PB 3.a2-3 Role of Institutions, Treaties, Laws and Norms// Flows of People, Money, Ideas and Technology in Geopolitical Intervention

Global governance is...

global governance is the movement towards political cooperation amongst different countries and transactional actors aimed at negotiating responses to problems that affect more than one state or region.

International institutions such as UN/NATO/EU/NGOs play an important role in regulating conflict because...

They provide structures for diplomacy, negotiation, and peacekeeping that help maintain the global system of sovereign states.

By cooperating with global institutions, national and local governments, and citizens living in conflict zones, they provide humanitarian relief including healthcare, medicines, education, food, and water.

They support the strengthening of local institutions, rule of law, and democratic processes. They are also responsible for reinforcing a number of treaties, norms, and laws.

What is the UN's role in global governance?

The UN was founded in 1945, replaced the League of Nations, has 193 member states.

Aim:

The UN influences sovereignty by coordinating international responses to conflict and providing peacekeeping forces to maintain international peace and security.

The UN does this through the UN Security Council, which enable global governance through:

- maintains international peace and security (to prevent conflict)

- settles disputes between states via the international court of justice (attempts peaceful resolution of disputes)

- upholds international law

- can authorise sanctions, military intervention, or peacekeeping missions (if diplomatic measures ineffective, it has military capacity and mandate to undertake crisis management operations) (can be done either alone or in cooperation with other countries and IOs)

- supports states with counter terrorism and treaty making

- delivering humanitarian aid

How are the UN's current peacekeeping missions managed by various players?

Currently 16 peacekeeping missions, backed by legal and political authority of the UN Security Council, the UN departments which do the day-to-day work of the UN, the support of the host country and the use of personnel and finance contributed by member states.

However, when evaluating the success of the UN in regulating conflict zones, it needs to be acknowledged that...

Whilst the UN operates its policies as part of a global partnership which gives its interventions legitimacy sustainability and global reach...

It is difficult to fully achieve successful disarmament or to settle disputes between countries in the 21st century, which makes preventative diplomacy and mediation increasingly important.

Monitoring and observation have also taken on greater significance, enabling peacekeeping operations to be deployed earlier.

To critique the UN's efficacy in regulating conflict...

Many failed peacekeeping missions: due to ineffective leadership and limited range of actions available, as well as vetoes.

The UN's undemocratic decision-making process... The Council as it is set up means not all UN member states have the same say, due to vetoes, which have been the principle cause of inaction on war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The UN is inefficient and expensive. Overly bureaucratic and slow in the way it deals with issues, and outdated structure, make it incredibly expensive.

i.e. Russia vetoed the condemning of their invasion of Ukraine in 2022

What is NATO, and what is its purpose?

Alliance of European and North American countries

Purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its 28 members through political and military means.

Military alliances (NATO) influence geopolitical stability because they provide collective security, meaning member states agree to defend each other if one is attacked.

NATO is an alliance of 28 member states in Europe and N America (to help maintain international security). The main aim is that if one member is threatened, all others are contractually obliged come to its aid. NATO safeguards members though:

1. Politically by promoting democratic values (encourages consultation and co-operation on defence and security issues to help prevent conflict)

2. Military measures if diplomatic measures are ineffective (to undertake crisis management and operations)

NATO is potentially more effective in regulating global governance than the UN because if one member is threatened all other

Example of NATO (11 sept 2001)

11th September 2001. After the 911 attacks, America invoked Article 5 of North Atlantic Treaty for the first and only time, which required the other 27 member states to come to its aid as America stated it was "under armed attack".

The European Union influences sovereignty by...

The EU is a supranational institution

1. Aims to: avoid conflict among its member states by encouraging economic and political interdependence through trade (reducing likelihood of conflict)

2. Provide security

3. Regulate conflict through policies such as foreign affairs and security policy.

NGOs also influence global governance because...

by (monitoring) providing early warning of possible conflicts, e.g. ACCORD (example of NGO specialising in conflict management and prevention in Africa).

they provide humanitarian aid, monitor human rights, and support conflict resolution in areas where states or institutions may have limited capacity.

What are treaties laws and norms?

International organisations (e.g. UN and EU) formulate treaties, laws and norms which govern legal and generally accepted practices to regulate conflict and maintain peace.

UN established norms i.e. protection of human rights, are not a formal treaty under International law, but provide companies and states with a moral code of conduct; norms are used as a reference point for international behaviour.

UN norms lay out what TNCs are responsible for i.e. the right to equal opportunity and the right of workers which they have to adopt.

Treaties and laws are derived from norms. Many multilateral treaties have been adopted by the UN e.g.

e.g. international mine ban treaty: the Convention on the banning of the use of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction.

In the general principle of international law, treaties in force are binding upon the parties to it and must be performed in good faith. Countries that have ratified the Refugee Convention are obliged to protect refugees that are on their territory.

Conclusion: International laws and treaties influence sovereignty because... states agree to follow shared rules which can limit unilateral actions but help maintain global stability.

Describe the Refugee Convention as an example of international law.

