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global politics > the UN > Flashcards

the UN Flashcards

1
Q

purpose of the UN

A

1.) maintain international peace and security

2.)develop friendly relations among nations

3.)achieve international cooperation in solving international problems

4.) be the center for harmonizing the actions of nations

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2
Q

UNGA

A

each member has one vote (193)

Most decisions by majority but 2/3 vote for key issues

Article 10 of the Charter states that the Assembly may discuss and make recommendations - therefore, not binding

Has control over the budget

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3
Q

UNSC

A

maintenance of international peace and security

  • US, UK, Russia, France and China are permanent members with veto
  • 10 rotating members

Decisions are binding - needs to be passed by 9/15 with no vetoes

attempt to secure ceasefires
send peacekeeping missions
arms embargo + sanctions
collective military action

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4
Q

UN military

A

UN has no army - relies on member states to deploy their military forces to UN missions (e.g. Peacekeeping) = voluntary

2024 = 81,820 UN Peacekeepers in 11 missions

2024 = Peacekeeping Budget = $6.7bn = less than 0.5% of global military spending

(HIPPO) concluded missions lacked specific equipment, intelligence, logistics, capabilities and specialized military preparation required’

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5
Q

UN funding

A
  • UN is financed by member states through = dues, peacekeeping contribution and voluntary
  • Dues and peacekeeping contributions from each country is determined by capacity of states
  • No state can provide more than 22% of UN Funding impact US only who is at ceiling
  • Minimum any state can provide is 0.001%
  • US = $10bn 2016 = largest donor = 1/5th UN Budget =
  • Voluntary contributions go straight to specific UN agencies based on state priorities -

When Trump became president US cut UN budget by $1.3 bn

ensuring none of $7 mil. voluntary funds to High Commission for Human Rights is spent on investigating Israel

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6
Q

UN israel v palestine

A

Israel blockade —-> humanitarian crisis in gaza strip

  • 15 Nov UN SC Resolution 2712 - called for humanitarian pauses and corridors (abstained by US, UK and Russia)
  • Brief truce b/w 24 Nov and 1 Dec
  • 22 Dec 2023 - UNSC Resolution 2720 - called for increased aid for Gaza and opening of international borders for aid (US and Russia abstained)
  • 25 March 2024 - UNSC passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire for the rest of Ramadan
    (US abstained)
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7
Q

cosmopolitanism

A

Cosmopolitanism - the idea that all human beings are members of a single moral community

priorities cooperation to reach common goals and meet challenges faced by the global community

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8
Q

liberalism

A

Liberalism - global cooperation is possible if coordinated and promoted by international Institution drive by the values of rule of law, liberal democracy, human rights, justice, equality, minimally regulated capitalism, free trade and collective security

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9
Q

realism

A

Realism - the idea that global actors priorities their own interests over the needs of others, often seeking to maximise their own power to safeguard their own survival

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10
Q

R2P

A

states have the primary responsibility to protect their citizens

when they are unwilling or unable to do so > loss of sovereignty

THEN the international community, through the UN Security Council, has a responsibility, to intervene to protect civilians

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11
Q

principles of R2P

A

‘Just cause thresholds’ - there must be large scale of loss of life or ethnic cleansing

  1. ‘precautionary principles’ - right intention, last resort, proportional means, reasonable prospects to win
  2. ‘right authority’ - be authorized by the UNSC
  3. ‘operational principles’ - clear objectives, common approach, limited force, appropriate rules of engagement and coordination with humanitarian agencies
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12
Q

case study R2P Myanmar

A

abuses committed by the military since the coup (1St Feb 2021) may amount to crimes against humanity and war
3 mil in need of humanitarian assistance

the only formal UNSC response to the Rohingya genocide in 2017 was a statement that stressed the ‘primary responsibility of the Myanmar government to protect is population’

Since Feb 2021 coup - the UNSC has met 12 times on issue of Myanmar + adopted 10 statements BUT taken no substantiative action

no draft resolution

June 2021 - UNGA passed a resolution calling on all governments to suspend arm sales to Myanmar + US, UK, and EU have issued unilateral sanctions

