
GA can make suggestions but their resolutions are non-binding
A state must usually be a member in order to have recognised sovereignty
Veto nations decide the majoirty of the decisions
UN: Power examples
Prohibited intervention in Iraq in 2003
China’s support for the Khartoum government stalled intervention
Challenge by contested borders
Soverreignty requires contrl over a territory. Contested borders challenge the control.
Challenge by contested borders example
South Ossetia does not recongise the borders incorportating it as part of Georgia and in 2008 unsuccessfully declared and sought independence with the support of Russian military forces.
Nation
Group of people claiming common bonds based on culture, language, and history however do not have any recognised sovereignty
Nation example
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are culturally homogenous but do not have sovereignty
Soverignty
a legitimate orwidely recognised ability to apply effective control of a territory wihin defined borders.
Primary principle of global politics which provides states with the authority to represent their territorial entity within the global political arena
Sovereignty example
The People’s Republic of China has effective sovreign control over Hong Kong and Macau
State
traditionally the central actors in international realtions that poseess a permanent population, defined territory and recongised sovereignty. Not necessarily culturally homogenous
State example
USA
Power
The ability of one global actor tto influence the actions of another global actor. It can be exercised in a range of types and forms.
Power example
Power was exercised by the Gaddafi regime in March 2011 against protestors through military force.
Multilateralism
System of coordinating relations between 3 or more states in pursuit of a common objective
Multilateralism Example
USA and other European States meeting in August 2015 to cease the amount of chemical weapons used in Syria
Global Governance
Institutions, Rules, Norms and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate cooperation and manage relations between states
Global Governance Example
Carried out by both governmental organisations such as the UN and non governmental organisations such as the ICC
Aims of the State
Primary Aim of all states is the maintenance of their sovereignty. All others are defined in the national interests.
Aim of the State example
Protecting and preserving thier borders from internal and external threats. US possess nuclear weapons and has enetered NATO.
Globalisation
Acceleration and intensification of echanges of goods, services, labour and captial which promote global interdependence. Has been facilitated through rapid changed in communication, technology and TNCs
Globalisation example
TNCs like Walmart operate in states beyond their home state.
Public Opinion
The sentiment shared by the people. Can be an important factor in influencing the foreign policy decisions of governments
Public Opinion example
Obama did not attack Syria after the Al Ghouta chemical weapons attack in 2013 because a Reuters/IPSOS poll indicated that 60% of Americans were against military intervention.
Role of the State
To meet the security, freedom, order, justice, and welfare of its people. When states are unable to do this they become failed states.
Power of the state
Realists contend that the state is the main actor in global politics because the power and influence is greater than all other actors. It has a utility of violenve unmatched by any other non-state actor. But it is challenged.
Challenge by Regional Groupings
Transfer of some elements of power upwards to supranational organisations
Challenge by Regional Groupings Example
EU has autonomous decision making powers in areas such as competition law and state aid control. In 2011 25 member states signed on to the Fiscal stability Treaty which allows the EU to dictate the national budgetary policies of participating nations.
IMF: Aims
To promote international monetary cooperation and exchange-rate stability
To provide resources to help members balannce their payment difficulties
IMF Aims example
April 2011 advised the Australian government to establish a sovereign wealth fund.
Iceland 2010 the IMF approved a EURO22.5 billion loan as part of a joint package with the EU work EURO 85 million.
Role: IMF
To oversee the international monetary system and monitor the financial and economic policy of its members as well as to provide loans to states having trouble meeting their international payments and who also cannot otherwise find sufficient funding on affordable terms.
IMF: Power
Following the Global Financial Crisis, the influence of the IMF has steadily increased as it is more able to support states with payment problems.
IMF: Criticisms
In return for financial assistance, member-states must initiate Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPS). These are macro-economic reforms that states are obliged to carry out.
IMF: Criticisms example
Ecuador Feb 2001 SAPs pushed 51% of the population into poverty
WTO: Aims
To liberalise world trade
To promote economic growth and stability
WTO: Aims example
2007 New Zealand conplained to the WTO over restrictions placed on it by Australia regarding the importation of applies into the state. Australia was concerned that fire blight from NZ willl infect domestic produce. The WTO determined this concern was not supported by scientific evidence. Australia lost its appeal and has begun importing NZ apples as of August 2011.
