Global governance: political Flashcards
Why was the UN created?
The UN was created in 1945 after WW2 to encourage peace and cooperation between states so that the horrors that occurred during the war never happened again.
What are the main goals of the UN and how does the UN ensure these?
- Maintain peace and security and prevent any future wars.
How:
- Mediating disputes
- Economic Sanctions (done by the security council)
- Peacekeepers (member states offer up troops)
- Protect human rights
How:
- Setting a common standard through the UDHR
- Monitoring and enforcing (e.g. Libya)
- Using R2P
- Social and economic development
How:
Providing aid and assistance e.g. UNICEF
Research
UNSC resolutions how are they passed? what are they meant to protect? is this the reality? when wont they be drafted? Can you give an example?
Security Council resolutions are supranational and binding on member states.
A resolution takes a 2/3 majority to pass, however, if even 1 of the p5 members’ veto’s it the resolution is done.
They are meant to be there to protect human interests (liberalism), but they tend to protect their own national interests (realism)
Resolutions won’t be drafted if they think that the resolutions will be vetoed, this is happening with the crisis in Myanmar, resolutions aren’t really being drafted because they fear China will just veto any resolution.
What are the roles of the UNSC?
Roles of the UN security council:
- Investigate threats to international peace
- Recommend a resolution process
- Impose and lift sanctions
- Enforce military intervention
Why does the UNSC resolution sometimes not even try to draft resolutions?
Resolutions won’t be drafted if they think that the resolutions will be vetoed, this is happening with the crisis in Myanmar, resolutions aren’t really being drafted because they fear China will just veto any resolution
What are the strengths of the UNSC?
Decisions require unanimous agreement from p5 members and a 2/3 majority to pass, giving them authority and legitimacy.
The small membership (15 members) allows the UNSC to be convened quickly at times of international crisis.
Unlike most other UN institutions the Council is able to enforce its decisions on all member states, thus making them more effective.
What are the weaknesses of the UNSC
There are only 5 permanent members of the UNSC no longer represent the balance of world powers as they exclude states such as China and India.
The fact that any resolutions passed in the UNSC need unanimous support from p5 members can lead to gridlock.
Should the UNSC be reformed?
Yes because the members of the p5 no longer represent the balance of world power today
How could the UNSC be reformed?
- Emerging powers, e.g. the BRICS countries could be given the veto power.
- The veto power should be more geographically representative.
- Veto power could be completely abandoned and decisions could be made based off of a majority
Can you explain the purpose, strengths and weaknesses of the UNGA?
The UNGA is made up of all 193 member states, the UNGA can debate any issue within the sovereignty of the UN charter.
Strengths:
-Provides a global forum for debate on international issues.
- Each state’s vote is of equal value.
Negatives:
- UNGA resolutions are not binding
Can you explain the purpose of the ICJ?
Purpose: To solve disputes between member states of the UN on issues including sovereignty and border issues. E.g. Temple of Preah Vihear.
Strengths of the ICJ
Pros:
- Upholds the idea of international rule of law.
- Upholds the idea that conflicts should be resolved peacefully.
- It is neutral in its decision making.
Weaknesses of the ICJ
- Both states involved in a dispute must agree to the ICJ’s ruling
- Jurisdiction only includes states and not other state actors.
Can you explain the purpose, strengths and weaknesses of ECOSOC?
Purpose: To promote higher standards of living and identify solutions to economic, social and health problems.
Example of peacekeeping success from the UN
Sierra Leone
Peacekeepers in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2005 successfully prevented the country from relapsing into conflict while a peace agreement was being put in place. Sierra Leone now provides peacekeeping troops in Somalia.
UN peacemaking Example.
Kuwait
In 1990 the UN-mandated military action to evict Iraqi forces from Kuwait and then authorised the establishment of UN safe havens within Iraq in 2001 to limit Sadam Hussein’s aggression towards his own people.
Can you evaluate how far the UN is effective at resolving conflict?
The organisation from the security council can often resolve in gridlock, e.g. Syria and Russia vetoing.
The UN has struggled to respond to security threats from non-state actors.
UN peacekeepers have seen immense failures in places like Rwanda.
HOWEVER:
The UN has mandated effective peacekeeping missions in East Timor and the Ivory Coast.
The UNSC has been extremely active in approving military interventions, peacekeeping operations and sanctions across the world
Can you evaluate how far the UN is effective at combatting poverty and advancing development?
“Levels of extreme poverty have never fallen as hard or as fast as they have in the last 30 years”
The MDG and SDG have provided Global targets, with the MDG being highly successful.
However, poverty in subsaharan africa continues.
Global inequality continues to increase.
Some have speculated that the rapid growth of China has been responsible for some of the impressive MDG figures.
Can you evaluate how far the UN is effective at protecting human rights.
The UN published the UNDHR which set out a goal for other states to aspire to, however, it is not binding.
A number of UN tribunals were set up which were able to prosecute war criminals.
In 2005 the UN issued responsibility to protect, however, this has been ignored in regards to Syria.
Can you explain why NATO was created?
NATO was created in 1949 in order to protect the West from the spread of communist and the USSR by providing the members of NATO with collective security on the principle that an attack on one member state is an attack on all.
Examples of NATO peace-making missions
Bosnia:
1995 NATO intervened in Bosnia by bombing the bosnian serb positions, however, too little was done too late.
Kosovo:
In 1999 NATO bombed Serbia to stop the government military offensives in Kosovo.
How has NATOs role changed pose cold war?
NATO now acts as a deterrent and promotes Western values. Its membership has expanded to some eastern European countries, deterring Russia from expanding further.
NATO’s role had adp[ted into leading humanitarian interventions e.g. Kosovo.
Refugee crisis- Sine Feb 2016 NATO has been helping with the refugee crisis, stopping illegal trafficking and migration in the Aegean.
War on Terror- NATO has also assisted on the war on terror 2003-2014. NATO-led a UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
- Intervention in Libya
- -> Clearly NATO’s role has adapted
- -> NATOs role has developed into leading humanitarian interventions
Strengths of NATO
- NATO has maintained a strong strong military relationship between the US and Western Europe.
- NATO encourages peace and security by acting as a deterrent.
- NATO had expanded into Eastern Europe, providing greater security to their new democracies.
Weaknesses of NATO
- In 2016 only 5 members reached their 2% defence spending commitment. –> Angered the US
- DIsagreement within NATO –> US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 split NATO alliance.
- Turkey: Members of NATO are expected to uphold democracy and the rule of law, But Turkeys President is leading an increasingly authoritarian regime.
