Global Governance: Political & Economic (Including evaluation)

What is global governance?

Global governance is the process through which states and other actors cooperate to manage global issues and problems in the absence of a single world government.

What are intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)?

IGOs are organisations made up of states that cooperate to achieve shared political, economic or security objectives.

Why are IGOs important to global governance?

They provide structures through which states can cooperate to address global problems such as conflict, poverty, climate change and economic instability.

Why must IGOs be critically evaluated?

IGOs are made up of states pursuing their own interests as well as claiming to work towards the greater good.

What is the key distinction between global governance and world government?

Global governance involves cooperation between states and other actors without a single world authority, whereas world government would involve one overarching global authority.

What is the United Nations (UN)?

The UN is the key example of global governance and an intergovernmental organisation established to promote peace, security, human rights and development.

When was the UN established?

The UN was established in 1945 after the Second World War.

Why was the UN established?

The devastation of the Second World War encouraged states to create an organisation that could promote international peace, security, human rights and development.

How many UN member states are there?

There are 193 UN member states.

What are the two permanent non-member observer states at the UN?

Palestine and Vatican City.

What is the UN Charter?

The UN Charter sets out the rights and obligations of UN member states and establishes the organisation's aims and principles.

What are the main aims of the UN?

To promote international peace and security, protect human rights and support development and international cooperation.

What is the UN General Assembly?

The UN General Assembly is the main forum of the United Nations in which all member states are represented.

How does voting work in the UN General Assembly?

Every member state has one vote, meaning states formally have an equal voice regardless of their size or power.

What does the UN General Assembly do?

It debates global issues, discusses peace and security and can pass resolutions expressing the views of the international community.

Are UN General Assembly resolutions legally binding?

No. General Assembly resolutions are recommendations and are not legally binding.

What other functions does the General Assembly perform?

It elects non-permanent members of the Security Council, members of the Economic and Social Council and judges of the International Court of Justice.

What is a strength of the General Assembly?

It provides a forum where states can debate global issues and propose solutions collaboratively.

Why is equal voting a strength of the General Assembly?

All states have an opportunity to vote on resolutions regardless of their wealth or military power.

What is a weakness of the General Assembly?

Its resolutions are non-binding, meaning it relies on the goodwill of states.

Why is the Security Council important to the General Assembly?

Any action resulting from a General Assembly resolution requires the involvement and approval of the Security Council.

What is the UN Security Council?

The UN Security Council is the most powerful body within the United Nations and has primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

Who are the permanent five members of the Security Council?

The USA, UK, France, Russia and China.

What is veto power?

Veto power allows any of the five permanent members of the Security Council to prevent a resolution from being adopted.

Why is the veto power controversial?

A single permanent member can block action even when the other members support a resolution.

How many non-permanent members are on the Security Council?

There are ten non-permanent members.

Why does the Security Council have greater power than the General Assembly?

It can make decisions and take action relating to international peace and security, whereas General Assembly resolutions are non-binding.

What is a strength of the Security Council?

It can authorise international action to address threats to peace and security.

What is a weakness of the Security Council?

The veto can prevent action when a permanent member's interests conflict with those of the wider international community.

How can the permanent five undermine global governance?

They can use their veto power to prevent collective action.

How does the Security Council demonstrate unequal power between states?

The five permanent members have greater influence than the other UN member states.

What is the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

The ICJ is the principal judicial body of the United Nations and deals with legal disputes between states.

What does the ICJ do?

It settles legal disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised UN bodies.

Why is the ICJ important to global governance?

It provides a mechanism for states to resolve disputes through international law rather than conflict.

What is a limitation of the ICJ?

It has limited enforcement power and depends on states and the Security Council for enforcement of some decisions.

Why does the ICJ demonstrate the importance of sovereignty?

States remain sovereign and may resist international legal decisions when enforcement mechanisms are weak.

What was the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement was an international agreement designed to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and limit global temperature increases.

When was the Paris Agreement signed and ratified?

It was signed and ratified in 2015 by 194 states and the European Union according to the notes.

What temperature target did the Paris Agreement establish?

States committed to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

How did the Paris Agreement respect state sovereignty?

Each country was allowed to establish its own national plans and measurable targets for reducing emissions.

What happened to global emissions by 2025 according to the notes?

Global emissions were still rising.

What happened to US participation in the Paris Agreement?

The USA had withdrawn from the agreement by 2025 according to the notes.

What did the UN General Assembly refer to the ICJ in July 2025?

It referred a case asking the ICJ to clarify states' legal obligations under the Paris Agreement.

What did the ICJ rule about the 1.5°C target?

