Health, Human Rights & Intervention Flashcards
Happy Planet Index
The Happy Planet Index (HPI) is a leading global measure of sustainable well-being
Measures sustainable wellbeing and how well nations are achieving long and healthy lives.
HPI=EW x LE/EF
EW – experienced well being
LE – life expectancy
EF – ecological footprint (measure of recourse consumption)
Sharia Law
human development case study
- Sharia Law is the law of Islam
- As a legal system, it covers a wide range of topics, from public and
private behaviour to private beliefs
Theft is punishable by amputation of right hand
Women can have one husband, but a man can have up to four wives
A woman cannot drive a car
A woman cannot speak alone to a man who is not her husband or
relative
- Of all global legal systems, it Is evident Sharia law is the most intrusive
and strict, especially with regard to women - A concern in the UK and other countries is the danger that Sharia law
operates as a parallel legal system - Rich: Brunei, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE - Poor: Afghanistan,
Mauritania, Sudan
Why does perception of human development vary
- There are fundamental differences in beliefs, values, morals and codes of conduct of many of the world’s many societies which mean there are some very different perceptions of human development
- A prevailing view of today is that improvements in environmental quality, health, life expectancy and human rights are more significant goals of the development whilst economic growth is the best means to deliver them.
Explain the importance of education in supporting human development
- Education is central to economic development, human rights creation
and the understanding of human wellbeing - A literate, numerate, enterprising and skilled workforce is precious
human capital - Such capital is vital if a country is to move along the better pathway
- Education promises a better job and higher wages, and from this flow
material benefits that raise the quality of life - On average, one year of education is estimated to increase wage earnings by 10% – in sub-Saharan Africa, by as
much as 13% (Montenegro and Patrinos, 2014). - These earnings, in turn, contribute to national economic growth. No country has ever achieved continuous and
rapid growth without reaching an adult literacy rate of at least 40%. - Education enables rural households to diversify their income-earning opportunities, for example through access to
more lucrative non-farm work. In Indonesia, the share of rural workers with no education employed in non-farm
work is 15% of men and 17% of women. - Among those with secondary education, the share increases to 61% of men and 72% of women (UNESCO, 2014).
- With education, people are better prepared to prevent disease and to use health services effectively. For example,
young people who have completed primary education are less than half as likely to contract HIV as those with little
or no schooling. Education also increases awareness of the importance of the need for a good diet and sanitary
living conditions.
Why is there extensive variations in education standards and opportunities
- Africa, South Asia has illiteracy rates of well over 25% whilst Europe,
North Asia, Australasia and South America have rates of below 5%
In India, Middle East and much of Africa there are deep-rooted
ignorance and violence that prevents females from exercising their
right to education
Education is also impeded by other obstacles such as ethnicity,
physical and mental disability, social, wealth
UNESCO
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) has done much throughout the world ‘to ensure that every
child, boy or girl has access to quality education as a fundamental
human right - It has done much to raise the levels of literacy around the world
Human Development Index (HDI)
- The Human Development Index (HDI) is another widely used measure
to show the state of global development - The HDI has breadth, in it takes into account three important
dimensions of the development process:
Life expectancy
Education
Economic growth
- HDI relies on statistical data that are collected frequently and widely at
a national level - Because of this it can be used to monitor development progress over a
year or period of years
What 6 factors can explain variations in human health and life expectancy
- Health Care: This involves the number of people per doctor. The smaller
the number, better the care. The USA requires citizens to pay for
healthcare whereas the UK offers free accessible care. - Economic development: Richer countries have better access to medical
technology - Education: People learn healthy eating and lifestyles as well as sanitation,
contraception and childcare. A good education system allows more
people to become doctors and nurses - Age: The old are more susceptible to diseases so in a population with a
higher percentage of elderly people, the death rate may be higher - Food and water supply: This prevents the spread of disease and
malnutrition - Culture and Lifestyle: In Afghanistan, women cannot be seen by male
doctors and cannot be educated to become nurses, limiting their
healthcare. Traditional foods in the Mediterranean are culturally believed
to increase life expectancy
UK
life expectancy variation case study 1
- A girl born in the UK in the start of the twentieth century had an
average life expectancy of less than 50 years – a girl born today will
live on average for more than 80 years - This increase in life expectancy is a testament to medical advances,
changes in the UK’s economy and improvements in diet and housing - However, there are significant variations in life expectancy between
counties:
England remains an unequal country in terms of life expectancy
15 years difference in the healthy life expectancy of men in Richmond
upon Thames (London) compared with those in London
The highest incidences of heart disease and cancer are found in the
most deprived areas
There is a 7-year differences between life expectancy of men at birth
born into an unskilled socio-economic group relative to those born in a
professional socio-economic group
Higher life expectancy in England than Scotland by up to 3 years
Brazil
Life expectancy case study 2
- 2013, life expectancy in Brazil – one of the world’s leading emerging
countries - stood at 70.4 for men and 77.6 for women - The highest life expectancies occur in the Southeast Brazil, stretching
from Minas Gerais to Rio Grande do Sul - This is the core of the Brazilian economy, high life expectancies can be
explained in terms of beneficial spin offs such as jobs, higher wages
and adequate housing - Low life expectancy in Rio de Janeiro reflects the many favela and
shanty towns located in this huge metropolitan area - The relatively low values in the northern parts of the country,
particularly in the Amazon lowlands, may reflect its remoteness and
relatively undeveloped nature. - It may also reflect the fact that this is where many of Brazil’s
indigenous peoples live who occupy great tracts of sparsely
populated forest (population of 900,000)
Australia
Life expectancy case study 3
- Australia enjoys one of the highest life expectancies in the world: 79.7
years for men and 83.1 years for women - Ranked 6th in OECD countries
- Indigenous people make up around 3% of Australia’s population of
nearly 24 million - Aboriginal life expectancy for men is currently estimated to be 10.6
years lower than that of non-indigenous men, and 9.5 years for women - According to the UN, the quality of life for Aboriginal people is the
second worst in the world which can be attributed to:
Poor housing Dispossession of traditional lands Low education level High unemployment Ethnic discrimination Inability of politicians to address aboriginal problems
- Access to health care is a major issue – many Aboriginal people lack
the transport to get them to medical centres.