The Refugee Convention is a UN multilateral treaty formed in 1951. It defines who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum, as well as the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum. It provides some visa free travel for holders of travel documents issues under the convention, and also sets out which people do not qualify as refugees, such as war criminals.

Why could it be argued that international law is primarily ineffective at regulating armed conflict (state noncompliance)? (in relation to the Refugee convention of 1951)

Through noncompliance. Although the refugee convention is "legally binding" there is no monitoring body that overseas compliance.

The UN high commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has some supervisory responsibilities but it is not empowered to enforce the Convention, and there is no formal mechanism for complaints. The Convention specifies that complaints should be referred to the International Court of Justice, but no nation has ever done this. Nations may levy international sanctions against violators, but no nation has ever done this.

At present, the only real consequences of violation are 1) public shaming in the press and 2) verbal condemnation of the violator by the UN and by other nations. To date these have not proven to be significant deterrents.

However, technology is useful in combatting the issues of monitoring compliance as...

Social media can be used to monitor compliance to norms/treaties/laws for example checking for human rights violations.

Ideas can be shared in forums like the UN where they can come up with solutions to conflict.

Money can use sent to support regimes or to provide humanitarian aid.

Movement on personnel in such as UN peacekeepers and also movement of refugees out.

Use of satellite imagery for surveillance.

Use of drones for air strikes.

Missing maps.

What is the international mine ban treaty?

Is one of the world's most widely accepted treaties, formulated in 1997. Over 80% of the world's countries are state parties (165) and only 35 remain outside of the treaty. Nevertheless, most of these do not use or produce mines anyway.

The role of flows of people in geopolitical intervention

Global flows of people can influence geopolitical conflict because... migration and refugee movements can place pressure on neighbouring states and increase political tensions.

Large refugee movements often occur when... conflict, persecution, or environmental pressures force populations to cross borders in search of safety.

The work of UN and NGOs also require the movement of personelle into conflict zones

What are cybernorms?

Treaties and laws are derived from norms, which are long-established common practices in many countries, set out in the UN charter. They are formalised and reinforced by treaty and legal requirements.

They are norms in cyber spaces - reduce risks such as online spying and meddling in elections ie hacking

How do cybernorms play a role in regulating conflict?

Cyber conflict is an increasing threat to sovereignty. There are 6 new norms relating to cyber conflict created by Microsoft. Microsoft (5th largest TNC) has assumed responsibility, by creating cyber security norms for state governments it has attempted to limit potential conflict in cyberspace.

such as dont use IT to impair or disrupt infrastructure; states should respect human rights and fundamental reasons

Flows of money play a role in geopolitical intervention because...

international aid, sanctions, and economic investment can influence the political stability of states.

Economic sanctions are used in global governance because...

they apply financial pressure on governments to change policies without direct military intervention.

The flows of ideas can influence geopolitical intervention because...

political ideologies such as democracy or nationalism can spread across borders and shape international regulations.

Technological flows influence geopolitical power because...

advanced surveillance, cyber capabilities and communication technologies affect military strategies and global influence.

Modern communication technologies can influence conflict because...

information spreads rapidly through media and digital networks, shaping international awareness and political responses.

i.e. Iran has closed down the internet to prevent their people from communicating and gathering support to protest

Technological developments in warfare have geopolitical implications because...

enhancing military capabilities, surveillance systems and communication networks that affect geopolitical power; states with advanced military technologies often gain strategic advantages in global power relations.

This is intensified by Globalisation as...the rapid movement of people, capital, information, and technology, links distant regions and influences international decision making.

The UN is often considered the most significant organisation in regulating conflict because...

because the UN has a wide remit which ...

- coordinates global peacekeeping missions

- authorises sanctions and interventions through the Security Council

- AND provides a forum for diplomacy between sovereign states

compared to NATO which is only there as a treaty when one country gets attacked; or EU who doesnt regulate conflict

The effectiveness of the UN in regulating conflict is sometimes limited because...

the security council veto system means major powers can block interventions, reducing the organisations ability to act decisively.

National governments remain highly significant in global governance because...

states ultimately control their own military forces, foreign policy decisions, and implementation of international agreements.

Regional organisations can sometimes be more effective than global institutions because...

they operate closer to conflict zones, and may share political, economic, or cultural interests that facilitate cooperation.

Despite the importance of international organisations, sovereignty ultimately remains with nation states because...

states voluntarily choose wether to comply with international treaties, laws, and governance frameworks.

Non-governmental organisations influence sovereignty by...

providing humanitarian aid, monitoring human rights and supporting peacebuilding efforts that shape political responses to conflict.

Flows of money influence sovereignty by...

allowing international organisations and governments to apply economic pressure through aid, investment or sanctions.

Flows of people influence sovereignty by...

creating refugee movements that place pressure on states to respond to humanitarian crises and manage border control.

Flows of ideas influence sovereignty by...

spreading political ideologies such as democracy or nationalism that shape governance systems and international relations.

Global governance can create development opportunities in LIDCs because...

...international organisations may provide humanitarian aid, infrastructure investment and peacekeeping support that stabilise regions affected by conflict.

Post-conflict global governance can support development because...

...peacekeeping missions and international aid programmes help rebuild institutions, infrastructure and economic stability.