GLOBAL GOVERNANCE - political and economic
political:
international system = based on sovereign independence of state - no gov higher than state + no global government
organisations:
united nations
only igo where all world's states can be members + discuss common problems
1945 + currently has 193 members
all states must uphold the terms of 1945 UN charter
role and significance of organs:
six main organs
GA
ECOSOC
ICJ
secretariat
trusteeship council
main body - main representative, deliberate, decision making body
strengths:
equal representation
jaw jaw not war war
global forum
weaknesses:
has little power
equal say to democracies and dictatorships
represents interests of states not people
UNSC:
maintains peace and security - authorises military action eg 1990-91 iraq
15 members - 5 permanent (have veto), 10 non permanent (2 year period - elected)
veto impacts effectiveness - can prevent sc action
strengths:
represents realities of world power
powerful force when working collaboratively
represents ideal of collective security
represents ideal of upholding UN charter and world peace
weaknesses:
powerless to make decisions due to veto
too much power to powerful states = undemocratic
lack of permanent members from SA, afrcia and asia
hard to reform due to veto
oversees many UN agencies and work on economic and social issues
54 elected members co ordinate WB WTO WHO ILO and UNESCO
important for looking at humanity's significant challenges
principal judicial organ of UN - resolves disputes b/w member states
15 judges elected by GA for 9 year terms
deals w sovereignty and border dispute issues - land or sea
eg. cambodia and thailand - temple of preah vihear - awarded to cambodia
strengths:
upholds idea of international rule of law
upholds principle that conflict should be resolved peacefully
genuine neutrality - decisions = legitimate
states opportunity to back down in conflict w out losing face
genuine need as there are so many disputes
weaknesses:
both parties must agree to ruling
no way of enforcing rulings
comprises secretary general of UN and staff that do day to day work
secretary general elected by GA on recommendation of SC for 5 years
role of secretary general = flexible + open to interpretation, world's no 1 diplomat
allegiance to UN and values not to nation of origin
suspended operations in 1994
oversees territories, eg palau gained independance in 1994
set up to oversee administration of 'trustee territories' former league of nations mandates
run w best interests of inhabitants and international peace/security in mind
ALL 11 trustees now independent, self governing or have joined neighbouring countries
strengths and weaknesses as a whole:
strengths
weaknesses
unique - every state = member, enhances cooperation regarding common problems
shows interconnectedness and interdependencies of modern world
represents states as equals
can create competition - 193 states all want more power
does not take sovereignty away from states - no compulsion
too weak or too strong
does not do enough, does too much
undemocratic or gives unsavoury govs an equal platform to democracies
gives small countries too much say or dominated by powerful countries
hard to reform
slow to react to humanitarian disasters
NATO
early role:
'keep russians out, americans in and the germans down' lord ismay
response to developing tension in europe
combat communism - secure europe against communist threat
warsaw pact:
formed in 1955 - collective security organisation, against NATO
comprised 7 countries under soviet influence
NATO and warsaw pact never engaged in direct conflict - despite power struggle b/w the two
1979 - afghanistan tensions b/w NATO and warsaw pact increased w arms race
changing role:
end of cold war...need for nato?
still committed to fighting militant nationalism in europe + promoting democracy and political integration
EU key to embedding democracy and stability in countries
beyond europe:
primary role: collective secuirty in europe - decline of SU led to expansion of role
threats from terrorist groups eg 9/11 - first and only article 5
NATO and ISAF - aimed to provide security and stability so peace and democracy could flourish - maintained presence from 2003-2014
role in afghanistan = controversial
NATO countries suffered significant casualties - did this help national interest of member states?
friendly fire incidents
civilians were killed, result of air strikes - casualties caused tension b/w afghan gov and foreign forces
growth and expansion into EE and implications for peace and security:
reunification of germany - eastern bloc countries had desire to join nato and eu
1990 12 states from central and eastern europe joined - 10 were warsaw pact countries
many states saw cold was as period of oppression by russians - new democracies determined to entrench freedom from russia
membership of nato - ensures security + membership of eu - embeds democracy, HR and market economies
russia - expanision of nati into former soviet bloc = threat + betrayal
expansion seen as part of west's policy to 'encircle' and isolate russia
relationship with russia and wider world:
relationship = strained, potential for new cold war, crimea and ukraine
fall of soviet union - west did not feel threatened - europe became haven for peace and stability under protection of NATO
russia has supported president assad in syrian civil war - nato concerned by putin's actions
baltics and poland concerned by russia's tactics and actions - hybrid warfare - could test collective security
differing views in NATO over intervention would give russia significant power
russia and west sought to strengthen borders through troops and military equipment - act as detterance
close relations with EU - share many member states, values and interests - close cooperation b/w two organisations makes best of military work and civilian expertise and soft power
example of cooperation - deploying naval forces together in anti-piracy operations off coast of somalia
strengths and weaknesses:
strengths:
weaknesses:
not all eu members = nato members
all states have different national interests
require unanimity for decisions to be made
would states actually come to aid of an attacked state?