Explain Social Progress
This is the idea that societies can and do improve their economic, political and social structures.
It is about meeting basic human needs, raising well-being and creating opportunities for people to improve their lot.
It can be accelerated by inputs of government intervention (e.g. creating national health service, subsidies etc.); social enterprise (e.g. businesses that trade for social or environmental purpose) or social activism (e.g. Empowerment of women)
Why are there variations in terms of government spending on healthcare
– While Egypt compares favourably, this is not the case for fellow
totalitarian state Myanmar
- Oil rich state - Saudi Arabia show very low levels of spending on health,
presumably the better off citizens either pay for it themselves or seek their
medical treatment overseas - Differences in priorities e.g. North Korea spends huge amounts on Military
Spending and little on healthcare
Explain the World Bank’s role in the promotion of global development
Committed to the alleviation of poverty.
It is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.
It is not a bank in the ordinary sense but a unique partnership to reduce poverty and support development.
Explain the International Monetary Funds (IMF) role in the promotion of global development
Aims to foster monetary co-operation, secure financial stability, facilitate economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world
It seeks to improve the economies of member countries through data collection and analysis, monitoring economic performance and, where necessary, recommending self-correcting policies
Explain the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) role in the promotion of global development
Its purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science and culture to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law and human rights, along with fundamental freedom.
It also promotes cultural diversity and aims to secure the world’s cultural and natural heritage
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Promotes policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
It provides a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems.
It works with governments to understand what drives economic, social and environmental change.
It recommends policies designed to improve the quality of people’s lives
Give the four IGOs who promote global development
World Bank
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
What are the 8 Millenium Development Goals
Eradicate extreme hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development
Development Gap
The widening income and prosperity gap between global ‘halves’ of the developed world and the ‘halve nots’ of the developing world, especially the least developed countries
Human Rights
Moral principles that underlie standards of human behaviour.
They are commonly understood as inalienable and fundamental rights ‘to which a person is inherently entitled to simply because she is or he is a human being and which are ‘inherent in all human beings’ regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status
United Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
Framework for foreign policies to explain economic and military
intervention but not all states have signed the declaration
It states the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all
humans are entitled to. This includes rights such as the right to
education, the right to privacy and the right to clean water
Reading through the rights it is apparent that not all are met globally
This is due to access of rights as well as extraneous variables, such as
government corruption, which can prevent rights altogether
European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR)
Played an important part in developing awareness of human rights in
Europe after its establishment in 1953
It was in response to the serious violations of human rights that
occurred in Europe during the Second World War and the post-war
spread of communism in Central and Eastern Europe and the threat of
communist subversion
Violations of this convention come before the European Court of
Human Rights which is responsible for monitoring respect for the
human rights of 800 million Europeans within 47-member states that
have ratified the convention
Geneva Convention
Forms the foundation of international law prosecuting individuals and
organisations who commit war crimes
This convention was endorsed by 196 countries, but few cases come to
trial whilst 150 countries continue to engage in torture
This displays the difficulty of setting up international laws as there will
almost always be conflict amongst countries and their interests
The convention sets out war laws to protect civilians and minimising
damage.
UK human rights act
Act passed in 1998, incorporated into UK law the rights contained in
the ECHR.
It means that any breach of the convention’s rights can be heard in UK
courts and need not go the European Court of Human Rights
However, appeals related to the verdicts of the UK courts in such cases
can be sent to, and possibly overturned by the European Court
This has led some to believe the UK has lost its sovereignty
Democracy
Countries with a system of government in which power is either held by regularly elected representatives or directly by the people
What are the three ratings which classify a countries human rights
Free – there is broad scope for open political competition and a
climate of respect for civil liberties
Partly free – there are some clear restrictions on political rights and
civil liberties
Not free – basic political rights and civil liberties are absent or
systematically violated
North and South Korea
Democracy/dictatorship contrast case study
North Korea
Self-reliant socialist state
Totalitarian state with an elaborate personality cult based on the
dictatorship of the Kim Jon family
North Korea lies in self-imposed isolation from the rest of the global
community
Its people are forbidden to use the internet and the country is well
known for its abuses of human rights against these people
It is recognised as a ‘rogue state’ through it possession of nuclear
weapons and its vast military forces, its frequent threats against South
Korea, as well as its frequent violations of human rights
North Korea suffers food shortages, malnutrition and occasional, but
severe, famines
In the 1990s, an estimated 2.5 million were killed by famines – 10% of the population
GDP per capita – 195th
South Korea
Has embraced capitalism
Transformed itself from a war-torn country into a high-income
advanced economy
The key to this economic success lies in firm government; powerful
high-tech companies e.g. Samsung; a committed labour force and a
strong human recourse of enterprise and technological innovation
Ranks among the highest in the world in terms of education, healthcare
and ease in doing business.
