GloPo PSIR flashcards

What is the central dispute in the South China Sea case study?

China claims most of the South China Sea and its oil/natural gas reserves, conflicting with claims by Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines

Which international treaty is central to the South China Sea dispute?

UNCLOS, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

What does UNCLOS say that challenges China’s position?

UNCLOS allows freedom of navigation through Exclusive Economic Zones, while China claims foreign military activity should not occur in its EEZ

Which international court ruled against China’s South China Sea claims?

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague

Which country won the arbitration case against China over the South China Sea?

The Philippines

How did China respond to the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling?

China refused to accept the ruling, despite being part of the treaty system linked to the court

What has China physically built in the South China Sea?

Artificial islands and military installations

Why are smaller Southeast Asian states limited in resisting China?

China has much greater economic and military power, so smaller states rely heavily on international treaties and external partners

Why is the US involved in the South China Sea dispute?

The US wants to protect maritime trade routes, freedom of navigation, and support Southeast Asian partners

Which US alliance could draw it into the South China Sea conflict?

The US defence treaty with Manila/the Philippines

What does China’s island-building show about its power?

China is using hard power to strengthen control over disputed territory

What does China’s rejection of the court ruling show?

China is willing to ignore international legal rulings when they conflict with its interests

Who are the Syrian Kurds in this case study?

A Kurdish minority group making up around 10% of Syria’s population

What rights were Syrian Kurds historically denied?

Citizenship, land ownership, and language/cultural rights

What did Kurdish groups establish during the Syrian Civil War?

Autonomous administrations in three areas of Syria

Which Kurdish-led military force is important in Syria?

The Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF

Why did the US support Kurdish forces in Syria?

Kurdish forces helped fight ISIS, making them useful to the US-led coalition

Why are Syrian Kurdish forces dependent on foreign support?

Their oil revenues are insufficient because infrastructure is damaged, so they rely on US-led support for military funding and local resources

Which Syrian governments reject Kurdish autonomy?

Both Bashar al-Assad’s government and the new al-Sharaa government reject Kurdish autonomy

Which regional power has taken some Kurdish territory?

Turkey

Why can Syria’s control over its own territory be seen as weak?

Kurdish forces established autonomous areas and foreign-backed groups operate inside Syria

Why do Kurdish groups lack full state power?

They are not externally recognised as a state and depend heavily on US support

What does the US gain from supporting the Kurds?

A local ally against ISIS and influence inside Syria without directly committing as many US resources

What happened in Libya in 2011?

NATO intervened militarily during the Libyan Civil War to support rebels against Muammar Gaddafi

Which UN resolution authorised action in Libya?

UN Security Council Resolution 1973

What was the stated purpose of UNSC Resolution 1973?

To protect civilians in Libya

What military actions did NATO take in Libya?

NATO launched air and naval operations against Gaddafi regime targets

What happened to Muammar Gaddafi after NATO’s intervention?

He was killed after Tripoli was captured and his government was overthrown

What happened to Libya after Gaddafi’s overthrow?

Libya fragmented into weak institutions, rival militias, competing governments, and recurring civil conflict

Why was NATO’s Libya intervention criticised?

A UK parliamentary investigation found no definitive evidence of a planned mass massacre and said NATO failed to plan for the aftermath

What did NATO allegedly fail to consider about the Libyan rebels?

The possible presence of Islamic extremist elements among rebel forces

Which companies are linked to possible economic interests in Libya?

Total from France and BP from the UK

Why did oil interests weaken NATO’s justification in Libya?

It suggested the intervention may have been partly motivated by economic benefit rather than only civilian protection

How did NATO’s intervention affect Libya long-term?

It removed Gaddafi but left Libya unstable, divided, and vulnerable to repeated violence

What is the main issue in the El Salvador gang case study?

El Salvador used emergency powers to crack down on gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio 18

Who is the president linked to El Salvador’s gang crackdown?

Nayib Bukele

Which gangs are central to the El Salvador case study?

MS-13 and Barrio 18

What event triggered El Salvador’s state of exception?

A killing spree in which 87 people were murdered

How long was El Salvador’s state of exception originally meant to last?

30 days

How long had El Salvador’s state of exception continued according to the notes?

Around 3 years

How many people were detained in El Salvador’s crackdown?

More than 88,000 people

What happened to violence after El Salvador’s crackdown?

Violence dropped sharply

What human rights concerns came from El Salvador’s crackdown?

Arbitrary arrests, prolonged pretrial detention, abuse in custody, deaths in prison, and people held without trial

What global incarceration record is linked to El Salvador?

El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world

What approval rating did Bukele reportedly have in 2025?

