q4 GLobal challenges

What is the Tragedy of the Commons?

A situation where individuals, acting in their self-interest, overuse shared resources, ultimately harming the collective good.

Define Collective Goods.

Resources that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous; no one can be excluded from using them, and one person’s use doesn’t reduce availability to others.

What are Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)?

Entities formed by states to promote cooperation and create international norms.

What are the founding principles of the United Nations?

Sovereign equality of member states, peaceful resolution of disputes, prohibition of force except in self-defense or with Security Council authorization.

What are Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)?

Independent entities addressing global challenges like human rights, the environment, and development.

What is the issue with UN Security Council Reform?

No new permanent members have been added since 1945, despite global shifts in power.

What are the disadvantages of NGOs?

Dependence on competitive external funding can limit their impact and stability. Not always perceived as legitimate.

How do Realists view human rights?

Realists believe that the state is the primary actor responsible for protecting human rights and are skeptical of outside intervention unless it aligns with national interests.

Define Genocide.

The systematic and intentional killing of a group based on ethnicity, religion, race, or nationality.

What were the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials?

Post-WWII military tribunals to prosecute Axis powers for war crimes.

What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

A court established by the Rome Statute in 1998 to prosecute individuals—including heads of state—for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

What is the African criticism of the ICC?

Accusations of bias because the ICC disproportionately targets African leaders, raising concerns about selective justice.

What are Truth Commissions?

Restorative justice mechanisms that investigate human rights abuses, often used where reconciliation is prioritized over punishment.

Define Humanitarian Intervention.

The use of military force to stop or prevent widespread human rights abuses.

What is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)?

A global norm stating that if a state fails to protect its citizens from atrocities, the international community must step in.

What are examples of the Tragedy of the Commons?

Overfishing and climate change.

What are examples of Collective Goods?

The atmosphere and global security.

What are examples of Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)?

United Nations (UN), World Trade Organization (WTO), and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Which countries are examples of influential states not granted permanent seats on the UN Security Council?

Germany, Japan, and Brazil.

What are examples of Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)?

Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International.

What are historical examples of Genocide?

The Rwandan Genocide and the Holocaust.

What are the Nuremberg and Tokyo Trials known for?

Prosecuting Axis powers for war crimes after WWII.
Critics called them "victor’s justice" due to lack of reciprocity.

What are examples of Truth Commissions?

South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

What are examples of Humanitarian Interventions?

NATO in Kosovo and the United Nations in Libya.

What prompted the development of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) norm?

Atrocities in Rwanda and the Balkans.

What does the Tragedy of the Commons demonstrate about individual and group behavior?

It shows how rational behavior by individuals can lead to irrational outcomes for the group.

Why are Collective Goods connected to the Tragedy of the Commons?

Because they are vulnerable to overuse due to being non-excludable and non-rivalrous.

What is a benefit of Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)?

They foster habits of cooperation and socialization among states.

Which decisions of the UN are legally binding?

Only Security Council decisions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

How have NGOs gained global recognition?

Through participation in global conferences.

What established the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

The Rome Statute in 1998.

When are Truth Commissions particularly useful?

When reconciliation is prioritized and legal courts are insufficient.