Global Connections: Powers And Borders Flashcards
What is sovereignty?
Complete authority of the government over the land and its people in its territory
What is territorial integrity?
The principle that the defined territory of a state, over which it has exclusive and legitimate control of its borders. Other countries cannot invade these borders.
What is a state?
An area of land, of an independent country, with well-defined boundaries, within which the people are under a single government.
What are the six characteristics of a state?
- A defined territory that is internationally recognised
- A single government that is internationally recognised - usually through a UN membership
- Capacity to engage in formal relations with other states
- Independent and self-governing (other states should not interfere with running of a state ie “external sovereignty)
- Maintains sovereignty (ie political authority) effectively throughout its territory via STATE APPARATUS
- Permanent population (non-normalised) who has the right to self-determination.
What is state apparatus
Refers to the set of institutions and organisations the government have access to such as legal services like police education and health services.
What is self determination?
The right of a group or community to vote and determine the government which will control them.
What factors enable a states power over other states
Political
International relations
Internal political organisation
Economic
Trade strength
Industrial development
Social
Demographic structure
History
Global spread of cultural attributes
Military power
Physical
Geographical location
Exploitation of natural resources
Economic power
What is a nation?
A large group of people of people with a shared strong identity united by culture, language, religion or tradition
How do nations differ from a state?
1) Spatially - nations can live across multiple states and across a wide area
2) Can co-exist with other national in a territory
3) usually nations do not have sovereignty over an area
(The kurds)
What is a nation-state?
When a nation has an independent state of its own, its referred to as a nation state
What is a norm?
The universally accepted standard of behaviour for states based on moral principles and customs.
What does UN article 2.1 state.
This means all member states have equal right to determine their own form of government, who can make the authorities’ decisions. Also, it has the responsibility to respect the sovereignty of other states.
What does article 2.4 of the UN charter state?
Makes specific reference to the preservation of the territorial integrity and political independence of a state. (Must not invade another nation)
What are the two things that article 4.1 of the UN charter state?
Infers that states must promote and develop
1) friendly external relations between nations
2) To respect, protect, and fulfil human rights, to allow citizens to be involved in authorities decisions and to protect citizens
What Is a treaty?
A formally concluded and ratified agreement between states
Give examples if fragile states that cannot comply with the norms and why can’t they?
Niger, Ukraine, Yemen, Chad, Sudan, Somalia
This is because the sovereign government does not have the state apparatus to fulfil the obligations
What happens when a state fails to comply with the norms?
Intervention will.be put in place to restore peace and safety of its citizens
What are the three parts if the responsibility to protect norm?
1) Primary responsibility, which is done by the states. Protection from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing.
2) International communities have a responsibility to assist states and should use appropriate diplomatic humanitarian and other peaceful menas to protect the state.
3) If a state fails to protect its population, then the international community must be prepared to take stronger measures, including the use of force such as the UN Security Council.
What is intervention?
When international organisations like the UN act to resolve conflict, challenges, and crises in other states, arising from challenges to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
When is intervention deemed necessary?
1) Violation of human rights
2) Civil wars/corrupt government
3) Ethnic tension/religious fundamentalism
4) Terrorist activity
What are 4 main types of intervention?
1) Economic sanctions such as embargoes (prevention of trade)
2) Military action
3) Peacekeeping missions by UN/NATO
4) Humanitarian aid for CSOs (NGOs)
Why is intervention sometimes controversial?
The principle of sovereignty that is promoted by the UN is undermined by the act of intervention.
What are geopolitics?
The balance of political power and international relations but is unevenly distributed around the world.
Why does the power differ between AC’s, EDC’s and LIDC’s?
1) Economic power
2) Level of development
3) Political power of government
4) Demographic structure
5) International relations
How do supernational organisations such as the UN, EU, ASEAN, and OPEC assert power?
Interventions such as military, humanitarian aid, and economic sanctions.
How do TNCs exert power?
Increasing influence on countries in which they locate as globalisation continues. Their power to invest and de invest in a country is what makes them powerful especially in EDCs and LIDCS.
What considerations must be ensured when intervention occurs?
1) Reasons why intervention is necessary
2) The appropriate type of intervention is used
3) Political composition of groups of countries and organisations
4) Government and people affected
5) Characteristic features of the country
6) Potential socio-economic, environmental, and political effects.
What is global governance?
When international communities intervene
What is the Westphalian model?
Sets the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and sovereign equality of all states.
Essentially, a state can not interfere with the sovereignty and the territory of another state since they are equal enforced by the UN charter.
What causes the principles of the Westphalian model to be eroded?