The Gambia has initiated a trial through the ICJ (UN Court) accursing Myanmar of being in breach of the Genocide Convention (case is ongoing)

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13
Q

Peacekeepers

A

both sides must agree to peacekeeping

*UN has not established a new peacekeeping mission since 2014

lack of resources led t no peacekeeping in 2018 Yemen conflict

US financial support for peacekeeping dropped 40% from 2015 to 2018

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14
Q

SDG

A

2015 SDGs enshrined - 17 goals. w/ 169 targets > to be achieved by 2030 = adopted by all 193 member states

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15
Q

SDG funding

A

The Economist estimated that achieving SDGs will require about US$2-3 trillion per year for 15 years

funding meeting in July 2015 at Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) included recommitment to UN target of aid spending as 0.7% of GNIs

  • In 2019 - Turkey, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and United Kingdom- met or exceeded a UN target for ODA of 0.7% of gross national income (6)

COVID-19, making the achievement of Goals even more challenging.

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16
Q

SDG agenda

A

2015 - IMF part of working group that established SDGs

  • takes part in SDG funding conference at Addis Ababa
  • Providing technical assistance on tax policy to 100+ countries per year
  • Increasing support on building institutions in fragile and conflict states
  • Deepening of policy advice on inclusion and environmental sustainability
17
Q

2023 SDG report

A

15% on track to meet goals
48% moderately on track
37% stalled/regressing

25 million children miss out on vaccine

2/3 of people have access to interest

37/96 countries are in debt distress

18
Q

Paris agreement

A

first time all world’s states have had a single agreement for tackling climate change

Deals w/:
1. Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation =
2. Adaptation
3. Finance - pledge for $100bn a year by 2020

address 95% of emissions

19
Q

goals of Paris Agreement

A
  • To keep global temperatures below 2.0C above preindustrial times and limit them even more, to 1.5C
  • To limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same levels envi can absorb naturally btwn 2050-2100
  • To review each country’s contribution to cutting emissions every rive years so they scale up to the challenge

° For rich countries to help poorer nations by providing “climate finance” to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy.

20
Q

analysis of NDC

A

contribution from member states that are determined by selves

reported every 5 years

non binding

not ambitious enough to meet 2C

many NDC don’t clarify how states will reduce emission

0 countries are 1.5C paris agreement compatible
9 almost sufficient

21
Q

Net 0 targets report

A

CAT evaluated the Net Zero targets for G20 member countries

  • 5 = Acceptable -> Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, EU, UK

13 countries have enshrined net zero target in law

22
Q

key policy change influenced by PA

A

France - 5 year plan to ban all petrol ana diesel cars by 2040 + pledge to no longer use coal to produce electricity after 2022 + 4bn investment into boosting energy efficiency

  • Norway - ban petrol and diesel powered cars by 2025
  • China - cap on coal, cancel plans for 104 coal power projects, invested $474b in a renewable energy program
23
Q

climate financing

A

$100b per year
2021 89.6B

UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s estimate that $1.6 trillion-$3.8 trillion Is required annually to avoid warming exceeding 1.5 °C

much is given in loans rather than grants + steered towards mitigation rather than adaptation

24
Q

COP 26 outcomes

A
  • Deforestation: 130 states - with 85% of the world’s forests - promised to stop deforestation by 2030
  • Methane: 100 states agreed to scheme to cut methane emissions by 30% by
    2030 - but no China, Russia or India

40 states committed to shift away from coal by ending all investment in new coal power generation domestically and internationally + phase out coal in the 2030s for major economies and 2040s for poorer nations

Coal deal = weak - 2040s too late

Lack of progress on finance - wealthier nations blocked a move to create a loss-and-damage fund to compensate developing states for areas harmed by CC

25
Q

COP 27 outcomes

A

Loss and damage fund agreed to for the first time

  • $3.1bn plan to ensure entire planet is covered by early-warning systems for hazardous weather
  • No commitment to phasing out fossil fuels
  • No significant new steps for curbing emissions
    34/194 states submitted new or updated NDCs
  • No roadmap for implementation of doubling adaptation finance

global politics (4 decks)

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