S: 2.2 - 2.4 Flashcards
2.2 overall
- do patents create a monopoly power?
- about the idea of intellectual property rights which means superpowers have significant influence over the global economic system
Intellectual property:
• global system of intellectual property laws that manage + protect property rights.
• Patents used to prevent other businesses copying products.
• Trademarks used to protect brand images + rights.
• Copyrights used to establish ownership of artistic work.
• Royalties need to be paid by anyone who uses others’ work
Royalties
• A fee paid to the inventor or designer by anyone who wants to produce /use a product / idea.
• Over 85% of all royalty payments go to the USA, the EU and Japan
Rationale
• Inventor / creator benefits from their invention.
• Businesses guaranteed an return in investment in R&D.
• Safety – products are what they say they are.
• Consumer trust in TNCs
Counterfeit market
• Pharmaceuticals.
• Electrical goods / music / movies / software.
• Costs up to $85bn/yr (software up to $75bn).
• Counterfeiters, governments and consumers all play a role
Who runs intellectual property laws?
• WIPO, part of the UN (1976).
• Registration and database of patents and IP.
• Resolves disputes between parties.
• Encourages use of patents / IP rules to benefit creators globally
Global trade in fake goods accounted for
2.5% of world imports in 2013
And 5% of EU imports
Fake goods can be dangerous as seen in
Nigeria where inferior Chinese electrical goods cause fires
Superpower domination + could Link to which theory
• TNCs from US/developed countries paid for inventions/ artistic works created decades ago.
• Emerging superpowers + developing countries pay royalties, costs them & benefits developed world.
• Developed world TNC’s in best position to invest in R&D so patent holders also new patent developers.
• Education standards higher in already developed countries so higher skill levels.
• Westernisation spreads US and European music, film, TV- copyright and brands (trademarks)
Could link to AG franks dependency theory
Role of Chinese in counterfeit market
• China responsible for 70% counterfeit goods:
• less TNC investment in China knowing profits will lost to counterfeiting.
• Lack of action by Chinese gov. suggests not willing to follow international law.
• Damage trade agreements with China.
• Chinese companies increasingly patent holders: 2012 Chinese innovators applied for 652,000 new patents versus 542,000 in the USA.
• BUT: question marks over quality of Chinese applications and whether Chinese companies will be able to collect royalties
Pharmaceutical + IPL
• Benefits: control access to medicinal drugs, guarantees safety, promotes R&D by companies.
• Problems: pharmaceutical companies invest in developing treatments for diseases in developing countries as they can’t guarantee a profit.
• Solution: The WTO allows developing nations to import cheaper versions of essential medicines before patents expire.
• Additional help: charitable organisations such as GSK
2.3 overall
Considering the value of geostrategic alliances - NATO ANZUS NAFTA ASEAN
USA + formation of initial alliances
• USA stepped into WW1+2 (Franco-German conflict)
• USA wanted to build a rampart against an expansionist USSR (containment)
• USA wanted democracy to be embedded in Eastern Europe
• European Union / Marshall Plan / NATO were key elements of this plan
Tensions in 2018
• Pres. Trump is concerned that NATO countries don’t contribute 2% of GDP
• Pres. Trump is concerned that European countries are too pro-Iran (nuclear deal), and biased against Israel
• Pres. Trump is more interested in Asia, whilst Italy/Turkey are pro-Russia
• Pres. Trump thinks US/EU trade is unfair
• The Helsinki Summit with Pres. Putin weakened American position on security and raised the status of Russia
NAFTA
• Trilateral trade bloc - USA, Canada & Mexico.
• Elimination or reduction of trade barriers between 3 countries, however there’s strict rules on Agriculture
• Some mobility of persons - generally skilled.
• Replaced by the united States-Canada-Mexico Agreement in 2020.
• NAFTA 2.0 - but with agreements on e-commerce, Intellectual Property, automobile manufacture and better US access to Canada’s dairy market
ASEAN
• 10 member states in SE Asia.