GDP per capita – 40th
India
Emerging superpower case study 1
Democratic republic with a parliamentary system – involved a union of
29 states
While it is generally a democratic and free country: there are a number
of human rights issues
Incidents of violence against religious minorities, especially Muslims.
Caste-based discrimination and neglect of tribal communities
Sexual abuse and other violence against women
State censorship continues despite government pledges to extent
freedom of speech
India’s security forces enjoy impunity for serious violations of human
rights
China
Emerging superpower case study 2
- Modern China was founded as a communist country with a one-party
government following the Second World War - An increasing willingness to trade with the capitalist world has led to it
rivalling the USA as the world’s largest economy - This economic success however has been driven by a disregard for
human rights
Re-education through labour – this is frequently handed out to critics of
the government and followers of banned beliefs
Suppression of the internet and media freedom – hundreds of
websites are blocked or banned in China
Unfair trials – the Chinese judicial system falls a long way short of
international standards
Torture – this, and the ill-treatment of detainees, is widespread. It is
particularly directed at human rights activists and people detained
because of their political or religious beliefs
Death penalty: it is estimated that China accounts for nearly ¾ of all the
world’s executions each year; 46 offences are eligible for the death
penalty
Give the three forms of political corruption
Allowing private interests to dictate government policy
Taking decisions that benefit those who are funding the politicians
Diverting foreign aid and scare recourses into the private pockets of
politicians
Zimbabwe
political corruption case study
- Zimbabwe enjoyed considerable economic prosperity due to its
productive agriculture, a profitable mining industry and a strong
manufacturing sector, including iron and steel - Robert Mugabe came into office in 1980, him and his associates
continue to control the country thanks to questionable elections,
corruption and a firm denial of human rights, particularly to the
remaining white population. - Land reforms undertaken in the name of redistributing lands to the
black population from the former colonial white settlers have had two
outcomes; best land ended up in the hands of close associates to
Mugabe and the remainder has been badly farmed - The scale of misrule and corruption has been such that it has brought
the country to the brink of bankruptcy
How does social development influence variations in the implementation of human rights
- There are variations between countries in the implementation of
human rights and this is due to different levels of social development - In some states, particularly post-colonial states, there are groups
defined by gender/ethnicity that have fewer rights than the dominant
group
Why did conflict occur in countries after the departure of Colonial Rulers
- Large parts of the world were under colonial rule in the first half of the
twentieth century – after these countries left it was often placed in the
hands of the indigenous people - However, multiple problems arose
Although various forms of government had been set up in the colonies,
indigenous people had been largely excluded from its administration.
The result was that, when independence came, they had little or no
experience of how to run a country, so independence often led to
chaos
This chaos meant that opportunistic insurgent groups were able to vie
for political control. Much violence ensued.
Most importantly, the colonial borders did not recognise or realise the
importance of traditional ethnic and religious borders. The colonial
boundaries often cut across these deeply-engrained lines.
Rwanda
Ethnicity case study 1
- The Germans who had colonised Rwanda failed to recognise three
distinct subgroups of the Banyarwanda: Hutu (84%), Tutsi (15%) and the
Taw (1%)
- Rwanda had remained a unified state largely controlled by the minority
the Tutsi, in which, the Hutu were treated as second-class citizens
- After independence in 1962, the Hutu struggled for supremacy
- In 1994, the Hutu decided to eliminate the Tutsi
- Within 100 days, 800,000 Tutsi were massacred – representing 70% of
the total population
The Americas indigenous populations
Ethnicity case study 2
- Estimated 370 million indigenous people living in more than 70
countries - 46 million of them live in the Americas
- These indigenous populations represent a rich diversity of cultures,
religions, traditions and languages - They are a significant part of the world’s biological diversity
- Many are also stewards of the Earths biological recourses
- Yet these groups face serious discrimination
- Many under threat from mining, oil extraction, dam and road building.
- They are being driven off their homelands and are ending up in towns
and cities – they are paying the costs of development yet enjoying
none of the benefits - Indigenous people in the Americas are poorer, less educated, more
likely to commit suicide, and are generally in worse heath than the rest
of the population
Afghanistan
Gender case study
- Due to the consistent and varied rulers’ women’s rights have varied in
Afghanistan - Women given the vote in 1919 under Soviet rule
- In the 1950s a new constitution gave women equality in a number of
important aspects of life, including being able to stand in elections at
all levels - During the 1980s and 1990s, and particularly under Taliban rule, the
rights of women in Afghanistan were gradually withdrawn (Sharia Rule)
women and girls were banned from:
Going to school or studying Working Leaving the house without a male chaperone Showing their skin in public Being involved in politics
- This has essentially made Afghan women prisoners of their homes
- The 2001 intervention by the USA allowed the restoration of some
women’s rights however as they withdraw troops – the Taliban has
regained control of some areas– and women are once again routinely
discriminated against.
