4.7 Geopolitical Interventions

What did the resolution passed in 2005 by the UN state?

Each country has a ‘responsibility to protect its citizens from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity’, and when this fails the international community has a ‘Responsibility to Protect’

What is development aid?

Financial aid given to developing countries to support their long-term economic, political, social and environmental development.

Where does most aid come from?

The governments of developed countries, IGOs and NGOs

What is bilateral aid?

Aid that goes directly from one country to another

What is multilateral aid?

Aid that is channelled through an IGO

Which countries currently meet or exceed the goal of 0.7% of their GNI going towards development aid?

Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Germany and Denmark

What caused the sudden increase in development aid given globally in 2022?

Processing and hosting refugees, and on aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion

What is a trade embargo?

A government or international ban that restricts trade with a particular country. it is used to encourage a country to change its policies or actions by hindering its economy

Give an example of a recent large scale trade embargo.

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK imposed a ban prohibiting the import, acquisition, supply and delivery of Russian oil and oil products into the UK

Give an example of an IGO putting in place a trade embargo.

The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan in 2018, in response to conflict

What is military aid?

Aid that involves giving money, weapons, equipment or expertise to developing countries to help them in endeavours such as protecting borders and fighting terrorism

What were the changes made to the OECD definition of development aid in 2016?

To include some military spending and assistance

Why was the change to the OECD definition to development aid controversial?

It argued tackling violent extremism was a development activity, but charities expressed concern that this change would lead to less money being spent on poverty reduction.

Give an example of US aid being given to protect US interests.

It has given over $5.8 billion to the Philippines since 2000 in military aid, which was done in part to gain access to the country’s military bases, giving the US a presence in the region.

What is direct military action?

Action taken directly, such as air strikes or troops on the ground. An example of this is in May 2023, the UK carried out air strikes in north-eastern Iraq against the terrorist organisation Islamic State

What is indirect military action?

Taking a more assistant position, for example starting in 2022, the USA and UK were among a coalition of countries who trained Ukrainian military personnel during the invasion by Russia

Give an example of military action being taken at the request of or in agreement with the country concerned.

In 2013, the government of Male asked for French help to fight back against Islamist militants who had seized control of large parts of the country

Give an example of military action being taken to protect people from their own government.

In 1999, NATO used air strikes in support of independence for Kosovo, when the Serbian government began a brutal crackdown against ethnic Albanian Kosovans. There were also accusations of Serbian ethnic cleansing.

What are the differences of opinion that alters the validity of intervention?

The different perspectives or aims of players involved, the perceived ‘real’ reasons for the intervention, opposing views on whether intervention may make matters worse, national sovereignty and disagreements about whether any intervention is proportionate.

Give an example of a military intervention that has had questions about its validity.

Protests calling for the resignation of Yemen’s president in 2011 turned violent, and Saudi Arabia intervened on behalf of the Yemeni government. The UK supported the Saudi actions by providing military aid, but several humanitarian organisations say that the actions are making the human rights situation there worse

What does the UN state in its charter about national sovereignty?

‘Nothing should authorise intervention in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state’

Why does Libya’s physical geography give it an important geopolitical position?

It is situated in North Africa and is bordered by the Mediterranean, and has the world’s tenth largest oil reserves

Why did military intervention take place in Libya in 2011?

The Libyan government failed to meet its responsibility to protect its citizens, as demonstrators against the Gaddafi regime were brutally repressed. This resulted in the UN authorising the use of force, including bombing raids undertaken by the British and French air forces

Give 3 concerns that caused 5 countries to abstain from the vote for intervention in Libya.

• There was insufficient evidence to justify interfering in Libya’s national sovereignty

• This action might set a precedent for the international community to have a say in how they treat their own populations

• The real reason for the intervention was regime change