• Established during Cold War to prevent the spread of communism in region (countries surrounding Vietnam).
• Advanced economics (Singapore) but also developing countries (Myanmar)
• AFTA still has tariffs but they’re limited to 5%
•ASEAN infrastructure Fund and ASEAN Bank promote integration and development within the bloc e.g. Malaysia-Singapore HS railway
Examples of economic alliances
EU
NAFTA
ASEAN
Examples of military alliance
ANZUS
NATO
Strategic alliance example
SCO
Why have alliances?
• world increasingly authoritarian – need security
• Trade and security are two different things – should we really wrap them together?
• Alliance partners need to pay up
• Defence spending should be spent on ‘defence’ (R&D)
• Cyber-security requires global collaboration (information warfare)
• The UK risks being shut out of EU Security
• Russia feels threatened and can strike out… China envies American hardware and power status
Benefits + losses of economic alliances
Same as benefits and losses of trade blocs
- static benefits from increased specialisation and dynamic benefits from competition and reinvestment
ANZUS
Australia New Zealand and USA, formed in 1951, a military pact to essentially give America a military presence in Oceania, bolstering support against communist.
- New Zealand left as they implemented a no nuclear weapons zone.
SCO
China, India Russia Pakistan and other powerful istans in Asia.
- strengthens political, economic and security between member states
East vs west?
2.4 overall
What’s the point of the UN
Superpowers and emerging nations play a key role in international decision making concerning people and the physical environment
Syrian civil war intervention overall
Accusations of chemical weapons being used by Assad on its own people which is a war crime, but Russia who are propping this government up are claiming there’s no evidence of these claims and therefore vetoed the proposal to intervene in Syria, so the UN didn’t step in. But some western nations like the UK, France stepped in unilaterally, incentivised by the R2P.
Important factors were the lack of proof, Russian veto, capabilities of the UN and its military.
Syrian civil war
- Ongoing multi-sided civil war between government (supported by Russia, Iran, Hezbollah) & other groups.
- Started following crackdown on unrest in 2011 - Arab Spring - against Bashar Al-Assad (Syrian Arab Republic),
- Direct military intervention by US led coalition in 2014 against ISIL & government targets.
- US, UK & French air strikes in 2018 in response to chemical weapons use.
- Russian troops deployed in support of Al Assad, Turkey also has troops in Syria supporting Syrian Interim Government.
- 2nd deadliest conflict of 21 century -
- 470-610,00 deaths & millions displaced
UN Geneva Peace Talks in 2017
Formation of UN
• A term first used US President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• 1942 (During WW2)
• 26 nations pledge to fight against Axis powers
• Officially signed into existence – 24th October 1945
- 130 member states, central aim is to prevent a recurrence of global conflict.
A voice (un)
• A forum for member nations to express opinions and grievances, propose actions to resolve disputes and ask for or offer assistance from other member states.
• Conferences on global issues (annual conferences on climate change started in 1991)
Stability and successes of UN
• UN agencies - WHO, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) – reduced burden of disease and hunger
• International Criminal Court (ICC) brings war criminals to justice - e.g. DRC / Uganda, Central Africa, Ivory Coast
• A related International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague is prosecuting leaders accused of genocide and other war crimes in the Yugoslav Wars
Attitudes and actions in the UN
• It depends on the willingness of the states to act.
• Needs strong political will from countries with support from a superpower or an emerging one,
• Also requires money from member States
Threats
• Original leading countries are not as economically or militarily powerful, (USA/UK/France)
• Africa / Latin America (India/Brazil) perhaps should have a strong say with 1.5bn people
• Global recession still occurred in 2007 (strain on the IMF) and terrorist insurgency expresses dissatisfaction (AQ / IS / Taliban)
UN has PESJ factors
Political - UN Security Council and UN peacekeeper forces
Economic - IMF
Social - UN agencies, WHO
Judicial - international court of justice and international criminal court
Superpowers and emerging nations act as
Global police