The ICJ ruled that the 1.5°C temperature target was legally binding.

What was a limitation of the ICJ's ruling?

The ruling clarified states' legal obligations but did not give the ICJ enforcement powers.

What is NATO?

NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, an intergovernmental organisation based on collective security.

When was NATO established?

NATO was established in 1949.

Why was NATO established?

It was created during the early Cold War when Western states felt threatened by the Soviet Union.

What is collective security?

Collective security is the idea that states are safer when they unite and defend one another rather than acting individually.

What is Article 5 of NATO?

Article 5 states that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all members.

How did NATO originally aim to prevent attack?

It used the threat of collective military force as a deterrent.

How many founding members did NATO have?

NATO began with 12 European and North American states.

How has NATO changed since 1991?

NATO has expanded its membership and changed its role following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of new security threats.

How many NATO members are there according to the notes?

NATO has 32 member states.

What new threats have affected NATO's role?

The rise of non-state actors, terrorism and Russia's actions in Ukraine have changed the global security environment.

What does NATO do beyond defending its members?

It can project its values, prevent and manage crises, stabilise post-conflict situations and support reconstruction.

What is a strength of NATO?

It provides pooled resources and collective security for member states.

What is a criticism of NATO?

It has been criticised for overstepping its role in political governance and for promoting Western values.

What happened in Libya in 2011?

An international humanitarian intervention took place following extreme violence and oppression in Libya.

Why did the UN become involved in Libya?

The UN expressed grave concern about the violence and oppression occurring in Libya.

Why did NATO become involved in Libya?

The UN has no permanent armed forces, so NATO and individual states became involved to implement international action.

What did NATO do in Libya?

NATO prevented arms from being supplied by sea, took control of Libyan airspace and carried out airstrikes against Libyan military targets.

What was a criticism of NATO's intervention in Libya?

NATO airstrikes also caused civilian deaths.

What did UN Security Council Resolution 2009 do?

It established a UN support mission to Libya and supported NATO's action to protect civilians.

What was the outcome of the 2011 Libya intervention?

The intervention was widely viewed as unsuccessful because Libya was left without effective leadership and experienced political instability and insecurity.

What does Libya demonstrate about global governance?

It demonstrates both the ability of international organisations to intervene in humanitarian crises and the difficulties of achieving successful long-term outcomes.

What is the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

The IMF is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes global financial stability, economic growth and international economic cooperation.

When was the IMF established?

The IMF was established alongside the post-Second World War international economic system.

What is the main purpose of the IMF?

To promote global financial stability and support economic growth and international trade.

How many states are members of the IMF according to the notes?

191 states.

How do states contribute to the IMF?

They contribute financially according to their economic capacity.

How does contribution affect IMF voting power?

States that contribute more have greater voting power.

What does the IMF do?

It monitors the global financial system, provides economic advice and provides loans and financial assistance to states.

What conditions can accompany IMF loans?

States may be required to restructure their economies, reduce debt and implement spending cuts.

What is structural economic reform?

Changes to a state's economic policies and structures designed to stabilise its economy.

What is an example of IMF assistance?

Argentina has received multiple IMF loans and is described in the notes as the IMF's most indebted country.

What is a criticism of IMF conditionality?

Loan conditions can force states to adopt policies that may reduce their economic sovereignty.

What is a criticism of IMF voting arrangements?

Wealthier states have greater voting power, giving them greater influence over decision-making.

How can the IMF promote globalisation?

It encourages international trade, economic growth and economic interconnectedness.

What is the World Bank?

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and policy advice to help states develop economically and socially.

What was the original aim of the World Bank?

To help end extreme poverty and support economic development.

How many member states does the World Bank have according to the notes?

189 nation-states.

What does the World Bank focus on?

Economic and social development, sustainable development and projects that can reduce poverty.

What types of projects can the World Bank fund?

It can fund projects involving green technology, agriculture, forestry and development.

What World Bank projects are given as examples?

Solar power projects in Bangladesh, agricultural reform in Türkiye and forestry management in Liberia.

How does World Bank voting power work?

Voting and decision-making power are determined by a state's wealth and financial contribution.

What is a criticism of the World Bank?

Wealthier states have greater voting power and therefore greater influence over decisions.

What is another criticism of the World Bank?

Loans can come with conditions that may infringe on national sovereignty.

How are the IMF and World Bank similar?

Both provide financial assistance and advice, both are influenced by the economic power of member states and both can impose conditions on loans.

How are the IMF and World Bank different?

The IMF focuses primarily on financial stability and economic crises, while the World Bank focuses more on long-term development and poverty reduction.