Bolivia
Gender/ethnicity mix case study
- Population of 35 million and 35 different ethnic groups
- Over 60% of the country is classified as indigenous
- While progress has been made culturally, socially and politically, the
indigenous people remain marginalised in economic terms - In terms of gender, the record is worse
- For example, gender violence causes more death and disability among
women aged 15-44 than do cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war - 50% of Bolivian women have admitted to being subject to physical
abuse in their lifetime – it also has the highest rate of maternal
mortality in South America
Maternal mortality
The death of a women while pregnant or within 42 days from the end of pregnancy
Define Interventionism
- Interventionism is a broad term for the activity undertaken by a state to
manipulate the economy, society and/or the political standing of
another nation - The motives behind geopolitical interventions are many; they vary from
country to country and between the different organisations
What are the three motives behind interventions
Development Aid:
Offering development to the poorest and least-developed countries
Protecting human rights
Encouraging education and healthcare
Economic power:
Promoting international trade and protecting trade routes
Accessing recourses
Encouraging inward investment
Military power:
Providing military support
Increasing global influence or regional influence
Bilateral Aid
Aid that is delivered on a one-one basis between a donor and a recipient
Multilateral Aid
Aid (usually financial, sometimes technical) given by donor countries to international aid organisations such as the World Bank or Oxfam. These organisations distribute the aid to what they deem to be deserving camps
State the two different types of Development Aid
- Bilateral
- Multilateral
Official Development Assistance
A term used by the OECD to measure aid. It is widely used as an indicator of flows of international aid. Flows are transfers of recourses, either in cash or in the flow of commodities or services.
Since 1960, the total amount of ODA given each year to developing countries has usually risen. Since 2000, there has been an increase of 82.5% (even including a dip due to the global financial crisis of 2007-2008).
By 2015, global development aid totalled US$146.68 billion, which was a rise of 6.9% in just one year.
However, while the total amount of ODA has steadily increased since 1960, the level of ODA when measured as a percentage of GNI has actually decreased.
ODA is usually multi-targeted. The targets are made fairly transparent and they often involve promoting respect for human rights.
But there are others, such as confronting poverty, terrorism, HIV/AIDS, poor governance and corruption. All have an impact on human development
State the two different types of Economic Aid
- Trade
- Investment
What are the 6 different types of trade intervention
Tariffs - Taxes levied on imports
Quotas - Restrictions on imports
Exchange Rates - Deliberately lowering to increase the
competitiveness of either imports or exports
Trade Blocs - Free trade between member countries
Embargos - Bans on trade in specified commodities
Sanctions - Restrictions on trade imposed by countries against others for political reasons
What are the 3 economic motives behind investment
Securing primary recourses
Facilitating private investment
Providing technical know-how
Explain Military Intervention
- Involves the deliberate act of a nation introducing its military force to
solve a controversy usually in another country - This can range from training and equipping a developing country’s
armed forces, through sending troops to help deal with insurgents and
terrorists, to all out military occupation
Amnesty International
Founded in the UK and focused on the investigation and exposure of human rights abuses around the world.
Takes on both governments and powerful bodies, such as major companies.
Today it combines its considerable international reputation with the voices of grassroot activists such on the spot to ensure that the UDHR is fully implemented.
It also provides education and training so that people ae made aware of their rights
Human Rights Watch
Constantly on the lookout for violations of the UDHR.
It is not frightened to name and shame non-compliant governments through media coverage and direct exchanges with policy makers
Oxfam
Founded in the UK to help and deal with the hunger and starvation that prevailed during the Second World War.
Today it has three main targets: development and work aimed at lifting people out of poverty and improving health; assisting those affected by conflicts and natural disasters; and campaigning in a range of issues, from women’s rights to the resolution of conflicts.
Explain the 3 positive impacts of Development Aid
Small Pox – a highly contagious disease – has been eliminated as a
result of global vaccination campaigns
Malaria has been significantly reduced on three fronts: draining
swampy areas; encouraging those at risk to take preventive medicine;
distributing mosquito nets for people to sleep under
Development aid has been successful in terms of improving respect for
gender equality and access to primary education
Explain the fundamental concerns behind Development Aid
- Aid in the form of capital grants and loans is seen to be inappropriate
by some – they argue it is better to donate technical assistance and
skill training - In some countries there is concern about the size of the aid budget.
- There is criticism about the actual distribution of aid. For example, up
until 2015, a large amount of the UK’s aid went to India, but India is a
much-lauded emerging economy. Are there not other countries not
more in need of aid? - A strong argument is that aid is thought to encourage progress, inflows
of aid make governments economically lazy and encourage corruption
Haiti
development aid case study
- Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and the poorest
country in the western hemisphere - Around 4 in every 5 Haitians live on less than US$2 a day
- Life expectancy: 64 188th in world
- 34% without electricity
- Over the last 200 years, Haiti has suffered from:
Exploitation of its recourses by foreign companies and businesses
Massive violations of civil rights by a succession of dictatorships
Widespread corruption
A high level of aid dependency
- Between 1990 and 2009, Haiti received US$5 billion in US aid –
however, little has resulted from this - The 2010 earthquake killed 230,000, injured 30,000 and displaced 1.5
million who were exposed to storms, flooding and contagious diseases
such as cholera
. - Global appeals for help were soon answered and within months 12
billion pounds had been pledged. However, a number of issues
emerged:
As of 2015, only half of the promised aid had been received
Over 500,000 victims still live in temporary shelters without electricity,
plumbing or sewerage
A prolonged outbreak of cholera caused by a failure to provide proper
sanitation
By then Haiti’s programme should have moved on from emergency
relief and reconstruction to longer-term objectives, such as dealing
with serious human rights abuses, corruption, poor governance and
poverty
Reasons
- Too many unqualified small-scale NGO organisations and charities with
no language skills or interpreters
- Aid unequally distributed: being too focused on emergency camps in
cities
- Weak Haitian government was left outside the loop of major aid
players
Explain the concerns surrounding economic intervention
Some economic developments have serious environmental impacts which degrades locations inhabited by minority groups. This disregards to their human rights to their land and culture
Land Grabs in Kenya
economic intervention case study 1
- Since the 1980s, Land has become a currency of political patronage
among Kenya’s elite - Large tracts of public land have been illegally or irregularly acquired
- Land grabbing is the name given to this irregular privatisation of public
land - Land grabbers are usually from high profile officials in government who
outsource them to economic centralist TNCs - These land grabs have serious impacts on public finances,
development opportunities and land pricing - The pressure on land is considerable in a country where 85% of the
population relies on agriculture for its livelihood. Tensions are
increased by the fact that 88% of the population have access to less
than three hectares of land
Oil in Niger Delta
economic intervention case study 2
- Oil was discovered in the Niger Delta some 40 years ago
- Royal Dutch Shell is the largest oil company working the oilfields and
obtains about 10% of its crude oil supply from them – Nigerian
government earns 10 billion a year - For the people who live on the Delta the situation is dire
- Has had devastating effects on Nigeria’s largest wetland region, its
wildlife and its inhabitants - Human health is threatened by the pollution of its air, water and
farmland by many unattended oil spills, as well as by gas flares and
frequent fires. - Local people have benefitted little if at all from the oil industry
- Roads remain poor; schools and medial services are grossly
underfunded
What drives Military Intervention
- Military interventions may be driven by global strategic interests but
are covered by nations claiming they are reinforcing human rights e.g.
