Global governance human rights and environment Flashcards
1
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Human Rights
A
The rights and freedoms you possess and are entitled to, because it is an inherent part of being human - they are absolute and universal
They can’t take be taken away by national laws
2
Q
Nuremburg trials - who was on trial, what for
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Representatives of the defeated Nazi Germany for plotting and carrying out invasion of other countries across Europe and committing ‘crimes against humanity’ - 21 leaders, 6 german organisations, deligitmise german elite
3
Q
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Criticisms of Nuremburg trials
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- Thousands and silent bystanders not testified
- Hypocrisy with US and Japanese Americans
4
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Significance of Nuremburg trials
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- Focused on crimes of aggression - plotting and waging aggressive war
- Represented a judicial advance for the development of a specific international jurisipudence for war crimes
5
Q
3
3 articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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- Article 7 - law is the same for everyone
- Article 5 - no one has the right to inflict torture
- Article 3 - right to life
6
Q
2
Human rights are not universal - sharia law
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- A number of Islamic countries reject some of the rights in the Universal Declaration because they are contrary to sharia law - in this view, ‘human rights’ are grounded in a false understanding of the nature of human dignity and rights, which derive solely from God
- The viw that human rights can be restricted to avoid comprising Islam is gaining ground in the UN - Dec 2007, UNGA adopted a resolution - ‘Combating Defamation of Religions’
7
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2
Human rights are not universal - Asian states
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- Since the 1990s, a number of authoritarian Asian states like China and Singapore claimed that some ‘human rights’ as set out in the Universal Declaration were inapplicable and reflected Western traditions
- ‘Asian values’ - emphasised collective rights and the need for stability and order over unfettered individual freedom which led to dissent which destabilised society - Bangkok Declaration 1993
8
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4
The Balkans (1992-1995)
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- Established conditions for long-lasting peace
- Commitment to nation-building demonstrated in Bosnia established a model for rebuilding the foundations of a civil society
- 60K troops deployed
- Bosnian Serbs agreed to a peace deal in Dayton, Ohio - NATO forces (with UN mandate) deployed to rebuild Russia and UN High Rep to ensure good and impartial governance
9
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3
East Timor (1999-2001)
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- 1999 Indonesian gov reluctantly agreed for independence with 78% vote, violenct backlash by pro-Indonesian militias backed by gov in Jakarta - 1/2M driven from homes
- From concentrated international pressure, UN Resolution 1264 authorised a multi-national force, led by Australia to enter East Tremor to dismantle the militias
- 20th May 2003 - formally gained independence
10
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3
Sierra Leone (2000)
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- Brutal civil war with Revolutionary United Front led by Charles Taylor - mutilating for ‘blood diamonds’
- British intervention, Blair gov. evacuated foreign nationals and engaged in high0mobile operations against RUF and allied militia like West Side Boys
- 2001 - RUF disarmed, 2006 - UN Special Court for Sierra Leone charged Taylor with 11 counts of war crimes and up to 50 years in prison
11
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3
Cote D’Ivoire (2011)
A
- President Laurent Gbabgo refused to accept defeat in GE - provoked a political crisis that pushed the country towards civil war
- UNSC mandated the destruction of Gbabgo’s military capability and France, former colonial power, militarily intervened with air and ground forces
- Gbabgo was arrested and the legitimate gov in office, peace and stability created
12
Q
3
Somalia (1992-93)
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- George W Bush deployed US troops to Somalia with humanitarian intentions - but they forgot the initial humanatiarian justification
- Withdrew all US forces from Somalia by 1994
- In a quagmire, unable to distinguish between rival clans, militias and civilians. Lacking legit gov to defend so unable to coop, seen as alien occupying forces
13
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3
Darfur (2003-on)
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- Had a black muslim population that claims independence from Sudan - as seperatist demands grew, Arab militia - Janjaweed committed genocide - 300K died, 5M displaced from homes
- When most of the killing had taken place, Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir, allowed a UN peacekeeping mission - UNAMID had 23K troops in the field but because of Darfur’s remoteness, lack of basic infrastructure and lack of gov coop made it difficult
- 2011 - the Sudan gov condemned all attempts to interfere with the internal affairs of Sudan and tarnish the image of the country. No clear agreement of the future status of Darfur, continually undermined only chance of conflict resolution
14
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3
Aghanistan (2001-2014)
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- Primarily to eliminate Al-Qaeda, but also the humanitarian mission from widespread internal condemnation of Taliban brutal rule and extensive human rights abuses, to establish conditions for a liberal democracy, to make the world safer from terrorism, end violation of female rights and create a more tolerant and inclusive society
- High-minded idealism was unsuited to a country as culturally remote from the west as Afghan - one thing to set up a temporary or long term presence
- Fundamental Islamism, especially in the majority Pashun areas of southern and east - far more resonant in local conditions - western forces could not understand the significance of ethnic tribal and family alliances and tensions - undermined attempts to build trust in communities
15
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3
Iraq (2003-2011)
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- Post 9/11 liberal intervention to stabilise the region and reduce threats from the international community - overthrow Saddam Hussein, replace brutal dictatorship with liberal democracy
- Dismissed gov and Iraqi army, disintegrating law and order - Sunni Muslim insurgency, provoked widespread killing, brutal arrest and interrogation from few occuping forces too few for security
- No attention to post-war reconstruction with Hussein overthrown - Donald Rumsfield - ‘light footprint’ - save money, resources and accusations of US imperalism
16
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3
Reasons for humanitarian success or failure - achievability of objectives
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- Must be a cool and calm analysis of ‘cost-benefit’
- New military and humnaitarian equipment is introduced into conflict which can fall in the wrong hands
- EG the logistical difficulties of imposing a western-influenced democracy on a country as vast, unaccessable and culturally conservative as Aghan was not appreciated
17
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2
Reasons for humanitarian success or failure - commitment to success
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- If an intervention is not mandated to exercise suffecient force it will undermine its potential for success - vital no half measures are taken and than intervening powers are committed
- In Rwanda, UN peacekeepers were only mandated to ‘monitor’ the situation - only a tiny force able to protect Tutsis in Kigali - Hutu killing squads acted easily
18
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3
Reasons for humanitarian success or failure - a plan for building the nation-post military success
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- Without this, it is unlikely they will succeed because states that have been under the control of burtal dictators or those who have descended into anarchy will not possess the necessary political heritage or viable organs of gov to ensure stability and rule of law
- EG Bosnia and Kosovo had protectiorates established, East Timor had UN forces adopting an assertive policing role
- EG Iraq - only gradually appreciated the importance of attempting to nation-build and cultural insensivity fueled insurgents
19
Q
Reasons for humanitarian success or failure - the creation of a legitimate government
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- Vital to success of interventionism
- 1960s - 70s - US supported gov of South Vietnam was brutal, corrupt, and lacked moral legitimacy
- 1950s - easier for British in Malaya to repel communist insurgency - Malayan gov. generally more popular
