International Organizations: History, Law, and Peacekeeping

What do realists believe about international cooperation?

They look to balance of power.

What do liberals emphasize regarding international institutions?

They point to the importance of institutions in facilitating cooperation.

What are international institutions primarily composed of?

Rules that can be implied or explicit, physical or understood.

What distinguishes international organizations from institutions?

Organizations are physical entities with members and written charters.

What is an example of an intergovernmental organization (IGO)?

The United Nations (UN).

What is a key characteristic of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)?

States are not members of NGOs.

What is the definition of international regimes according to Krasner?

Rules, norms, and procedures in a given issue area that enhance actors' expectations.

What historical context led to the formation of international organizations?

The need for peace and security after destructive wars.

What was the Concert of Europe?

A system established in 1815 to maintain balance of power after the Napoleonic Wars.

What was the primary goal of the League of Nations?

To avoid another major war and promote collective security.

Why did the United States never join the League of Nations?

The US Senate failed to ratify the treaty despite signing it.

What major failures did the League of Nations experience?

Inability to prevent Japanese invasion of Manchuria and Italian invasion of Abyssinia.

When was the United Nations officially established?

October 1945.

What was the purpose of the Atlantic Charter?

To discuss a peace and security organization during WWII.

What was the significance of the Yalta Conference for the UN?

It established the veto power for the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

What is the role of the UN General Assembly?

To provide a forum where all states have one vote.

What is the UN Security Council responsible for?

Deciding on issues of force and sanctions.

What are some humanitarian functions of the UN?

Addressing global welfare and disarmament.

How do realists view the effectiveness of IGOs?

They believe IGOs are a false promise and merely tools of state power.

What is the liberal perspective on IGOs?

They see IGOs as a true promise of cooperation and a means to mitigate anarchy.

What was the outcome of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919?

The creation of the League of Nations.

What were the initial membership dynamics of the League of Nations?

It included both victorious and defeated nations, but notably excluded the US.

What was the League of Nations' approach to collective security?

It relied on member states to stop aggressors.

What was one of the League's notable successes?

Preventing many smaller conflicts from escalating into major wars.

What was a major weakness of the League of Nations?

It required unanimity for decisions, which was difficult to achieve.

What was the significance of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference?

It created the formal structure of the UN.

What are the two main types of international organizations?

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

What does the term 'universal membership' refer to in the context of the UN?

Membership that includes all states without restrictions.

What are the primary purposes of the United Nations?

To maintain peace and security, promote economic development, and protect human rights.

What is the founding principle regarding state sovereignty in the UN?

The norm of non-intervention, which emphasizes respect for state sovereignty and minimal use of force.

What is required for UN membership?

Recognition as a country and payment of dues relative to each state's capacity.

Which country pays the most dues to the UN?

The United States.

What is the role of the UN Security Council?

To address issues of force or sanctions and maintain international peace and security.

How many permanent members are in the UN Security Council?

Five permanent members: US, UK, USSR, China, and France.

What power do the permanent members of the UN Security Council hold?

The veto power, allowing them to block any substantive issue.

What is the function of the UN General Assembly?

To provide a forum for all states to discuss issues, but it cannot decide on matters of peace and security.

What is the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)?

A UN body with 54 members that focuses on economic and social policy coherence.

What is the International Court of Justice (ICJ)?

The principal judicial body of the UN, which hears cases between states.

What is a significant limitation of the ICJ?

It can only hear cases involving states and is often seen as ineffective.

What is the role of the UN Secretariat?

To carry out the day-to-day work of the UN, led by the Secretary-General.

Who was the first Secretary-General of the UN?

Trygve Lie from Norway.

What is the significance of peacekeeping in the UN?

Peacekeeping is not explicitly mentioned in the UN Charter but has evolved as a response to conflicts.

What was the first peacekeeping mission established by the UN?

The UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1948.

What are the characteristics of traditional peacekeeping?

Involves monitoring and reporting, requires consent from combatants, and is lightly equipped.

What was the impact of the Cold War on UN peacekeeping?

The Cold War limited UN interventions due to geopolitical tensions and frequent vetoes.

What did Boutros Boutros-Ghali's 'Agenda for Peace' call for?

A massive expansion of peacekeeping operations and a shift towards proactive engagement.

What was the UNTAC mission in Cambodia?

A comprehensive peacebuilding operation that included disarmament, elections, and human rights oversight.

What were the initial evaluations of the UNTAC mission?

Positive, as it successfully facilitated elections and reduced political violence.

What challenges did the UNTAC mission face post-operation?

The Khmer Rouge returned as a guerilla force, undermining long-term political stability.

What is the significance of Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter?

Chapter VI addresses peaceful dispute resolution, while Chapter VII allows for the use of force.

What is the role of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO)?

To manage and oversee UN peacekeeping missions globally.

What is the main criticism of the ICJ?

It is often seen as a 'toothless court' due to its limited enforcement power.

What does the term 'peacebuilding' refer to?

The process of creating structures for lasting peace, including governance and infrastructure.

