Global Systems & Governance - Global Governance

Question 1

What is global governance?

Answer 1

Refers to attempts of regulate global systems and activities, for example by the UN and World Bank. Their interventions may have an impact on people and the environment.

Question 2

What are international laws?

Answer 2

International laws are rules that are established by countries through international agreements, they are legally binding. International laws cover human rights, labour standards and trade regulations.

Question 3

What are norms?

Answer 3

Norms are accepted standards of behaviour - there are usually negative consequences for countries, companies or individuals who don’t follow them.

Question 4

What are institutions?

Answer 4

Institutions are political and legal organisations. They exist to pass and enforce laws, decide whether a law has been broken or act as a forum for different groups to discuss issues and sort out their differences.

Question 5

How does global governance regulate global economic and political systems?

Answer 5

By setting up rules countries and companies should follow, monitoring whether they follow the rules and enforcing the rules if they aren’t followed. Enforcement includes taking a country or company to an international court, or imposing economic sanctions like withdrawing trade.

Question 6

How do international institutions provide growth and stability?

Answer 6

• The laws and norms that international institutions enforce mean that countries must abide by common rules, giving greater stability because countries know how other countries are likely to react to a situation, making conflict less likely
• The WTO aims to increase global trade through common rules - more trade leads to economic growth and rules make trade more predictable, increasing stability
• The WHO combats epidemics which increases social stability

Question 7

What are some problems with the system of global governance?

Answer 7

• Countries sign up to international laws and institutions volunatrily
• It can be difficult to make countries and TNCs comply with the rules
• Some people think that global institutions act for political reasons

Question 8

How do global institutions create inequaities and injustices?

Answer 8

• There are condtions to receiving a loan from IMF or World Bank
• Economic groups like the G7 strengthn the power of developed countries, rather than encouraging equality between them and less developed countries
• Members of security institutions can veto resolutions

Question 9

Who oversees trade agreements?

Answer 9

The World Trade Organisation (WTO)