IPE WEEK 7 Flashcards
Why is global governance necessary?
Global governance is necessary because the world faces threats and challenges that no single country can handle alone, such as terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), environmental degradation, natural disasters, humanitarian crises, transnational crimes, and pandemics/epidemics. No world government exists to coordinate and facilitate cooperation among all actors to address these issues, hence the need for global governance.
How is the world governed in the absence of a world government?
In the absence of a world government, states often make agreements with each other to modify their behavior, aiming to make the global system less chaotic and more predictable. These agreements can take the form of treaties, conventions, customary practices, and general principles of law.
What is international law?
International law is a collection of rules and regulations that define the rights and obligations of states. Its sources include treaties, customary practices, legal writings, judicial decisions, and general principles of law. Treaty law has seen significant growth, with over 3,000 new multilateral treaties concluded between 1951 and 1995. Additionally, there are international norms or soft law, which are standards of behavior not legally binding but influential, such as human rights conventions and climate change agreements.
Can you provide examples of international treaties?
United Nations Charter (1945) - Created the United Nations.
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) (1947) - Reduced tariffs and boosted trade.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1979) - Addresses women’s rights.
Rome Statute (1988) - Established the International Criminal Court.
Kyoto Protocol (2005) - Regulates greenhouse emissions to reduce global warming.
What are some key actors in global governance?
States
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Experts
Global Policy Networks
Multinational Corporations (MNCs)
What are Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)?
IGOs are entities created by treaty involving two or more nation-states. They serve various functions such as informational, forum for exchanges and decision-making, normative, rule-creating, rule-supervisory, and operational. Examples include global organizations like the United Nations (UN), regional organizations like the European Union (EU), and specialized organizations like the International Labour Organization (ILO).
What are some challenges to global governance?
Challenges to global governance include institutional gridlock/stalemate, complex problems requiring multi-state action, and a lack of consensus. Factors such as the rise of new identity politics, protest movements, and the retreat of economic globalization pose challenges to the existing liberal international order.
What is the liberal international/world order?
The liberal international order emerged post-World War II and is governed by a set of rules, norms, institutions, and structures that shape the behavior of nation-states. It promotes values such as democracy, free markets, and human rights. The order originated from the establishment of institutions like the United Nations, the Bretton Woods Institutions, and various specialized agencies of the UN.
What are some criticisms of the liberal order?
Criticisms of the liberal order include its perceived Western bias, selective application of norms, and failure to address inequality and inequities in global systems. The rise of new identity politics, protest movements, and protectionism challenges the ideals of the liberal order.