What was the outcome of the Gulf War in relation to UN peacekeeping?

It demonstrated successful collective action and led to an expansion of peacekeeping missions.

Who are some key figures in the development of UN peacekeeping?

Ralph Bunche, Lester Pearson, and Dag Hammarskjold.

What humanitarian crisis occurred in Somalia in 1992?

A humanitarian and political disaster marked by famine and a power vacuum due to warlords.

What was the purpose of UNSC Resolution 751?

To create UNOSOM with a mandate to protect humanitarian missions in Somalia.

What operation did the US lead in Somalia in December 1992?

UNITAF (United Task Force) aimed at humanitarian relief.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Mogadishu?

It turned US public opinion against peacekeeping efforts in Somalia.

What was UNPROFOR's mission in the former Yugoslavia?

To protect all parties in key areas of conflict during the disintegration of Yugoslavia.

What significant event occurred during the Srebrenica massacre in 1995?

It was a failure of the UN to protect civilians during ethnic conflict.

What was the Rwandan civil war primarily about?

Conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis, leading to a genocide in 1994.

What was the role of UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide?

Led by Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, it was on the ground but lacked sufficient intervention.

What is the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)?

A principle stating the international community should intervene to prevent mass atrocities.

What are the two main sources of International Law?

Treaties and customary law.

What does 'Pacta Sunt Servanda' mean?

Treaties should be obeyed.

What is 'jus ad bellum'?

The Just War Doctrine that determines the legality of going to war.

What does 'jus in bello' refer to?

Laws that govern conduct during war, including war crimes.

What was established by the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals?

They were set up to prosecute individuals for war crimes after WWII.

What is the International Criminal Court (ICC)?

A permanent court established to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

What is the significance of the Rome Statute?

It is the treaty that established the ICC and outlines its jurisdiction.

What is 'complimentarity' in the context of the ICC?

It means the ICC complements existing legal structures of member states.

What was the US's position on the Rome Statute?

The US signed but never ratified it, and later withdrew its signature.

What major shift occurred in peacekeeping after September 11, 2001?

The focus shifted to combating terrorism, limiting new major peacekeeping missions.

What are the conditions needed for modern peacekeeping to succeed?

Domestic consent, international consensus, and realistic mandates.

What led to the perception of failure in peacekeeping during the 1990s?

High-profile failures like those in Somalia and Rwanda, and financial crises in the UN.

What was the impact of Boutros Ghali's vision on peacekeeping?

It led to an expansion of peacekeeping operations during the early 1990s.

What does 'Opinio Juris' refer to in customary law?

The belief that a practice is legally obligatory and should lead to a treaty.

What was the outcome of the US dues crisis in the UN?

It affected the funding and support for peacekeeping operations.

What is the primary challenge of enforcing international law?

The lack of a central authority to enforce laws across borders.

What does 'victors justice' imply in the context of war crimes tribunals?

It refers to the bias in prosecuting only the defeated parties for war crimes.

What was the significance of the Dayton Agreement in 1995?

It marked a peace settlement to end the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What was the role of NATO in the peacekeeping efforts in the former Yugoslavia?

NATO conducted operations that were not restricted by the same limitations as UN forces.

What is the main focus of humanitarian intervention according to Weiss?

To align R2P with the interests of states to ensure intervention.

What is the role of the ICC in relation to national laws?

The ICC serves as a complement to national laws and acts as a court of last resort.

Under what conditions can the ICC investigate a state?

If a state is unwilling or unable to prosecute its own cases, or if it conducts a sham trial.

What is the major difference between the ICC and tribunals?

The ICC deals with individuals and new crimes, while tribunals are often ad hoc and lack standing.

What is the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

It is a comprehensive statement of human rights created by the United Nations in 1948, but it is hard to implement and not enforceable.

Who was a key figure in the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Eleanor Roosevelt.

What are the three views of human rights discussed?

Universal rights, basic rights, and cultural relativism.

What does the term 'cultural relativism' imply in the context of human rights?

It suggests that human rights are subject to cultural interpretations and state interests.

What is the focus of International Political Economy (IPE)?

The study of the actions and interactions of markets and states in the international system.

What are some basic theories essential to understanding IPE?

Realism, Liberalism, Mercantilism, Protectionism, and Globalization.

What is mercantilism?

An economic theory that emphasizes state control over trade and the economy, often linked to protectionism.

What is the primary policy of Liberalism in trade?

Free trade with minimal government interference.

What is the difference between the roles of the state in Mercantilism and Liberalism?

In Mercantilism, the economy serves the state; in Liberalism, the state serves the economy.

What is the purpose of protectionism?

To protect local industries from foreign competition through tariffs and quotas.

What are some methods of protectionism?

Tariffs, quotas, subsidies, and non-tariff barriers.

What is 'dumping' in international trade?

Selling goods below market value to eliminate competition, which is illegal.

What is the significance of comparative advantage in trade?

It allows countries to specialize in producing goods where they have an efficiency edge.