Resolving Contemporary Issues Flashcards
ways in which regionalism addresses and resolves contemporary global issues: what do regional problems require?
as with global governance, regionalism is a recognition of the shared interests of states, such as reducing conflict and poverty or the protection of human rights and the environment
if global problems require global solutions, then regional problems require regional solutions
what was at the heart of the global order after WW2?
at the heart of the global order after WW2, certainly as far as Western liberal-democratic states were concerned, was the view that a state cannot isolate itself from the world’s problems
every state is inevitably affected and a neighbour’s problem will soon become their problem
economic instability in one country will spread to other countries, a path that led to WW2
President Roosevelt acknowledging that states cannot isolate themselves from the world’s problems
President Roosevelt acknowledged this at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference when he said “the economic health of every country is a proper matter of concern to all its neighbours, near and distant”
how are the EU and ASEAN examples of the recognition that states cannot isolate themselves from world problems?
the EU is a prime example of the linking of these two points, ASEAN is another example
both recognise that regional problems need regional solutions and states must work together to prevent regional crises
they also realise that a peaceful and stable region can lead to trade and trade leads to a peaceful and stable region
why are regional organisations established?
regional organisations are essentially established to avoid and prevent conflict, to improve relations between neighbours and facilitate trade, which should benefit all parties involved
growth of trade should reduce poverty, so trade should be encouraged
under what system in regionalism set up? what does this mean for regionalism and regional organisations?
regionalism is a system set up in the anarchy of the Westphalian system
there is no compulsion in the international system, but regionalism imposes the rule of law on countries and encourages states to play by these rules otherwise no one will
how can human rights be protected through regionalism?
human rights can be protected by states agreeing to uphold and protect human rights – e.g. the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights
how can environmental issues be tackled through regionalism?
most environmental problems need multilateral approaches
regional blocs that have agreed on approaches or solutions can drive forward complex and difficult environmental negotiations while regions can set an example for ambitious targets
if the argument is that states cannot put aside their economic interests to save the planet, then regions that do exactly that are powerful examples to the rest of the world
