Unit 3 AOS 1 - Global Actors Flashcards
1
Q
Aims of States
A
- To preserve statehood and maintain its sovereignty
- To pursue national interests which bolster its power
2
Q
Roles of States
A
- To meet the needs of its citizens
- To preserve statehood and maintain sovereignty
3
Q
State Power
A
- Absolute control within defined borders
- Ability to exercise foreign and domestic policy
- Recognition that other states will not interfere with its affairs
4
Q
Examples of States achieving Roles
A
- Same-Sex Marriage Legalisation (2017) - Meet needs of citizens (Needs of citizens)
- Brexit (2016) - England leaving European Union (Maintaining sovereignty)
5
Q
Challenges to State Sovereignty
A
- Contested and Changing Borders
- Regional Groupings
- Issues that Require Multilateral Resolution
6
Q
Examples of Contested and Changing Borders (Challenging Sovereignty)
A
- South Sudan (2011): Following decades of war, South Sudan withdrew from the state of Sudan due to civil wars, causing the region of Abyei to become contested - “Both sides have militarized Abyei” (Moses, Reuters)
- Russia/Crimea (2014): Russia sent 600 troops into Crimea to try to annex them for oil wealth, challenging Ukraine’s sovereignty
7
Q
Examples of Regional Groupings (Challenging Sovereignty)
A
- Junker Migration Deal (2015): Despite rejecting the ‘Junker Migration Deal,’ Poland, Slovakia and Hungary had to accept 160,000 refugees from Greece and Italy due to EU law
- Apple Pay Back Taxes to Ireland (2016): The EU ordered apple to pay 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland, for excessively low tax rates, imposing on Ireland’s economic sovereignty
8
Q
Examples of Issues that Require Multilateral Resolution (Challenging Sovereignty)
A
- Bangladesh Land Loss (2050): Due to climate change, Bangladesh is expected to lose 17% of its territory by 2050
- China response to Paris Climate Accord (2017): Due to the Agreement, China created an emissions trading scheme in order to reach its 2020 emissions target
- American Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord (2017): US maintained sovereignty when Trump pulled out of the Agreement “as my solemn duty to protect America” (Trump)
9
Q
Aims of the UN
A
- To maintain international peace and security
- To develop friendly relations between states
- To foster cooperation between states in solving problems of an economic, cultural, social and humanitarian nature
- To promote respect for human rights
10
Q
Roles of the UN
A
- To uphold international law through cooperating with international systems of justice such as the ICC
- General Assembly: To provide a forum for debate on pressing issues and to recommend resolutions for international cooperation
- Security Council: To adopt resolutions which can authorise economic sanctions, military forces, peacekeeping, and create agreements to settle disputes
11
Q
Power of the UN
A
- The UNSC can authorize economic sanctions, military forces, peacekeeping and create agreements to settle disputes
- Can facilitate multilateral responses to third agenda issues such as humanitarian crises
- Restricted by its limited ability to enforce the resolution it adopts
12
Q
Examples of the UN’s Power
A
- Resolution 2118 (2013): Following the 2013 Ghouta Chemical Attacks that killed 1429, this resolution demanded the destruction of all Syrian Chemical Weapon stockpiles
- Resolution 2165 (2014): In response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, this resolution enabled provision of humanitarian aid such as food and healthcare to 2.9 million Syrians, without government permission
- Resolution 1973 (2011): Called for “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in Libya using NATO military forces
13
Q
Aims of the IMF
A
- To promote exchange rate stability
- To make resources available to states experiencing balance of payment difficulties
- To reduce poverty around the world
- To facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade
14
Q
IGO, UN, IMF, ICC, NGO, MSF, ISIS, TNC, RDS
A
- Inter-Governmental Organisations
- United Nations
- International Monetary Fund
- International Criminal Court
- Non-Governmental Organisations
- Medicins Sans Frontieres
- Islamic State
- Trans-National Corporations
- Royal Dutch Shell
15
Q
Roles of the IMF
A
- To act as ‘lender of last resort’ for states experiencing balance of payments difficulties and ongoing debt issues
- To provide technical assistance and training to states through structural reforms
16
Q
IMF examples
A
- IMF Resources (2018): Currently has $1 trillion USD from quota payments from its member states
- No Interest on Poverty Reduction (2016): Approved a modification to remove all interest rates on poverty reduction concessional loans until at least the end of 2018
- Greece Poverty (2010, 2012, 2015): Made Greece to enforce cuts on public jobs and a 40% cut to pensions as well as bailout loans in 2010, 2012 and 2015 amounting to $100 billion, however this resulted in peak unemployment in 2013 (27.9%) and increase of poverty to 15% in 2015.
