PS 280 Final UIUC

UN Charter

Founding document of the United Nations; lays out the structure of the UN and the methods by which it operates; based on the principles that states are equal under international law; that states have full sovereignty over their own affairs; that states should have full independence and territorial integrity, and that states should carry out their international obligations, such as respecting diplomatic privileges, refraining from committing aggression, and observing the terms of the treaties they sign.

UN General Assembly

Where representatives of all states sit together in a huge room, listen to speeches, and pass resolutions

UN Security Council

A body of five great powers and ten rotating member states that makes decisions about international peace and security

UN Secretariat

Where the administration of the UN takes place; led by the secretary-general; like the UN's executive branch

collective security

the banding together of the world's states to stop an aggressor

Five permanent members of the Security Council

US, UK, France, Russia, China

Blue helmets

nickname for UN peacekeepers

peacebuilding

The use of military peacekeepers, civilian administrators, police trainers, and similar efforts to sustain peace agreements and build stable, democratic governments in societies recovering from civil wars. Since 2005, a UN Peacebuilding Commission has coordinated and supported these activities.

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Negotiates international trade agreements to stabilize commodity prices and promote development

World Health Organization (WHO)

Geneva-based health organization that provides technical assistance to improve conditions and conduct major immunization campaigns in poor counties.

World Court

Formerly International Court of Justice; the judicial arm of the UN; located in the Hague, it hears only cases between states.

immigration law

National laws that establish the conditions under which foreigners may travel and visit within a state's territory, work within the state, and sometimes become citizens of the state (naturalization)

diplomatic recognition

The status of embassies and of an ambassador as an official state representative is explicitly defined in this process.

diplomatic immunity

A privilege under which diplomats' activities fall outside the jurisdiction of the host country's national courts

Diplomatic pouch

a package sent between an embassy and its home country

break diplomatic relations

to withdraw one's diplomats from a state and expel that state's diplomats from one's own state

interests section

When two countries lack diplomatic relations and often do business through a third country willing to represent a country's interests formally through its own embassy

just wars

legal wars; as opposed to wars of aggression which are illegal

aggression

a state's use of force, or an imminent threat to do so, against another state's territory or sovereignty

tragedy of the commons

A collective goods dilemma that is created when common environmental assets (such as the world's fisheries) are depleted or degraded through the failure of states to cooperate effectively. One solution is to "enclose" the commons (split them into individually owned pieces); international regimes can also be a (partial) solution.

enclosure

splitting the commons into privately owned pieces on each of which a single owner would have an incentive to manage resources improperly.

global commons

the shared parts of the earth, such as the oceans and outer space

epistemic communities

when IOs overlap with broader communities of experts from various states that structure the way states manage environmental issues (knowledge-based communities)

sustainable development

economic growth that does not deplete resources and destroy ecosystems so quickly that the basis of that economic growth itself is undermined.

Commission on Sustainable Development

An organization that monitors states' compliance with the promises they made at the Earth Summit and hears evidence from environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace. Lacks power of enforcement over national government.

global warming

a long-term rise in the average world temperature

UN Environment Program (UNEP)

A program whose main function is to monitor environmental conditions; works with the World Meteorological Organization to measure changes in global climate from year to year

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

a negotiating forum for the issue of climate change; UN sponsored

fossil fuels

oil, coal, natural gas

greenhouse gasses

gasses that occur from the burning of fossil fuels that, when concentrated in the atmosphere, act like the glass in a greenhouse: they let energy in as short-wavelength solar radiation but reflect it back when it tries to exit again as longer-wavelength heat waves. Includes carbon dioxide (2/3), methane gas, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

adopted at 1992 Earth Summit; declared problem of anthropogenic climate change. set a nonbonding goal to limit greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. annual meetings. Goal was not met.