to ensure access to valuable recourses - Military aid, such as training and weapons sales, can support countries
who have questionable human right records. - A strong military could enforce human rights within the nation
- Direct military intervention is becoming part of a ‘war on terror’ to
eliminate torture and the abuse of human rights
Libya
military intervention case study 1
- President Gadhafi was overthrown in 2011
- He and his immediate supporters were thought to be complicit in a
number of terrorist acts, including the downing of Pan Am Flight 103
over Lockerbie, Scotland - A multi-state coalition began military intervention in the form of an arms
embargo and the imposition of a no-fly zone over the whole of Libya - The intervention did not involve sending troops, rather just securing
the country’s airspace as well as its inshore waters so there was no
external support for Ghaddafi’s forces
Russia in Ukraine
military intervention case study 2
- Russia is not a country widely recognised as a champion of human
rights - However, the protection of the human rights of the enclave of ethnic
Russians was an excuse used by Russia when it invaded Ukraine in
2014 - The real motive was more likely the need it felt to annex a strategically
important territory - Possibly Russia was prompted to do so by the likelihood of Ukraine
becoming a member of NATO which would allow NATO troops to gain
access to one of Russia’s most important front doors - It was this threat that no doubt persuaded Russia to annex the whole of
the Crimean Peninsula and to strengthen its land border with Ukraine
by allowing troops to encroach over it
UK military aid to Saudi Arabia
military intervention case study 3
- The UK and Saudi Arabia have been important allies since 1915
- In 2005 Saudi Arabia and the UK concluded a military agreement
whereby the UK would equip Saudi Arabia with fighter planes - Since then the UK has sold Saudi Arabia nearly 10 billion worth of
defence equipment, and Saudi Arabia has invested 60 billion in the UK - Over 30,000 UK nationals live and work in Saudi Arabia and it is the
UK’s largest trading partner in the Middle East - However:
Saudis are mainly Sunni Muslims; supplying arms to them is seen by
Shia Muslims as the UK taking sides in the deep-rooted antagonism
between them and the Sunni
Saudi Arabia has a very bad record with respect to human rights, most
notably free speech, women’s rights and capital punishment. Also
worrying is the claim that Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islamist
extremism
- There is reluctance on the part of the UK government to apply too
much pressure on human rights issues for fear of losing lucrative
military contracts
What are the three main concerns that have driven military intervention in the Middle East
- As a result of threats from Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and ISIS the
international community have been embroiled in a military campaign
motivated by three main concerns
o The political stability of the Middle East
o Safeguarding access to the region’s great oil reserves
o The serious abuse of human rights
IS in Iraq & Syria
military intervention case study 4
- IS is an opportunistic organisation with no respect whatsoever for
human rights - Its roots lie in al-Qaeda’s operations in Iraq
- It took advantage of the power vacuum in Iraq created by the
withdrawal of Allied troops from that country and the civil war in Syria - It grabbed corridors of territory and put together what it declared as a
Caliphate - From there the IS waged it’s so called Jihad, or defence of Islam,
against all other religions - IS has pursued a strategy of annihilating minority communities – the
victim communities include Christian Assyrians, Kurds, Shabaks,
Turkmens and Yazdis - A battle of minds is involved – IS is very good at using modern
communication to brainwash, groom and recruit young Muslims to the
‘jihad’ – it is also very good at creating jihadist cells in distant major
cities and activating them to kill large numbers of innocent civilians.
Torture and rendition
case study
- In the age of international terrorism, the need to identify terrorists and
their cells and to eavesdrop on their scheming has become high priority
of most Western Countries - Thanks to modern communication technologies, much can be done
- But there is still a need to apprehend terrorist suspects and to elicit as
much information as possible from them
- However, most government have signed up to the UN convention
against Torture (1987) which prohibits physical or mental duress being
used to extract a confession
- Nevertheless, it is fairly clear the USA has done so in the wake of 9/11 –
In which the government tracked down and imprisoned without trial
suspects at the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
What 7 variables must be considered when measuring the success of geopolitical interventions
Health: More citizens will be vaccinated than before and infant
mortality would have declined
Life Expectancy: This would increase for men and women
Education levels: Literacy
Gender Equality: Women would be as literate as men and have access
to the same opportunities
Freedom of Speech: Fewer restrictions on the media and opinions
The management of Refugees: An efficient system would be
implemented
Increases in GDP per capita: Growing wealth
China economic growth
measuring economic growth success case study
- China has since made gigantic economic strides
- Today a figure of US$11212 million makes it the second largest
economy in the world and puts it well ahead of its nearest rivals, Japan
and Germany - It also has huge population – its population has expanded just over a
half since 1976 – from 0.9 to 4 billion - Although China remains a communist country there is no doubt that a
major factor in its economic progress has been its gradual
involvement in the capitalist global economy - In China, economic success has come with a price: massive
environmental pollution – largely thanks to its expanding
manufacturing industries, and the persistent abuse of human rights - In 2015, the Chinese economic miracle showed first signs of slowing
down – by this time Chinese people had come to enjoy consumerism.
