Unit 1 - politics and governance Flashcards
summary of civil power/power as a concept
Power - ability to have others do what you influence them.
6 primary sources of civic power:
Physical violence/force
Wealth e.g money
State actions: law and punishment
Social norms: normalised behaviour/concepts based on public perspective.
Ideas
Number: public mass to generate influence
Elements of democracy
Equality (citizenship)
Right to vote (universal suffrage)
Elected leaders
Freedom of speech
Basic law in Hong Kong
- “One country, two systems”
- Classified as a mini constitution
- Agreement made between Britain and China, established 1st July, 1997.
- Protects basic rights such as freedom of speech and assembly, non-existent in China.
- Valid for only 50 years, recently extended beyond deadline.
Hong Kong’s national security law:
Judicial review to be reviewed in court through the context of law.
Subversion
understanding power or authority.
The threat to American democracy:
Polarising political rhetoric
Voter suppression
G.O.P (republican party)
in the 2020 elections, Trump claims foul play, resulting in the capitol raid.
Swing state (constantly changing between two parties) e.g Nivada, Arizona.
precinct strategy
to slow down the election process, playing into bias, creating doubt and concern.
Deep state cabal
a group of people involved in a conspiracy plot.
summary of nation states
A state is a territory with its own institutions and populations.
A sovereign state is a state with its own institutions and populations, territory, and government. It must also have the right and capacity to make treaties and other agreements with other states.
A nation is a large group of people who inhibit a specific territory and are connected by history, culture, or another commonality.
A nation state is a cultural group (nation) that is also a state (that may be a sovereign state.
definition of sovereignty, nation and nation state
Sovereignty - the state’s ability to govern itself without interference from other nation states.
Nation state - territory over a portion of land that no other country holds power or sovereignty.
Nation - territorialised group of people who lack sovereignty e.g Scotland and Wales
summary of the European court of justice
Established 1952
Located in Luxembourg
Consists of two courts: general court + court of justice
Multilingual institution
Purpose:
Reviews legality of the acts of the institutions of the EU
Ensures that the member states comply with obligations under the treaties and interprets EU law at the request of the national court and tribunals
1 judge from each EU country, plus 11 advocates
Intro to human rights
things that people are morally or legally entitled to have.
Discrimination - when a person is treated unfairly based on their backgrounds
Freedom - the power or right to act, speak or think as you want.
key points
- They have been hard to define because of abstract notions of rightfulness, justice and rights.
- Universal human rights were widely agreed upon after WWII with the creation of the united nations.
- in 1948, the UN general assembly adopted the universal declaration of human rights.
- The underlying premise holds the belief that all human beings are born free in dignity and rights.
- It’s not easy to enforce these rights and punish transgressors. The universal declaration of human rights is a declaration not a hard law.
function of the UN
- First responders concerning natural disasters
- Humanitarian relief/aid
- Broker peace agreements
- Helping refugees
- Rights for freedom regarding child soldiers
- Trains police
- Reconstructions of war torn countries
- Healthcare for pregnant women
- Combating disease
- Education
UN key points
- United Nations general - Antoñio Guterres
- 173 parties in the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights)
rule of law
the principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.
summary of the International courts of law
European court of human rights
International criminal court
European court of justice
International court of justice
Unicef goals and example
Goals: Ensure protection for disadvantaged children,victims of war, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation and those with disabilities. Advocating for children rights.
Humanitarian action for children 2023:
Ensure safety for populations of children displaced and endangered by war
Provide relief of malnutrition and infectious disease
Combat the effects of climate change, food insecurity, famine and floods.
United nations environmental programme
Goals: Advocating climate change and environmental cooperation, ecosystem management, ending human-wildlife conflict, helping countries leap into a greener economy.
Work and budget 2022-2023 (POW) - Annex 1
United nations aid programme goals and example
Goals: Unite the world against AIDS, donating money to countries to fund HIV treatments
Ukraine - disease
United nations human rights council goals and example
Goals: protecting human rights and combat human rights violations.
Ukraine, war relief 2022-2023
Secretariat summary
Carries out the day to day work mandated by the general assembly and the UN’s other domain organs headed by the Secretary General of the UN
4 main offices in New York, Vienna, Geneva and Nairobi
Has 5 main regional economic committees in Bangkok, Beirut, Addis Ababa, Geneva, and Santiago dealing with a multitude of economic issues
International court of justice purpose
It settles disputes between states according to international law.
Gives advisory law opinions on international legal issues.
Economic and social council
The Council and 54 members, elected by the general assembly on three year terms.
Responsible for the three dimensions of sustainable development,
ECOSOC focuses on promoting social progress and better standards of living.
Trusteeship council
Established to supervise the administration of trust territories as they transitioned from colonies to sovereign nations
made up of the five permanent members of the Security Council – China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States.
security council
Responsible for the maintenance of national security and peace, determines existing threats to peace or acts of aggression and relies on parties to resolve the conflict by peaceful means. Some cases may allow the council to authorise the use of force to maintain peace.
15 members, each member possessing one vote.
All member states are obligated to comply with council decisions.
Define ‘responsibility to protect’
An obligation/to feel responsible to protect a group, individual, thing.
Which countries, where humanitarian intervention occurred, are mentioned?
Bosnia, Libya, Syria, Sarajevo
Which countries supported and pushed the idea of ‘responsibility to protect’?
Western nations and countries
Indigenous communities
communities who originate from, or are attached to, an area where modern countries have since been established.
Terra nullius
“territory without master”, a term in international law to declare a land without claim, does not belong to a state.
Indigenous groups summary (real world application)
Sami (Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark)
Total population of 80,000
Facing loss of culture, livelihood, identity due to failure to recognise their rights
Subjected to racism, discrimination and governments
Finnish constitution (1996) - status of indigenous people was recognised alongside their right to
Native Americans) (America)
Indigenous peoples experience higher rates of poverty that impact their access to education, clean water and sanitation, and good health.
The lack of resources are causing poverty and unemployment
Defends Native Americans from discrimination and governmental abuse
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Financial Assistance and Social Services (FASS)
Provides assistance to recognized Native Americans, mainly providing cash assistance to meet essential needs of food, shelter, clothing and utilities.