Kyoto Protocol

The main international treaty on global warming, which entered into effect in 2005 and mandates cuts in carbon emissions in 2008-2012. Almost all of the world's major countries, except the United States, are participants.

ozone layer

ozone high in the atmosphere that screens out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun

Montreol Protocol

An agreement on the protection of the ozone layer in which states pledged to reduce and then eliminate use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is the most successful environmental treaty to date.

Biodiversity

The tremendous diversity of plant and animal species making up the earth's (global, regional, and local) ecosystems.

loss of habitat

destruction of rain forests, pollution of lakes and streams, and loss of agricultural lands to urban sprawl.

International Whaling Commission

An IGO that sets quotas for hunting certain whale species, but participation is voluntary and governments are not bound by the decisions they object to.

Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission

An IGO that regulates methods used to fish for tuna, aiming to minimize the dolphin losses.

high seas

nonterritorial waters

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

A world treaty (1982) governing use of oceans. The treaty established rules on territorial waters and a 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

acid rain

rain caused by air pollution that damages trees and often crosses borders. Limiting acid rain (via limiting nitrogen oxide emissions) has been the subject fo several regional agreements.

Chernobyl

A city in Ukraine that was the site of a 1986 meltdown at a Soviet nuclear power plant.

human rights

the rights of human beings against certain abuses of their own governments

universal

an approach to human rights that argues that no matter where a person resides, their ethnic nationality, or their local religious, ethnic, or clan traditions, that person has certain rights that must be respected.

relativism

an approach to human rights that argues that local traditions and histories should be given due respect, even if this means limiting rights that others outside that local context find important.

negative rights

usually civil-political rights; best guaranteed by limiting the power of governments over their people

positive rights

usually economic-social rights; best guaranteed by the expansion of governments to provide minimal standards to their people

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

The core UN document on human rights; although it lacks the force of international law, it sets forth international norms regarding behavior by governments towards their own citizens and foreigners alike

optional protocols

Addendums to the human rights treaties, as they contain additional protections not included in the original documents

Amnesty International

an NGO that operates globally to monitor and try to rectify glaring abuses of human rights

publicity

method of ensuring human rights; entails digging up information about human rights abuses.

pressure

method of ensuring human rights; consists of threats to punish the offender in some way through nonviolent means

responsibility to protect (R2P)

A concept which holds that governments worldwide must act to save civilians from genocide or crimes against humanity perpetrated or allowed by their own governments

war crimes

large-scale abuses of human rights that occur during war

crimes against humanity

inhumane acts and persecutions against civilians on a vast scale in the pursuit of unjust ends

International Criminal Court (ICC)

A permanent court created by a treaty that hears cases of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity from anywhere in the world.

universal jurisdiction

the controversial idea that the court (ICC) has the ability to prosecute individuals of any nation

Prisoners of War (POWs)

Soldiers who have surrendered and who thereby receive special status under the laws of war

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Provides practical support - such a medical care, food, and letters from home- to civilians caught in wars and to POWs.

Malthusiasts

Experts and officials who warn against world overpopulation

demographic transition

a change in birthrates and death rates that follows a fairly universal pattern

pronatalist

a government policy that encourages or forces childbearing, and outlaws or limits access to contraception\-- pro-birth policies

infant mortality rate

the proportion of babies who die within their first year

International Law (C)

In an anarchy, agreements between states, not people. Enforced by the states. Makes it easier to deal with anarchy.

Codified / customary / case / general principles

Types of international law (C)

codified (C)

International law through treaties, pacts, agreements, conventions. Any UN resolution is not law without this.

customary (C)

international law through "common law," determined by behaviors, norms, etc. If states act as if something is legal / illegal, it effectively is. ex) sovereignty, self-defense

case (C)

International law through courts, like the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which adjudicates disputes between member states

general principles (C)

International law that is assumed because if it's illegal in most states, it can be illegal at the international level. General crimes, like murder, theft, etc; no need for a specific law

jus ad bellum (C)

governing when to go to war (just cause like self-defense, proper authority, probability of success, proportionality, last resort)

jus in bello (C)

governing behavior in war (combatants v noncombatants, proportionality, necessity, proper treatment of POWs, no evil means)

Geneva convention (C)

defined jus in bello; several that established certain rules / expectations of war, such as humane treatment of POWs and humane treatment of sick / wounded soldiers (on sea, too!)

