Wk 4 - Evolution of HS

Question 1

The Treaty of Westphalia 1648brought about… (x2)

Answer 1

Start of modern state system

End of Thirty Years War

Question 2

What 3 main changes were brought by the Westphalian peace?

Answer 2

Princes could determine state religion
State autonomy (from church)
Nation state as highest govt – monopoly on use of force

Question 3

What defined the state following the Treaty of Westphalia, 1648

Answer 3

Defined territory
Permanent population
Monopoly on coercive violence
Freedom from outside interference

Question 4

What shifts began with the beginning of the nation state? (x3)

Answer 4

Nature of war – from feudal with no military/civilian distinction
Towards legitimate state/no divine right to rule
Nationalism

Question 5

Humanitarianism began with… (x2)

Answer 5

ICRC formation and

First Geneva Convention 1864, attempts to ban certain weapons

Question 6

What is meant by total war? (x4)

Answer 6

20th C shift from war as small armies, few direct civilian effects, to:
Mass conscription
Industrial revolution – better weapons, planes tanks etc,
Strategic bombing - mass civilian targetting

Question 7

What defined the Cold War? (x6)

Answer 7

Ideological confrontation against development of pragmatic rules of interaction
Build up of nuclear and conventional arms
MAD
Cycles of détente and hostility
Large spheres of influence and proxy wars – support, but don’t directly engage in others’ wars
Didn’t now issues of nukes…

Question 8

Growth of humanitarian and international law was result of which 3 historical events?

Answer 8

Total war
Holocaust
Cold War

Question 9

What are the 4 main bodies of the UN?

Answer 9

UNSC: 5 permanent (US, Russia, China, France, UK) and 6 rotating
UNGA: needs 2/3 majority or consensus, for non-binding decisions
ECOSOC: oversees specialised agencies – UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO
Trusteeship Council – post WWII managing of territories, no longer active

Question 10

Describe the UNSC?

And its powers?

Answer 10

5 permanent (US, Russia, China, France, UK) and 6 rotating
Needs qualified majority for decision, or permanent member veto
Binding decisions on disputes, threats to peace, economic sanctions, and military actions

Question 11

When was Chapter 7 mandate first invoked? (x2)

Answer 11

Infrequently during Cold War

Over Korea, and only coz Russia boycotted a meeting – never happened again

Question 12

History/adoption of the Ottawa Treaty (landmine convention) (x5)

Answer 12

1993/94 - ICRC/HRW campaign begins
121 states adopt treaty in Ottawa, 1997
Into force 1999
One of the HS successes of the 90s
Due to ICRC reframing weapon as indiscriminate

Question 13

What are landmines? (x1)

And what are the issues that differentiates them from conventional weapons? (x2)

Answer 13

Explosive material in metal/plastic/wood casing that detonates from pressure of a footstep/vehicle (anti-personnel or –tank)
Are indiscriminate and widely used -
Designed to take out more than the injured on battlefield

Question 14

Why did the landmine campaign succeed? (ie four techniques for stimulating normative change)

Answer 14

Disseminating information
Establishing networks for proselytizing (attempting to convert beliefs) for normative change
Incorporating/grafting onto existing norms (on civilian protection)
Shifting the burden of proof – calls on states to justify their positions on making/using indiscriminate kill

Question 15

Why have campaigns against other weapons not had same success as landmines?
egs small arms, fuel air bombs

Answer 15

Small arms - grassroots opposition by NRA

Fuel air bombs - although also indiscriminate, have not garnered the early support required from ICRC/HRW