Impacts of global organisations on managing global issues/conflict Flashcards
Define iGO’s
Organisation composed of primarily sovereign states UN
Explain UN Security council
Role is to maintain peace between countries, makes decisions binding all member states
5 permanent members- UK/USA/China/Russ
Non permanent members alternate every few years to have wide representation
Permanent members have use of veto power to block adoption of resolution. Vetopower can be abused
Examples of when Un security council intervened
Sudan genocide
UN voted to allow intervention but China abused vetopower to keep access to cheap oil
2014 UN military intervention in Syria
How does UNSC impose sanctions
Economic sanctions to put pressure on country. Last resort to address human right/ genocide violations
Examples:
travel bans, freeze assests, commodity bans, stop providing loans, trade embargos
Russia/Ukraine war- economic sanctions on Russia (use of gas)
Explain direct military intervention (UN)
UN forces act to introduce military forces into area of controversy, peace keeping mission (blue helmets)
Explain unilateral action
Occurs when one/more country acts against another without formal approval of UN
send in military
Case study: UN actions against Iran
(success)
Use of sanctions to limit Iran’s nuclear programme. Success
Passed resolution to suspend all uranium enrichment activities, due to belief Iran was developing nuclear weapons
Banning the supply of nuclear-related material to Iran, freezing assests of companies involved, not alowed any financial activity elsewhere
Iran didn’t respond so sanctions extended till 2010
Pressure caused Iran to suspend activity, schedule in place for the cease of restrictions
Case study: Srebencia genocide 1995
(failure) UN intervention
Conflict between Bosnia Serbs/ Bosnia muslims.
Srebenica was designated by UN as safe zone, implemented demilitarisation action (removal of weapons)
Bosnia Serbs put town under siege, poor communication, lack of action (ineffective air strikes), was a failure on UN behalf and led to the killing of 8,000 men and 23,000 women/children deported
Explain Montreal protocol
Discovery of Earth’s o-zone was thinning due to emission of CFC’s. Meaning pop. exposed to dangerous levels of UV light cause widespread cancer
Quick action
CFC’s production stopped
Alternatives available
Global risk was immediate
By 2070 O-zone back to normal
Explain CITES
Voluntary organisation with no official legislative framework to stop killing of endangered/protected animals (elephants/rhino)
Failures:
Hard to reinforce
led to a thriving black market
loss of revenue for LIC
difficult cultural change
CITES severely underfunded, CITES list can take 24 years to gain protection
Explain UNCLOS
Defines rights/responsibilities of nation’s use of oceans management of ocean ecosystem. Resolves conflicts, piracy, pollution
90% international trade via oceans
95% internet traffic via cables
Few disputes/ effective management
Ban on specific ships due to pollution accidents, ban on whaling, ban on ballast water deposition
Explain the Antartic Treaty
53 nations signed treaty due to disputes over territorial tensions, only for scientific research
Success as preserved for research, no dispute/military action
Future threats: oil/gas exploration
cruise/tourism
melting creating shipping short cuts
increased fishing
Case study: Helsinki Rules
Aims to manage entire drainage basin of trans-boundary water sources/ equal share of resource
success:
Danybe River basin includes 19 countries, 79 million people rely on agreement to keep peace and access water
failures:
Allocation can be influenced by powerful nations Ethiopia GERD more powerful than Sudan led to exploitation
Some countries don’t agree with approach (China/Brazil) as it challenges national sovereignty
Explain UN role in global governance
UN aims to achieve co-operation solving international problems. Having different targets (Milennium Development Goals) human rights climate change.
Work with sub-UN organisations:
UNICEF- provide aid globally
WHO- international health issues
UN Environment programme- environ. agenda
Define war on terror
Refers to global military political legal struggle against identified terrorist groups/states that support them
Refers to geopolitical relations/global stability
Explain geopolitical relations/global stability
Some countries UK,USA,Russia may decide to independently operate without UN authorisation.
Intervention on failed states/war on terror
Causing instability and affect political relations
Examples of war on terror
2003 US invaded Iraq without UN authorisation. Invaded air then troop invasion. Bush justified the invasion as he had evidence that Iraq had weapons causing mass destruction. Controversial
China against movements of Uighur in Xinjiang however controversial as it targets Muslim Uighur population
CS: Russia’s impact on geopolitical relations/stability
Russia has impacted EU, Asia, Middle East, with China and Russia working together
Through geopolitical relations Russia has effectively secured Eurasian region from US influence. Aims to regain influence in East EU.
Using energy system as intimidation creating instability in EU. Hostile tensions with West causing sanctions to be imposed
IGO uses 3 organisation to control world trade/financial flows.
Explain how they work
IMF- improve global financial stability providing loans for debts, Meaning countries are less likely to resort to protectionism measures. Countries pay financial subscription equivalent to rating
IBRD (International Bank for reconstruction and development)
Provide loans to rebuild economies however changed its major focus to reducing number of people living on $1.25 a day. Providing country with loans, grants, technical assistance to deliver projects
WTO- Reduction of tariffs by countries agreeing to WTO/ removal of trade barriers to encourage interdependence
Explain Bretton Wood Institutuions
1944 created a system for USA, West EU, AUS to develop a connected market
Explain structural adjustment programmes
(SAPS)
SAP’s loans from IMF/World Bank for countries in economic crisis. To gain loans must implement specific policies outlined in Washington Consensus (privitisation, deregulation). Aim to recover countries and policies implemented help future economic success
Report found that the policies to achieve loans causing further economic harm. Even after aid some countries never “took off” remained fragile (Mozambique, Uganda)
Name/explain the alternative to SAP’s
HIPC- highly indebted poor countries
Provide low interest loans, reduce debt to sustainable levels. But countries must reach economic targets and reform socially/economically as well
Identified 39 countries in 2016 36 countries only received partial or full aid
CS: Jamaica’s SAP
Independent 1962
Introduced policies 1970’s to support vital services but struggled due to oil crisis, causing debts
IMF/World Bank offered large scale SAP’s in return for loans
Austerity measures 1980’s huge impact:
No. of nurses fell by 60%
Cost of food increased, wages kept low
described as daily struggle for residents
8% reduction in children completing primary school
Now repaid more money than originally owed $7.8 billion interest payments
Explain IGO’s/ trading blocs
All countries involved with IGO’s but not equal influence. US contributed 18% to IMF
To overcome this smaller countries consolidate power to form separate trade blocs (EU, ASEAN) equal partcipitation
CS: North America free trade association
NAFTA (IGO’s/trading blocs)
Formed with USA,Canada, Mexico
3 economies account for 21% of global GDP
Reduces tariffs, promote property rights and construction of pathways
Strengths:
Economic growth to 3 countries increased trade/FDI
North American economy doubled in size since 1994
Employment risen by 23%
Problems:
Manufacturing workers in NA jobs relocated to Mexico
Mexico farmers unable to compete with US agribusinesses