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

outlaws war; 31 counties signed it

Afghanistan War (C)

deemed legal; in self defense, demanded Taliban turn ver bin Laden and invaded when Taliban did not respond. Targeted al Qaeda and Taliban \-- proportionality

Iraq War (C)

Justification was more questionable; preemption vs prevention; security council denied immediate action but US invaded anyway

Public good (C)

non-excludable and non-rival; available to all; one person's use of it does not reduce access to others.

ex) sun, air, natl defense, mass transit, internet.

Free rider problem (C)

For a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the group's activities without joining \-- if there's no way to be excluded, then why would anyone pay?

collective action problem

requires many participants to succeed, but participating carries an individual cost. 2nd outcome \-- everyone participates \-- hard to achieve. Similar to Prisoner's dilemma

tragedy of the commons (C)

If one or more users increase use of this beyond its carrying capacity, it becomes degraded. Eventually it will be unable to support the activity, and then no one can use it.

Neo-malthusians (C)

Earth has a carrying capacity, and we are either approaching or already past it. We need a change in human behavior. Running out of arable land; the oil won't last forever, pollution and climate change.

Techno-optimists (C)

Earth has a carrying capacity, but we'll figure it out. Green Revolution after WWII; keep inventing new ways to effectively use our resources.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) (C)

Treaty, signed by all 197 member states declares problem of anthropogenic climate / goal of reducing emissions. Non-binding goals + annual meetings

Kyoto Protocol (1997) (C)

A climate treaty that distinguishes between developed and developing states, with the developed bearing the responsibility. Binding emissions targets. US refused to ratify.

Paris Agreement (2015) (C)

A climate treaty that aims to keep the rise in global temperature below 2ºC. Voluntary emissions targets. Green climate fund. Trump withdrew in 2020.

Mass migration / resource competition (C)

Global security risks of climate change (fuel conflicts)

Universal (human rights) (C)

By virtue of existing, humans have some rights. No matter where a person resides, no matter their ethnic nationality, no matter their local traditions, that person has certain rights that must be respected

Relative (human rights) (C)

Different cultures have different standards for rights. Local traditions and histories should be respected, even if this means limiting rights that others outside find important. "Right" and "wrong" can vary greatly between cultures and epochs.

positive rights (C)

the right TO something

negative rights (C)

the right to be protected FROM something

Political and Civil Rights (C)

Usually negative; justice, self defense, voting, life, liberty, property, bill of rights

economic, social, and cultural rights (C)

Usually positive; education, healthcare, housing, housing, etc

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) (C)

Core UN document on human rights; includes both positive and negative, codifies norms, but not binding intl law.

Amnesty Inernational (C)

An activist network / NGO that acts to "name and shame" / get people to act for human rights. Monitors + publicizes.

Responsibility to protect (R2P) (C)

Principle adopted by world leaders 2005; governments worldwide must act to save civilians from genocide or crimes against humanity allowed by their own government / within a sovereign state

international norms (C)

the expectations actors hold about normal international relations

IGOS (national interest of member states, like UN, EU, ASEAN) / NGOS (specialized function, key members not states, like Red Cross or Greenpeace)

types of international organizations

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference (2009)

UN climate summit reached no specific agreement, only a weak outline

Human rights (C)

the rights of all people to be free from abuses such as torture or imprisonment for their political beliefs and to enjoy certain minimum economic and social protections

UN general assembly (C)

Only universally representative body of the UN; representatives of all states sit together in a huge room, listen to speeches, and pass resolutions.