2001 began Doha Trade talks sought to remove many of the trade barriers that disadvantaged developing states.
WTO: roles
To provide a forum for negotiation and the exchange of information whereby members are able to communicate through issue-specific working groups and biennial trade minister meetings. Additionally, it seeks to oversee the treaty commitments of members which have the capacity to constrain members’ trade policies based on the principle of non-discrimination.
WTO: Power
By being the legal and institutional foundation of the multilateral trade system, the WTO is influential in designing and implementing trade negotiations.Can enforce trade rules and decisions unless all members oppose them.
WTO: Criticism
The failure of the organisation to hold and nefotiate any successful trade talks since its inception calls into question its very purpose.
WTO: Criticism example
Doha round would have raised devloping state’s incomes by around $60 billion (under the Doha Development Agenda) but it failed as a result of developed dtates seeking to protect their wn economies and refusing to relinquish subsidies to farmers.
ICC: Aims
To ensure the worst perpetrators are held responsible for their crimes and to promote international peace and security by deterring would-be perpetrators.
ICC: Aims example
The issue of arrest warrants for criminals such as some leaders of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Republic of Kenya in 2002 as well as investigating war crimes that may have been committed in Ukraine, Iraq and Palestine.
ICC: Roles
To punish war criminals and to serve as a court of last resort that can investigate, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
ICC: Power
The ICC is unable to be as influential as it desires on account of the need for states to comply and contribute to the court as well as the detractors who inhibit its proper functionality.
ICC Power example
US has not ratified the convention. Undermines its legitimacy. Sudan has not handed over criminals.
Greenpeace : Aims
To protect and conserve the environment and to campaign on world environmental issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering and nuclear power.
Greenpace: Aims example
Raises environmental issues to public knowledge and influences both private and public sectors especially in Greenland regarding seal hunting and whaling. 2010.
Greenpeace: roles
Defending our oceans by challenging wasteful and destructive fishing and creating a global network of marine reserves. Additionally, supporting sustainable agriculture by encouraging socially and ecologically responsible farming practices.
greenpeace: power
Greenpeace is the most visible environmental organisation which has been known to effectively change national policies regarding environmental issues such as the whaling and seal hunting practises in Greenland.
Greenpeace: criticism
Through their condemning of seal hunting and whaling in Greenland, Greenpeace was accused of being culturally ignorant given that such practices have been a part of indigenous Greenland culture for hundreds of years. In addition, through purposefully damaging genetically modified crop plantations, the group has been considered eco-terrorists or followers of a kind of neo-luddism.
Amnesty International: Aims
To protect and defend human rights and to promote the adoption and enforcement of the universal declaration of human rights.
AI: Aims example
In June 2016, Amnesty International has called on the United Nations General Assembly to “immediately suspend” Saudi Arabia from the UN Human Rights Council.”
AI: roles
To publicise and expose human rights violations in the hope that in turn they will be able to raise awareness to the government to change laws and implement policies that will protect human rights. Additionally, AI seeks to help assist victims of human rights violations find housing, health, education and security.
AI: Power
AI is the world’s largest human rights organisation with 4.6 million supporters from 150 states. Such size allows for it to have the power to effectively persuade state governments to recognise and protect the human rights of their citizens by changing legislature and adopting new national interests.
Shell: Aims
To seek a high standard of performance by maintaining a strong and growing long-term position in the competitive environments in which they operate, as well as to work closely with their customers, partners and policymakers to advance to a more efficient and sustainable use of energy and natural resources.
Shell Aims: Example
adopted remewable energy practices in 2005. 265 billion in 2016 revenue.
Shell Role:
To ensure that they extract and deliver these energy resources profitably as well as operate in environmentally and socially responsible ways.
Shell: Power
As one of the top 10 TNCs in the world by revenue, Shell is able to enforce soft diplomatic power due to their strong economy, and therefore influence local government policies.
Shell: Power example
2010 Wikileaks. the Nigerian government and Shell have been presumed to be collaborating on account of the execution of a non-violent Nigerian campaigner who was protesting against the environmental effects of Shell’s presence in Nigeria. 95% of burdgetary revenue.