This could lead to a resurgence of widespread protests and one again,
sharpen the focus on human rights.
Why has development aid often not ended up being successfully inputed
The inappropriateness of some forms of aid
The siphoning of funds by corruption
A lack of sound governance and, related to this, the civil and political
unrest that has characterised the recent histories of too many
developing countries.
Botswana
Success of aid provision case study
- By African standards, Botswana is a beacon of success. It is:
o Relatively prosperous
o Politically stable
o Fairly free of corruption
o Reasonably respectful of human rights
Aid and development
- In 1966, Botswana was one of the poorest countries in the world, with a
per capita income of just US$70 a year - In the first few years of independence about 60% of government
expenditure came from international aid. - Since 1966, however, Botswana has maintained one of the world’s
highest economic growth rates – through fiscal discipline and sound
government Botswana had transformed itself into a middle-income
country with a per capita of US$7500
Health
- The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Botswana is the second highest in the
world and threatens the country’s massive economic gains - The UN estimates that one in three adults in Botswana is currently
infected with HIV or has developed AIDS - However, with overseas aid, Botswana now has in place one of the
most advanced treatment programmes - Thanks to economic growth, the government can afford to make anti-
retroviral drugs readily available
Human rights
- Botswana has the reputation of speaking out against the human rights
in Africa - However, the same political party has been in power for over 40 years – it retains the death penalty – and continues to criminalise homosexuality.
Emergency Aid
Rapid assistance given by organisations or governments to people in immediate distress following natural or man-made disasters. The aim is to relieve suffering and the aid includes such things as food and water, temporary housing and medical help.
What 4 conflicts can be assessed for the success of military intervention
- Afghanistan 2001-14
- Syria 2011-
- Libya 2011
- Ukraine 2014-
Explain the intervention and outcomes of the Afghanistan conflict of 2001-14
Intervention
US-led invasion following the 9/11 attacks believed to have been planned in Afghanistan. Need to counteract Taliban seizure of the country as well as address its appalling record of human rights
Outcomes
Civilian government restored in 2004, but much unrest – assassinations and suicide bombings. The USA and the UK ceased combat operations against the Taliban in 2013. Since then the Taliban has been slowly regaining territorial control
Estimated civilian deaths
149,000
Estimated refugees and Asylum seekers, 2014
2,670,000
Explain the intervention and outcomes of the Syria conflict of 2011-
Intervention
Democratic uprising against the Assad regime started in 2011. Use of chemical weapons led to US-led coalition launching air strikes against Syria and IS. Joined by UK in 2015. Russia also started air strikes, but in support of Assad
Outcomes
Huge civilian causalities; Assad used chemical weapons. Mass migration of refugees into Europe. IS seized the opportunity to grab territory and extend its ‘caliphate’
Estimated civilian deaths
400,000
Estimated refugees and Asylum seekers, 2014
5,000,000
Explain the intervention and outcomes of the Libya conflict of 2011-
Intervention
Libyan civil war and civilian casualties led to the UN intervention involving 19 states, a naval blockade, no-fly zone and air strikes against Gaddafi’s forces
Outcomes
Gaddafi killed, and his regime ousted. Breakdown of country into violence and disagreement. Possible IS infiltration
Estimated civilian deaths
100,000
Estimated refugees and Asylum seekers, 2014
644,000
Explain the intervention and outcomes of the Ukraine conflict of 2014-
Intervention
By Russia on grounds of support for minority ethnic Russians in Ukraine. Soon evident that repossession of Crimea was the strategic target
Outcomes
By Russia on grounds of support for minority ethnic Russians in Ukraine. Soon evident that repossession of Crimea was the strategic target
Estimated civilian deaths
2,500
Syria
military intervention case study
- The UN office by the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
estimated in 2014 that 10.8 million of Syria’s 22 million people have
either been killed or displaced from their homes by the conflict - The UN has predicted that by the end of 2016 there could be as many
as 4.3 million Syrian refugees living outside the country - Most of this human cost is the outcome of armed Arab fighting armed
Arab, with little or no heed paid to innocent civilians who happen to be
in between - To add to the complexity of diverse rebel groups struggling to
overthrow President Assad’s regime, the scenario has become even
more complicated by:
The invasion and occupation of part Syria by IS
Russian’s intervention in support of the Assad regime and against the
rebel groups
The USA and its allies mounting air strikes aimed first at degrading IS
and then dislodging Assad’s regime
Explain UN peacekeeping
- UN peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:
Consent of all parties in the conflict
Impartiality
Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate
- UN is able to draw on troops and police from around the world to
provide its peacekeeping forces - Civilians are also integrated into those forces, so the costs of
peacekeeping are shared by UN member states - Since the end of the Cold War at the end of the 1980s, the nature of
UN peacekeeping has changed from inner-state conflicts to intra-state
conflicts and civil wars. - UN peacekeepers are now asked to undertake a wide variety of
complex tasks, from disarmament and reintegration of former
combatants, to helping build sound governance and monitoring human
rights. - As of 2015, there were 16 different peacekeeping operations. Four of
those operations are in the Middle East: nine of them in Africa.
