Resolving contemporary global issues Flashcards
1
Q
Conflict
A
- Appears to promote peace and security - associated with the liberal idea of democratic peace theory (suggests that democracies will not go to war with e/o), given that there is a tendency towards multilateral cooperation that goes hand in hand with democracy.
- Conflict reduction is not just linked to political regionalism (neo-liberal view of economic cooperation as states are reliant on each other, leaving little incentive).
- Tends to unite like-minded countries and create alliances between states previously unlikely to cooperate. Yet, regional blocs can be inwardly looking - isolationist agendas may lead to conflict (two ideologies battle in the Cold War)
2
Q
Examples of conflict resolution through IGOs
The EU
A
- Created to stop Germany and France from warring by encouraging economic cooperation.
- Contributed to various peacekeeping missions (e.g Kosovo, Bosnia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
- However, the EU played a minimal role in resolving conflicts like the Syrian Civil War, ongoing conflict in Libya and Ukraine, even though these directly impact EU security.
3
Q
Examples of conflict resolution through IGOs
African Union
A
- Involved in peacekeeping operations in Burundi, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mali.
- Failed to take the initiative in conflicts like the disputed election in Ivory Coast (2010-11) or the overthrow of President al-Bashir in Sudan (2019).
4
Q
Examples of conflict resolution through IGOs
Arab League and ASEAN
A
- The Arab League failed to intervene in the Syrian and Libyan crisis.
- ASEAN was criticised for ignoring the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
5
Q
Poverty
Affects the response to poverty
A
- Affects how regional blocs address the concern (regionally or global).
- Greater cooperation and economic and political incentive: EU tackles poverty, especially in former Yugoslavian states, to better align those state populations and economies with the Rest of Europe.
- Regional blocs dealing with significant poverty levels (AU) have a voice in global institutions regarding their own development.
6
Q
Poverty
International cooperation strengths
A
- Promotes international cooperation regarding aid and development external to regions.
- The EU has a clear identity promoting liberal values and has therefore invested heavily in funding aid and programmes abroad; deeply involved in global strategies to reduce poverty.
- Among ASEAN members, GDP per capita increased by 63.2% between 2007 and 2015 because of more trade opportunities.
- The AU’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development is committed to combating poverty by more closely integrating African economies.
7
Q
Poverty
International cooperation weaknesses
A
- The EU’s external tariff and the Common Agricultural Policy (protecting European farmers) is criticised for not opening up goods from the agricultural markets to from the developing world - one of the main reason for the collapse of the Doha Round of the WTO trade talks.
- NAFTA has encouraged poverty in the US by facilitating the flow of manufacturing jobs to Mexico - rural Mexico also saw an increase in poverty as agricultural jobs were lost to huge American agri-businesses.
8
Q
Human Rights
How was it improved?
A
- The EU is committed to upholding HR through the Charter of Fundamental Rights. It encourages freedom of movement and has taken a significant role in taking asylum seekers from North Africa and the Middle East (albeit, controversially).
+ 2012 = ASEAN countries have adopted a Human Rights Declaration. - Benefits globally - helps promote a more global appreciation of liberal values and freedoms, reinforcing the UN Charter - fits in with ideas of cosmopolitanism that extend beyond nations.
9
Q
How ROs have failed in protecting HR
A
- The EU failed to pressurise China to improve its record on HR.
- 2019 = EU’s first summit with the Arab League, President Sisi of Egypt told the EU Council President Donald Tusk - ‘you are not going to lecture us about humanity…Respect our values and ethics as we do yours’.
- 2019 = Despite ASEAN countries adopting a Human Rights Declaration in 2012, all ASEAN countries have been accused of human rights abuses. Only 5/10 don’t criminalise homosexuality.
- In 2019, ASEAN didn’t raise objections to its member, Brunei, introducing the death penalty for sexual relations between men, in spite of global condemnation as it is committed to not interfering in the internal legal affairs of member states.
- Arab League members, especially Saudi Arabia and Egypt was accused of systematic human right abuses.
- AU was criticised for condoning the human rights abuses of dictators such as the ousted President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir.
10
Q
Environment
Advantage - crucial link between state and global
A
- CC is a modern-day concern which poses a challenge to state-centred politics (cannot be tackled at state level), so it’s easier to reconcile such issues through collective regional voices.
- Offers a crucial link between the state and the global, making governance more effective.
- For example, the EU provides a global lead on CC - committed to cutting members’ carbon emissions by 40% of its 1990 levels by 2030; aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050 = highly influential at international summits (Paris 2015).
- However, members of ROs like AU, ASEAN and the AL continue to set their own carbon targets.
11
Q
Environment
Advantage - meeting different needs for regions
A
- Potential to deal with the different needs of regions better when developing international environmental policy (liberalism). HOWEVER:
- Argued it’s unfair to impose the same restrictions on already industrialised states as those countries still industrialising (part of a neo-imperialist agenda to maintain an international hierarchy).
- Others argue that the progression in technology, scientific collaboration and access to evidence means we can react better to climate change, unlike in the period in which countries were industrialised.
12
Q
Links to other issues
Globalisation
A
Clear link - despite the debate over the extent regionalism helps or hinders globalisation. Some debates include:
- Widening and deepening integration.
- Challenges to state sovereignty.
- Implications for issues larger than the state.
13
Q
Links to other issues
Power and Developments
A
- Important to consider the role that regional blocs play in international relations, which is becoming an increasing feature of a globalised world.
- A more interconnected world means there is a decline of the traditional, state-centric approach to international relations and an increased move towards pooled sovereignty.
