GSU Global Issues (POLS2401)

Globalization

The rapid integration of economies and societies across borders

Actors on the World Stage

NGOs, GNOs, Individuals, MNCs

Downsides of globalization

• Unwanted influence on state sovereignty

• Economic churning leading to job losses in higher wage countries

• Cross functional operation between bad state actors

• Cultural imperialism

Upsides of globalization

• Strengthen good governance-local to global

• Higher international trade and investment

• MNC’s and NGO’s leverage expanded transportation and communication networks

  • Opportunities to learn about other cultures

State

Political unit able to exercise effective

governance and control over a well-defined

piece of territory and its population

Legitimacy

The right and acceptance of an authority*

(*specific position in established government)

Autonomy

the degree to which a state can implement policies independent of the populace or the amount of sovereignty a nation-state can exercise in the global environment

Role of Maps

Treaty of Westphalia

negotiated in 1648 to end the Thirty Years' War, Europe's most destructive internal struggle over religion. The treaties contained new language recognizing statehood and nationhood, clearly defined borders, and guarantees of security

Nationalism

identity with a group of people who share the cultural traditions of a particular homeland or hearth

Ethnic Nationalism (Ethno-nationalism)

form of nationalism wherein the "nation" is defined in terms of ethnicity. . . Nations are defined by a shared heritage i.e.: common language, common faith, common ethnic ancestry.

French Revolution

A major change in government that began in 1789; it brought an end to the absolute monarchy and a start to a representative government

Nation State

a type of state that joins the political entity of a state to the cultural entity of a nation, from which it aims to derive its political legitimacy to rule and potentially its status as a sovereign state.

Sovereignty

Supreme power or Authority

Clash of Civilizations

The belief that cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict in the post-Cold War world

Empathic Civilizations

Only empathy can save us

Soft Power

is the ability to shape the preferences of others through appeal and attraction

Hard Power

a coercive approach to international political relations, especially one that involves the use of military power.

Smart Power

The combination of soft and hard power (a term coined in 2003 to fight off the idea that soft power alone could work).

League of Nations

created after the First World War to provide a forum for resolving international disputes.

United Nations

is primarily a peacekeeping organization, has other important jobs, too. It helps nations deal with economic and social problems. It promotes respect for human rights. It works to advance justice and international law. And it helps victims of wars, famines, and other disasters.

The General Assembly

(UN Organ)

* Composed of all member nations

* Can discuss any matter within the scope of the charter

*"Town meeting of the world"

*Elects members of The Economic and Social Council, Industrial Development Organization, and members of the Trusteeship Council.

* Appoints the UN secretary-general

*Approves UN Budget

The Security Council

(UN Organ)

*Composed of the 5 most powerful nations called "permanent members" (US, Russia, UK, Frane and China)

*Maintain international peace and security

*Also has ten non-permanent members

The Economic and Social Council

(UN Organ)

*Work under general guidance of General Assembly

*54 member nations that serve 3-Year terms

*Deal with economic development, land reform, and control of narcotics

The Trusteeship Council

(UN Organ)

*Developed to help the General Assembly supervise administration of territories

*Composed of 5 permanent members of the Security Council

*Meets as circumstances demand

The International Court of Justice

(UN Organ)

*Principal Judicial Organ

*15 Judges with 9-Year terms elected by General Assembly and Security Council

*No nation may have more than one Judge

*Settles disputes submitted by nations for final decision

*Gives advice to other UN Organs

The Secretariat

(UN Organ)

*Secretary General in charge

*The administrative organ brings any matter that seems it will endanger international peace here

*The secretary general appoints members of this organ guided by rules appointed by the general assembly

*Members must be international

Secretary General

(UN)

*Described as "chief administrative officer" of the Organization

*Shall act in that capacity and perform "such other functions as are entrusted" to him or her by the Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council and other United Nations organs.

Global Security

includes military and diplomatic measures that nations and international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO take to ensure mutual safety and security.

World War I

*Began June 28 1914

*Triggered by assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

*Allied Powers (US [Woodrow Wilson], Russia, Britain, France)

*Central Powers (Germany, Austria Hungry, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria)

*Key pieces of why it started: alliances, imperialism, Austria declaring war

*African American used as soldiers in segregated armies

World War II

*September 1, 1939 - September 2, 1945

*Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, US, and China)

*US [Roosevelt] joined in 1941 after Pearl Harbor

*Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan)

*Adolf Hitler

*Japan wanted to control Asia and the Pacific

*Spain, Sweden, Switzerland remained neutral

Cold War

*Geopolitical tension after WWII

* Soviet Union and its satellite states v.s. US and NATO allies

*Korean War

*Space Race

*Nixon, Eisenhower, Truman

*Fall of Berlin Wall

*Communist leaders

*Downfall of Soviet Union

Truman Doctrine

*Created to counter Soviet Geopolitical expansion during Cold War

*July 12, 1948

*Pledged to keep Soviet threats to Greece and Turkey

Human Security

was first popularized by the United Nations Development Program in the early 1990s. It emerged in the post-Cold War era as a way to link various humanitarian, economic, and social issues in order to alleviate human suffering and assure security

Conflicts in Yugoslavia

a series of ethnically charged wars took place which resulted in the end of Yugoslavia as the nations broke apart

Weapons Proliferation

is the spread of nuclear weapons, fissionable material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information to nations not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States"

Vertical Proliferation

the advancement or modernization of a nation-state's nuclear arsenal

Horizontal Proliferation

the direct or indirect transfer of technologies from one nation-state to another, which ultimately leads to the advancement of developing a nuclear weapon

The Nuclear Club

The United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea

AQ Khan

a Pakistani nuclear physicist and a metallurgical engineer, who founded the uranium enrichment program for Pakistan's atomic bomb project.

NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons)

a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

Arms Control

international disarmament or arms limitation, especially by mutual consent.

Iran Nuclear Deal

*Signed 2015

agreed to redesign and rebuild the Arak reactor so it will not produce weapons-grade plutonium. The original core of the reactor, which would enable the production of weapons-grade plutonium, will be made inoperable, but will stay in the country. Under the terms of the deal, the reactor's spent fuel, which could also be used to produce a bomb, will be shipped out of the country. Iran will not build any additional heavy water reactors for 15 years

MNC’s/TNC’s

(Multinational or Transnational Corporations)

Large companies that operate in multiple countries. Influence global trade, investment, and sometimes politics. Example (Apple, Toyota, Microsoft)

NGO’s

(Non-governmental organizations)

Non-profit groups independent of any government that work toward humanitarian environmental, or social goals.

Other non-state actors

Entities that play a role in global affairs without being nation-states. Includes terrorist groups, activist networks, influential individuals, and media organizations