The role of Superpowers and Emerging Powers in global decision making Flashcards
What is NATO?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is a military alliance formed in 1949. An attack on any member state is viewed as as an attack on NATO as a whole. Since the end of the Cold War in 1991, NATO’s global influence has diminished and its role challenged (especially by President Trump) however due to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it has become increasingly more important on the global stage - decisions made by NATO have resulted in more troops operating in Poland as well as coordinating the supply of aid to Ukraine.
What is ANZUS?
The Australia, New Zealand and United States Security Treaty is a military alliance established in 1951 that bind the 3 member states to cooperate on Military matters in the Pacific (primarily) and elsewhere). This allows the USA to maintain its military presence in the Pacific and also proved vital for the war in Afghanistan with the provision of military forces from Australia and NEw Zealand
What is the USMCA?
The United States Mexico and Canada Agreement (formerly called NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement) is an economic alliance which allows for free trade between countries. This primarily benefits the USA which can shift manufacturing to Mexico where there are lower labour costs and gain access to Canada’s oil exports at lower prices (due to the removal of tariffs). However, President Trump disagrees with the alliance and wishes to remove it by issuing tariffs to protect US produced goods (which may be outcompete by goods from Mexico or Canada) in fear of further loss t o employment.
What is the EU?
An economic alliance (a trade bloc) consisting currently of 27 nations. It allows for free trade between nations - benefitting firms with a competitive advantage (e.g french winemakers due to their superior soils and climate for growing grapes) as they get access to a larger market. It also allows free movement of people between member states. It has its own currency (although not adopted by all members). It aims to reduce poverty by increasing economic strength, reduce inequality between the richest and poorest members but also works on a number of environmental and social issues (such as improving water quality on beaches)
What is ASEAN?
The Association of South East Asian Nations is an economic alliance ( a trade bloc) consisting of 10 countries with a combined population of over 670 million. It aims to become a single market allowing both free trade and free movement of people throughout the alliance called the ASEAN Economic Community.
What is the IPCC?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change established by the UN in 1988. It produces reports supporting the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). It monitors peer-reviewed publications , assembling evidence on the risk of climate change and its impact. it represents over 120 countries.
The UN Security Council and Peacekeeping
The UNSC has 15 members at a time (the 5 permanent members being China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.) and is responsible for preventing conflict. In order for a decision to be made there must be 9 votes in favor. Any vote against the decision by a permanent member automatically vetos the decision. For this reason, the USA, UK and France often vote together whilst Russia and China work against them by vetoing any decision which benefits the Western powers and vice versa (showing how the US wants to prevent Russia and China chfrom allenging its superpower status)
They have authorised military peacekeeping missions in Kuwait (1990-1994) Bosnia (1998) and The DRC (2004-2009)
What is the ICJ?
The International Court of Justice is a branch of the UNw which settles legal disputes between countries and advises on international law. It deals with individual countries rather than people or companies.
Bosnian War (1992 - 1995) - Global Crisis Response
Following the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR, the former satellite state - Yugoslavia - separated. This resulted in ethnic, religious and nationalist disputes and conflicts involving mass rape, genocide and many other war crimes.
In July 1995, Bosnian-Serb forces swept into Srebrenica and executed 8000 Muslim men and boys. UN peacekeepers were ordered not to return weapons to Bosnian-Muslim fighters which they had surrendered and thus were forced to watch as they were watch as the Muslims were killed. This led to the creation of the UN Peacekeeping Commission and set the West on a course of “liberal interventionism”.
In response, NATO enforced a no-fly zone over the area, aimed to establish safe zone, issued a naval blockade and conducted air strikes on Bosnian-Serb forces.
Iran’s Nuclear Programme - Global Crisis Response
In 1995, the USA first applied sanctions on Iran - fearing the development of nuclear weapons which the Iranian government denies and in 2006 NATO issued an arms embargo and asset freezes. In 2007 the EU issued sanctions and in 2012 there were sanctions placed on Iran’s oil exports (crucial to their economy)
In 2015, the Iranian government made a deal with the US, Uk, France, Germany, Russia and China to limit its nuclear activity if the sanctions were lifted. This deal was abandoned by the US under the Trump administration in 2018. Trump reinstated sanctions, wanting Iran to stop its ballistic missile programme and remove involvement in regional conflicts. This once again caused an economic crisis in Iran.
Ebola Epidemic - Global Crisis Response
The USA, France and UK led the response to the epidemic in West Africa. The U provided £430 million to help build 6 training facilities and 3 ebola research centres, 1500 troops and 150 NHS workers.
Haiti Earthquake - Global Crisis Respones
In response to the magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Leogane in 2010
The US airforce restored air traffic control to Port au Prince’s airport allowing aid to arrive
1600 US Marines provided humanitarian aid and technical help
US aircraft carriers provided rescue, food and water aid.