Ivory Coast
Peacekeeping case study
- The Ivory Coast gained its independence from the French colonial rule
in 1960 - In 1999, after an attempt was made to overthrow three years of civil
war followed between Muslims and Christians - With no end to the conflict in sight, it was agreed that UN
peacekeepers would be dispatched to try to bring about reconciliation
between the two factors – and a sort of peace was achieved - In 2010 after a resurge in the civil war a new UN peacekeeping force
was again charged with the tasks:
Protecting civilians
Bringing about disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of the
two warring factions
Monitoring and promoting human rights - With the help of French troops, Gbagbo and his wife were arrested and
handed over to the international Criminal Court at the Hague and face
criminal charged of crimes against humanity - However, a human rights report of 2015 was highly critical of how little
has been done in dealing with the aftermath of the 2010/11 crisis,
particularly human rights abuses
How does education empower women
Poor women are particularly vulnerable to gender biases.
Education empowers women and gives them more opportunities to make choices. It can boost their confidence and perception of freedom. It can also alter the perceptions of men influencing gender stereotypes.
In Pakistan, only 30% of women with no education believe they can have a say in the number of children they have, compared to 63% of women with lower secondary education.
What is the life expectancy difference between men and women in the UK
UK 78.4 for men and 82.8 for women.
Life expectancy in Botswana
In a few countries, the life expectancy situation is reversed, e.g. Botswana 56 years for men and 52.3 for women.
The key factor here is the high rate of maternal mortality (death during childbirth). The incidence of HIV/AIDS may also be a factor.
What is the importance of economic growth in global development
Among the major players involved in the promotion of global development are the World Bank, WTO and IMF. Their efforts are very much focussed on economic development, seeing it as the springboard for advances on the broader front of human development.
In promoting programmes such as Structural Adjustment they have intervened in policies of individual governments, in effect cutting education and health programmes, whilst outwardly believing that they are improving the chances of economic growth.
They see economic growth as stemming from the creation of a more even and equitable playing field. Such a view relies on policies that are neo-liberal in nature – based on theories of economic liberalism in which state intervention is reduced, and the workings of the private market are left unregulated – and involve the promotion of free trade, the privatisation of state assets and services (e.g. water provision or transport), and the deregulation of financial markets (e.g. removing barriers to investment and capital).
In this way, their belief is that private wealth ‘trickles down’ through the economy, and the poorest people eventually benefit from a strengthened economy.
What are the criticisms of the Millennial Development Goals
The eight MDGs failed to consider the root causes of poverty and overlooked gender inequality as well as the holistic nature of development.
The goals made no mention of human rights and did not specifically address economic development.
While the MDGs, in theory, applied to all countries, in reality they were considered targets for poor countries to achieve, with finance from wealthy states.
Misrepresentation of data - One of the criticisms that can be made about the quantitative targets which were set as part of the MDGs was that there was little consideration of underlying processes. For example, the goal to provide all children with access to universal primary education was a very important one, and international donors were particularly crucial in providing aid to governments to make primary education free.
fThis had a very positive impact on primary school enrolment. For example, in Kenya, primary school enrolment increased from 67.8% of eligible children in 2000 to 95.9% in 2013 according to Government of Kenya figures. Enrolment does not, however, indicate attendance and it also does not include information about the nature of the education.
What are the sustainable development goals
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was agreed by world leaders at a summit meeting in September 2015. The agenda set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals
The new SDGs and the broader sustainability agenda go much further than the MDGs. They address the root causes of poverty and the universal need for a style of development that works for all people.
The SDGs are also connected to the three strategic focus areas of the UN Development Programme (UNDP):
Sustainable development
Democratic governance and peace building
Climate and disaster resilience
A substantial difference from the MDGs is the greater engagement with environmental aspects.
Rather than having one goal to cover environmental sustainability, there is now a range of goals including SDG 14 and 15 on terrestrial ecosystem protection, SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production, and SDGs 6 and 7 on sustainable water and energy provision.
There is a much clearer recognition of the need to bring together environment, economic and social dimensions to achieve sustainable development.
What are the issues with the Sustainable Development Goals
Some countries feel that an agenda consisting of 17 goals is too unwieldy to implement or sell to the public, and would prefer a narrower brief. Some NGOs also believe there are too many goals, but there is a general consensus that it is better to have 17 goals that include targets on women’s empowerment, good governance, and peace and security, for example, than fewer goals that don’t address these issues.
The SDGs are not legally binding. Governments are expected to take ownership to establish national frameworks for the achievement of the Goals, and then follow-up and review the progress made in implementing them.
Egalitarian
believing in or based on the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
Inalienability
Human rights are inalienable: they cannot be taken away by others, nor can one give them up voluntarily.
Indivisibility
Human rights are indivisible in two senses. First, there is no hierarchy among different kinds of rights. Civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are all equally necessary for a life of dignity.
Second, some rights cannot be suppressed in order to promote others. Civil and political rights may not be violated to promote economic, social and cultural rights. Nor can economic, social and cultural rights be suppressed to promote civil and political rights.
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
which scores each country on how corrupt its public sector is seen to be. It measures the perceived level of public sector corruption and so it is a qualitative measure.
