UN; Conflicts Flashcards
Geographical reasons for conflicts:
- Disagreements on country borders.
Part A of a country might not feel like they belong to part B, and therefore want to become their own state. If part B refuses to give A that land, part A might resort to violence. (An example of this is the start of WW1, where Serbia wanted to be independent of Austria-Hungary – though, this can also be seen as an ethnic reason.)
- Control over natural resources within an area
Political reasons for conflicts:
- Disagreements on who should have power in a country.
- Disagreements on what ideology a country should follow (ideological/religious reason. Some might want to separate religion with the law and state while others want to enforce it.
- Wanting control over natural resources in an area (also an economical reason).
What does UNESCO do?
Deal with culture, heritage, preservation.
Konsekvenser av konflikter
Conflicts often arise in poorer countries with a weak government and society.
It’s an evil cycle: people are unhappy with the government and take advantage of its weakness to try to take power by force -> violence escalates and often affects civilians: their homes and livelihoods are destroyed, and the country is pushed further into poverty. Basic infrastructure of the country is destroyed and the authorities have to put time and money on the conflicts instead of the people, which makes it more difficult for them to climb out of the pit of poverty -> repeat.
People have to flee to neighboring countries, which creates an influx of people that that country might not be able to handle. Sometimes this leads to resentment against the refugees, because they are seen as ‘intruders’, – a sort of hostile nationalism, where the people want to ‘protect’ their own, – which could lead to more conflicts.
Ethnic reasons for conflicts:
- Ethnic groups fighting
- Ethnic groups that have been ‘misplaced’ and forced to live under the same nation, even though they don’t identify with it or each other.
- Ethnonationalism, where one group sees themselves as superior to others.
Sanctions
Bans/restrictions put on a country’s import/export. Can be used as a punishment if the country commits war crimes, as a way of weakening them and their economy.
Agenda 2023
The UN’s very ambitious agenda for sustainable development. It has 18 goals (169 goals under the main 18 points) that encompass human rights (education, food and safety, healthcare, etc.), sustainable development (fighting poverty, climate change, protecting wildlife, etc), safety, etc.
COP
Conference of the Parties, where the countries that have signed the Paris Agreement meet to discuss what their climate goals and what to do to curb climate change, etc.
Non governmental organization
Voluntary organization that doesn’t work under the government. They deal with different issues like poverty, children’s rights and safety, preserving and protecting wildlife, etc.
The General Assembly
Where representatives from all member-countries discuss and vote on what actions, sanctions, resolutions, etc. the UN should take. The decisions voted forth are not directly implemented, but sent to the Security Council where they will make a final decision.
The General Assembly also handles the economy.
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN’s climate panel that looks at and creates reports regarding climate change. There have been controversies with accuracy and reliability within the panel.
The Security Council
The ‘head’ of the UN. This is where all decisions are finally made.
There are 10 temporary members that are voted forth by the General Assembly every two years and 5 permanent members: France, Britain, USA, China and Russia – the winners of WW2. They have a VETO, meaning any one of them can overrule any decisions being made. This right has been criticized by many because it keeps preventing the UN from making an actual impact on important questions in the world.
Secretariat
Responsible for the day-to-day work: soldiers, staff, etc.
Genevé Konventionerna
Folkrätten i väpnade konflikter, för att göra krig så humänt som möjligt och minska lidande för både civila och de som krigar.
- Hur civila ska behandlas
- Hur skadade ska behandlas
- Vilka vapen som får användas och hur
- Andra krigsfrågor
Bryter ett land mot konventionerna kan sanktioner ges eller så hamnar de i den internationella domstolen.
Historical reasons for war:
- Disagreements on country borders that were drawn a long time ago. (See geogrphical reasons.)
- Disagreements on who has the historical right to rule