over reliant on USA
dominated by USA
not all countries spend guideline 2% of GDP on military
spends 70% of worlds total military expenditure
proven military capabilities
changed with the times - found new roles to serve interests of members
technologically advanced alliance
achieved purpose of deterring soviet union aggression
bound by values of freedom, democracy, human rights + market economies
economic:
organisations:
IMF - international monetary fund
began 1945
specialised agency within the UN family - independent from but has close ties with UN
189 members
roles:
surveillance - primary purpose
capacity development
lending
maintains stability of the international financial system
KEY TERMS
IMF
gives advice to member states on financial matters
from 1970s has focused heavily on lending to developing world
post communist states to liberalise economies
prevent financial crisis - but did not prevent crisis of 2007-2009
contributory system - members pay relative subscription to their economy
use of quotas
unlike UN states not treated equally
allocation of votes based on relative positions of economies in the world
richer countries = more power - USA has most votes
strengths and weaknesses:
weaknesses
strengths
seems to be effective - has fulfils purpose of promoting economic stability
lends to countries that can't find other source of finance
acts as bulwark against economic disasters
taken lead in bailing out countries suffering debt crisis - 2007-2009
source of expertise and information - members draw on to stabilise economy
adapted to changing international context
post cold war - helping eastern states transform from communist to capitalist economies
under representation of developing countries
but has increased quota of BRICS
dominated by the USA - heavy influence on decisions
quota based system means US essentially has veto (17% of vote) 85% needed to make decision
world bank
partner organisation to IMF
189 members
share building and make decisions in similar way - both guided by free marker economy principles
purpose is redistributive - reduce global poverty
focuses heavily on supporting and developing poorer countries
also is - source of economic and social development expertise
works in collaboration with other organisations eg arab league - increasing economic participation of women
strengths
redistributive role
worked closely w UN to halve extreme poverty by 2015
willingness to adapt - promotes development and poverty reduction
weaknesses:
US has too much influence over bank and policies
encourages poor countries to produce cash crops like cocoa and coffee
good governance not a requirement of its loans
encourage unsustainable development
spends to little on development
WTO
1995
164 members including russia (joined 2012)
created as a permanent organisation with wider focus
replaced the general agreement on tariffs and trade GATT
settles trade disputes and enforces international trade rules
primary instrument of international trade law
oversees trade in services, protection of intellectual property and non tariff barriers
decision making prioritises speed over democracy
strengths
weaknesses
considered more democratic than other bretton woods institutions
decisions made by simple majority votes
developing states more influential in WTO than IMF or WB
GATT and WTO successful at reducing tariff barriers
cheaper for states to trade which benefitted ordinary people
too powerful - can compel sovereign states to change laws and regulations by declaring them to be violating free trade rules
decision making dominated by the US and EU - problems of developing countries not been given significant weight
more developed counties not fully opened their markets to products from less developed countries
indifferent to impact of free trade and workers rights, child labour, environment and health
lacks external accountability
G7/G8
informal bloc of industrialised democracies, meet annually
political and economic organisation
represents advanced economies - makes it important group
formed 1975 in wake of oil crisis 1973 and end of fixed exchange rates
not a permanent organisation no formal criteria for membership
focus of meetings primarily economic - since 1980s expanded includes foreign policy, security and energy policy
strengths and weaknesses
strength
weakness
smaller forum where states can discuss common concerns - easier to reach agreement
made number of important interventions in global politics
1999, cancelled $100 billion of bilateral and multilateral debt
doubled aid in africa and cancelling debts of 19 countries owed to the IMF and WB in 2005 at gleaneagles summit
2008 met to co ordinate response to global financial crisis
2014 G7 placed pressure on russia to withdraw from the crimea
rich countries club - promoting neo-liberal economic policy
inability/unwillingness to deal effectively with poverty, inequality and climate change
gap continues to widen between G7 and developing countries
G20 arguably more important
G20
1999 - 1st summit 2008
promote international financial stability - replace G7
more diverse than G7
works closely with international organisations, UN, IMF, WB
no formal organisation or member criteria - main work conducted through meetings
strengths and weaknesses
strengths:
more significant body than G7 since 2009
september 2009 agreed that the G20 would replace the G7 as main forum for economic co-operation
weaknesses:
countries in G20 - not actually top 20 GDPs
lack of transparency and accountability
no formal charter
UN
NATO
world government
security council
world bank
WTO
G7
G20
north south divide
dependancy theory
structural adjustment programme
non-governmental organisations