Destructive and destabilising forces interact to erode the principles, causing borders to be increasingly contested.
What are 6 factors that cause contested boundaries as well as erode sovereignty and territorial integrity?
1) Contested territory (Russias annexation of Crimea)
2) Contested maritime borders (many islands and oceans disputed over for resources and exploration rights, eg, South China Islands)
3) Transnational movement of terrorist and extremist activity (eg, across Turkey Syria border where smuggling of foreign fighters, oil, weapons eroding the territorial integrity)
4) The legacy of colonialism (Scramble of Africa where political boundaries were created by foreign cou tries causing ethnic tension)
5) Repeating (eg, claims for secession by Catalonia and Scotland)
6) Fractional or Ethnic tensions (Middle East and North Africa where political and ethnic conflict occurs)
What benefits do TNCs provide countries (especially LIDC’s)
1) Helping host countries to integrate into the global economy
2) Encourage development
3) Provide investments and create jobs for locals
4) Boost exports and improve the trade balance.
5) Develop and improve skill levels and expertise as well as technology for workers
6) Increased spending and creating the multiplier effect on local economies
7) May attract related investment by suppliers and create clusters of economic activity.
What challenges do TNCs introduce to the sovereignty of a country?
1)Have the power to invest and de invest.
2) Disrespected human rights such as child labour, poor working conditions, and low wages.
This directly challenges the state apparatus and, therefore, the ability of a state to uphold its obligations stated in the norms of the UN charter.
How has global governance helped reduce the impact of TNCs on host nations?
The UN established guidelines in the UN Global Compact helping states establish their state apparatus
Summarise what the global compact guidlines state.
1) Comply with human rights
2) Labour needs to be fair, with no child labour, good wages, and eliminate discrimination
3) Environmental protection - need to help support emth environment and develop net zero tech.
4) Anti corruption such as bribery not allowed
What are supernational institutions?
Represent a tier of governance above thst of the individual states.
Give examples of global international institutions and regional international institutions.
Global- WTO, UN, IMF
Regional- UN, EU, ECOWAS
How are member states apart of international institutions?
All member states retain sovereignty over their citizens and country, but having a membership means they are bound by laws and requirements of their institutions, so some of their sovereignty is surrendered.
How does the EU policy on TRADE impact state sovereignty?
Countries in the euro zone lose control over their monetary policy, such as interest rates. Free movement of members may lead to inflows of workers, which may lead to racial tension.
How does the EU policy on FUNDING BAIL-OUT FUNDS impact state sovereignty?
Economic problems in one country may cause Europe wide recessions and the need for bail-outs.
How does the EU policy on FISHERIES impact state sovereignty?
Enforced fishing quotas, which may harm the fishing industry in cou tries such as Spain and the UK. Members most follow the common fisheries policy to preserve marine biodiversity.
How does the EU policy on ADDRESSING INTERNATIONAL CRIME impact state sovereignty?
National security is given to the EU due to being a member of Europe which weakens the state as intelligence of said state is shared with all members.
How does the EU policy on ADDRESSING AIR AND WATER POLLUTION impact state sovereignty?
Must follow laws of the EU for international water directives and international air directives, leading to weakness sovereignty.
What is the major limitations of being part of the EU?
The major limitation to sovereignty is that the member states must implement EU laws and decisions even if they did not vote for them. They can not pass laws in the interest of their own state if they conflict with those of the EU.
How does the political dominance of ethinic groups affect sovereignty and territorial integrity?
Ethnic groups do not always coincide with current political borders due to legacy if colonialism
Example: the kurds or Tuareq who occupy 5 states in sub Sahara Africa.
Therefore, it could lead to conflict as ethnic groups with a strong identity demand independence and the right to self-determination eroding sovereignty.
What are some examples of ethnic dominance thrratening territorial integrity and sovereignty?
The Tuareg tribe - Fought for independence and the right to self-determination in the Azawad region of 2012
The Dinker and Nuer tribe in South Sudan - Around 60 different ethnic groups, of which the Dinka and Nuer are the largest, internal conflict between thee can result in the erosion of sovereignty as the government may be unable to protect its citizens
What is the case study used to show the challenges to sovereignty and territorial integrity due to a struggle for independence
The Basque Nation
Describe the location of the Basque nation
Straddles the international border of northern Spain and SW France. Western end of pyrenees and include 4 provinces in Spain and 3 in france. 3.1 Million population
Describe the Basque culture
Unique language called Euskara taught in schools. Strong tradition od indepence - political autonomy with Basque parliament. Many traditions and cultural features are maintained in architecture food and dance.