Around 83%

Why does Bukele retain support despite rights concerns?

Many citizens value reduced gang violence and improved safety

What does El Salvador’s crackdown show about state power?

The state used hard power to restore control over internal security

What is the main issue in the Rohingya crisis?

Myanmar’s government and military discriminate against the Rohingya, deny many citizenship, and use violence against them

Who are the Rohingya?

A Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar, mainly from Rakhine State

Why are many Rohingya considered stateless?

Myanmar denies them citizenship

What happened in Rakhine State in 2017?

Myanmar’s military launched a violent campaign against the Rohingya

How many Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2017?

Over 700,000

Where did many Rohingya refugees flee?

Bangladesh

Which refugee camp is central to the Rohingya crisis?

Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh

What is significant about Cox’s Bazar?

It became the largest refugee camp in the world

Which international court ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya?

The International Court of Justice, or ICJ

What has limited enforcement against Myanmar?

ICJ orders, sanctions, and investigations have had limited practical effect

How did the 2021 Myanmar coup affect the Rohingya crisis?

It worsened the situation, reduced chances of refugee return, and intensified persecution

Which country helps shield Myanmar diplomatically?

China

How does China protect Myanmar internationally?

China can use its UNSC veto and provides diplomatic and economic support

What does Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya show about internal control?

Myanmar’s military has been able to act violently within its territory despite international criticism

What is the main issue in China’s mask and vaccine diplomacy case study?

China used medical supplies and vaccines during COVID-19 to improve its global image and influence

Why was China under international pressure during COVID-19?

COVID-19 originated in China, and China was criticised for a lack of transparency

What did China export during its mask diplomacy?

Masks, PPE, and medical equipment

Which Chinese vaccines are central to vaccine diplomacy?

Sinovac and Sinopharm

How did China describe its vaccines internationally?

As a contribution to the global public good

What vaccine distribution scheme did China join?

COVAX

Which Chinese vaccine was distributed through COVAX?

Sinopharm BIBP

Which regions received Chinese medical or vaccine support?

African countries, Latin American states, Middle Eastern states, Serbia, and Hungary

Which European countries reported defective Chinese medical equipment?

Spain and the Netherlands

Which leader praised China strongly during vaccine diplomacy?

The Serbian president, who called Xi Jinping a “brother”

Why did some countries view China’s aid suspiciously?

They saw it as self-interested image management rather than purely humanitarian support

What weakened China’s soft power during vaccine diplomacy?

Defective equipment, Western scepticism, and perceptions of self-interest

What is the Libya mini case study about?

Libya has rival governments, showing that international recognition does not automatically create internal control

Which government controls western Libya?

The Government of National Unity, or GNU

Which Libyan government is internationally recognised by the UN?

The GNU

Which government controls eastern Libya?

The Government of National Stability, or GNS

Who supports the GNS in eastern Libya?

The House of Representatives and the Libyan army

Why has Libya struggled to organise elections?

Rival governments disagree over forming a unified government before elections

What does the Libya mini case show about recognition?

A government can be externally recognised but still struggle to control the whole country internally

What is the Sudanese Civil War case study about?

A war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, intensified by foreign involvement

Which two armed groups are fighting in Sudan?

The Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF

When did the Sudanese Civil War begin?

2023

What is the estimated death toll in Sudan according to the notes?

As high as 150,000

How many people have lost their homes in Sudan according to the notes?

Around 14.6 million

Which resources make Sudan attractive to foreign powers?

Gold, copper, iron ore, oil, and agriculture

Which countries are involved in Sudan’s war according to the notes?

China, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

Which side did Iran support in Sudan?

Iran supplied military equipment to the SAF

When did Iran begin supplying military equipment to the SAF?

Early 2024

Why has Russia been involved in Sudan?

Russia wanted access to gold mines and later shifted toward the SAF to seek a naval base

Why would Russia want a naval base in Sudan?

It would give Russia access to Africa and the Mediterranean region

Which foreign actor is described as the most invested in Sudan?

The UAE

Which side has the UAE supported in Sudan?

The RSF

Why is the UAE interested in Sudan?

It wants influence over a resource-rich and strategically located country

Why is Saudi Arabia involved in Sudan?

To counter Iranian influence and build military cooperation with the SAF

What does Sudan’s civil war show about foreign involvement?

External powers can intensify a conflict by supporting local actors for their own interests

What was the Arab Spring?

A wave of pro-democracy protests and uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa

When did the Arab Spring take place?

Mainly 2010–2011

Which countries are mentioned in the Arab Spring case study?

Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya, and Syria

Where did the Arab Spring lead to regime change?

Tunisia and Egypt