There are few reliable measures of corruption. By its very nature, corruption prefers to remain hidden from public scrutiny and mostly does so successfully.
In 2015, 68 per cent of the 168 countries surveyed – including developed, emerging and developing countries – had serious corruption problems (score under 50). Between 2012-2015 Greece, Senegal and the UK reduced their levels of corruption, but in Australia, Brazil, Libya, Spain and Turkey corruption increased, as did conflict areas such as Sudan, Somalia and Afghanistan
US trade embargo against
US trade embargo against Cuba (condemned by the UN), imposed in the 1960 after Fidel Castro’s takeover and support of communism, costs the country an estimated US$685 million a year and restricts its development.
However, the USA also loses as a result of the embargo – an estimated US$1.2 billion a year. In 2016 President Obama called for the embargo to be lifted.
Where do most militant attacks occur
90% of militant attacks happening in countries with weak governments and poor human rights records
How much Military Aid does the USA contribute
The USA is the largest contributor of military aid to other countries. It provides some form of military aid to over 150 countries each year.
Much of this aid is given to protect US interests and security abroad. For example, in 2014, over US$1.3 billion in military aid was given to Egypt, in part to help it fight the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).
Example of indirect military action
In 2017 British army personnel were training Nigerian forces to help them improve the country’s security and fight the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram
World Bank contribution to Benin
in 2015, the World Bank gave Benin in West Africa (166th in global HDI rankings) US$40 million to help with infrastructure improvements, flood-recovery schemes and flood-protection measures.
Example of the strict world bank conditions
Uganda (163rd in global HD I rankings) had to meet 197 separate conditions before it was granted World Bank funding.
Malaria
Despite advances in the fight against the disease, malaria remains the world’s number one killer - up to 2 million people still die each year from malaria.
However, as a result of international aid programmes, the global rate of new infections fell by 37% between 2000 and 2015, and mortality rates also fell by 60%.
In 2000, efforts focused on achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals, targeted the reduction – and eventual elimination – of malaria. Donor nations increased their funding to provide:
- Free insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN), so that over half of the population of sub-Saharan Africa had access to an ITN by 2014, compared to just 2% in 2000.
- Free access to new medicines
- Better and more widely available diagnosis
- Draining the swampy areas where the Anopheles mosquito (carrier of the disease) breeds, or spraying those areas
with DDT or similar chemicals
The UN estimates that 6.2 million deaths from malaria have been prevented since 2000.
An important player in improving health and healthcare is education. Teaching basics such as personal hygiene and the critical need for safe water and proper sanitation can do so much to contain killer contagious diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Impact of MDG stimulus
Thanks to the stimulus provided by the MDGs, the number of people living in extreme poverty has declined from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 836 million in 2015. 15% of the population still live on less than US$1.25 a day.
Human development aid can only do so much; the pathway out of poverty and hunger comes from economic development.
By 2014, over US$30 million of aid money was being targeted specifically at programmes with gender equality as their main, or significant, aim.As a result, there have been some notable successes.
Maternal mortality rates have fallen, particularly as a result of the Millennium Development Goals., with a 44% decline in global maternal death rates since 1990. More girls are also receiving an education.
Example of change in aid dependence
Aid dependence in Mozambique fell from 67% in 1992 to 12% in 2014.
Number of ISIS terror attacks
Since declaring its caliphate in June 2014, IS has conducted or inspired more than 140 terrorist attacks in 29 countries other than Iraq or Syria.
Changes in opinion on Aid in America
51% of Americans surveyed in 2016 said that they felt the USA gave too much aid to developing countries. So, it’s important for governments, IGOs and NGOs to show that the interventions work.
Success of AID in Afghanistan
USA cited human development indicators as proof that their aid programmes and military presence had been a success. For example, they mentioned that there had been a 14-fold increase in the number of schools and increase in Afghan life expectancy of over 20 years.
Aid to Nigeria
- Voluntary aid – can be short term emergency relief or long term development assistance
- 2009 – 2013 : 60 million mosquito nets distributed. The most successful projects are community based
- UK gives US$300 million year of aid. Receives 4% of aid given to Africa
- Problems include government corruption, government diverting money, donors have political influence
Impacts of Development in Nigeria
‐Rated 152/187 countries in terms of HDI. Improving and is increasing quickly
‐New jobs mean more income and increased quality of life
‐Large differences between north and south; rural and urban; educated and uneducated
‐Poor access to safe water, sanitation and reliable electricity supply
‐Oil wealth not used effectively.
‐Overdependence on oil may be an issue as oil prices fall and new technology such as fracking develop
‐Challenges include continuing stable government, pollution of Niger delta, tsetse fly affecting commercial
livestock, desertification, religious conflict between north and south, Boko Harem extremist group
Nigeria basic statstics
West Africa, North of the Equator
• Nigeria is a former colony of the UK
• Largest population of Africa – 184 million (4th largest in the world after India, China and the USA (320 pred million by 2040.)
- NEE – 3rd largest manufacturing economy in Africa
- Largest economy in Africa
• Rich in oil (makes 75 per cent of government money), but the rapid economic growth (over 7 per cent per year since 2009) mostly in the non‐oil sector; increasing amounts of
money from manufacturing & services.
• Youthful educated population – skilled workers for manufacturing & services
• But, it has 1/4 of Africa’s extreme poor people, 100+ women die every day from
complications during pregnancy and childbirth. 2,000+ children under 5 die every day
from preventable diseases and 8.5 million children do not go to school (most in world)