17
Q
Aims of the ICC
A
- To ensure the world’s worst perpetrators are held accountable for their crimes
- To serve as a court of last resort that can investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and war crimes
- To assist national judiciaries in investigating and prosecuting these perpetrators
18
Q
Roles of the ICC
A
- To try, prosecute and sentence individuals who commit genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and war crimes
- To assist national judiciaries in investigating and prosecuting the world’s worst perpetrators
19
Q
Power of the ICC
A
- Heavily dependent on the compliance of member states and international cooperation
- Lacks power in its inability to prosecute heads of state
20
Q
ICC examples
A
- Thomas Lubanga (2012): DRC politician tried by the ICC and sentenced to 14 years in prison, on three counts on war crimes
- Al-Mahdi (2015): Niger handed over Al-Mahdi to the ICC who successfully sentenced him to 9 years in prison for destroying religious and historical buildings
- Omar Al-Bashir (2015): Despite the Sudanese President being indicted by the ICC for two counts of war crimes and five counts of crimes against humanity, he was not turned over by the South African government (limited power)
21
Q
Aims of Greenpeace
A
- To prevent pollution and abuse of the earth’s land, oceans and air
- To catalyse an energy revolution to address the threat of climate change
22
Q
Roles of Greenpeace
A
- To “lobby governments and industries” to expose environmental degraders, to initiate petitions and use public opinion to influence legislation in line with environmental protection
- To “seek out and promote sustainable solutions for our environmental problems”
23
Q
Greenpeace Examples
A
- Microbeads (2017): Created a petition to prohibit the production and consumption of microbead plastics in the UK, getting 380,000 signatures and forcing the UK to ban them
- Nazca Lines (2014): Inscribed “Time for Change! The Future in Renewable,” into the UNESCO listed sight, getting international attention
24
Q
Power of Greenpeace
A
- Influence on government policy, through successfully harnessing public opinion
- Limited through declining rates of membership and obsolete power in South America
25
Aims of MSF
- To provide high quality healthcare and emergency aid to people suffering from war, natural disasters or medical epidemics
- To speak out about the plight of endangered populations
26
Roles of MSF
- To provide high quality healthcare and emergency aid to people suffering from war, natural disasters or medical epidemics
- To criticize, lobby and influence the actions of states and IGOs such as the UN on issues that endanger the lives of civilians
- To lower the costs of high quality drugs and treatment to make them more accessible to those in need
27
Power of MSF
- Able to directly provide healthcare in any state and save people's lives
- Able to influence government action towards medical provision
- Faces backlash and a worsened reputation (negative)
28
MSF examples
- Tajikistani Children (2016): Spent $2 million on establishing clinics in Dushanbe, where 200 children were treated.
- Kayla Mueller (2013): Captured and killed by ISIS after MSF failed to negotiate for her freedom, "I don't think there was a moral responsibility" (Cone, US Executive Director) (Backlash limits power)
29
Aims of RDS
- To meet the world's growing demand for energy in manner that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable
- To maximise profit for its shareholders
30
Roles of RDS
- To explore and produce oil and gas
| - To investigate renewable energy sources
31
Power of RDS
- Influence governments, particularly those of developing states
- Driver of progress in host state
- Predatory and exploitative of host state
32
RDS examples
- Spending on Green Energy (2018): Spent over $400 million on renewables such as solar power to reduce its carbon footprint
- Double Profits (2017) 4th Quarter of 2017, doubled its profit to $4.3 billion and increased net income to shareholders by 140%
- Nigeria: Invested heavily, created employment, and fuelled economic growth, 86% of tax revenue are from RDS profits, 98% of export earnings are from RDS, employed 6000 Nigerians (positive power)
- Oil Spill (2011): 40,000 barrels spilt into ocean 75 miles from Niger Delta, damaging biodiversity and resource security, 40% of all RDS oil spills occur in Nigeria (exploiting power)
- Wikileaks (2010): Revealed RDS employees in every major government agency (predatory power)
- Oil Bribes (2011): Engaged in $1.1 billion bribe to secure oil rich land in Nigeria (exploitative power)
33
Nation
A group of people who share a common language, culture or history
34
Global Governance
Institutions, rules, norms and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate cooperation and manage relations between states
35
Multlateralism
Three or more global actors who cooperate to address issues of mutual concern or in pursuit of common objectives
36
State
A political organisation with a permanent population, defined territory and a recognised sovereignty
37
Sovereignty
Legitimate and recognised ability to exercise control over a territory with recognised borders, free from external interference
38
Globalisation
The acceleration and intensification of exchange of goods, services, labour and capital which promote global interdependence
39
Power
The ability to influence the actions of another global actor
