Global Politics Case Studies

What is the main dispute in the South China Sea?

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea conflicting with Vietnam Philippines Malaysia Indonesia and Taiwan

How does China use hard power in the South China Sea?

By building artificial islands installing military bases and expanding naval presence

How does China’s position conflict with UNCLOS?

China restricts military activity in its EEZ while UNCLOS allows freedom of navigation

What was the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling?

It ruled in favor of the Philippines and rejected China’s expansive maritime claims

Why does China show strong internal sovereignty in the SCS?

It effectively controls territory through military power and enforcement

Why is China’s external sovereignty weakened in the SCS?

It refuses to comply with international legal rulings and treaties

Why do Southeast Asian states show low sovereignty in the SCS?

They lack hard power and rely on international law and US support

How would a realist view China’s actions in the SCS?

Prioritising national interest over treaties does not reduce sovereignty

How would a liberalist view China’s actions in the SCS?

Ignoring international law undermines cooperation and external sovereignty

Who are the Syrian Kurds?

An ethnic minority in Syria historically denied citizenship and political rights

What autonomy did Syrian Kurds establish?

De facto autonomous administrations during the civil war

Why are Kurdish forces dependent?

They rely on US military and financial support

Why does Syria lack internal sovereignty regarding the Kurds?

It cannot fully control its territory or suppress Kurdish autonomy

Why do the Kurds lack sovereignty?

They lack international recognition and depend heavily on foreign support

How does Turkey affect Kurdish sovereignty?

Turkey opposes Kurdish autonomy and seized Kurdish territory

How does dependency theory explain the Kurdish situation?

The US exploits the Kurds as a peripheral actor for strategic benefit

Why are the Kurds not sovereign under dependency theory?

Their autonomy is conditional reversible and externally sustained

Why did NATO intervene in Libya in 2011?

To protect civilians during the civil war

Which UNSC resolution authorised intervention in Libya?

Resolution 1973

What was the immediate outcome of NATO’s intervention?

The overthrow and death of Gaddafi

What happened to Libya after NATO intervention?

State collapse militia rule and prolonged instability

Why is NATO’s legitimacy in Libya questioned?

There was weak evidence of a massacre plan and poor post war planning

How did oil interests affect NATO’s legitimacy?

Economic self interest undermined humanitarian justification

How would realists evaluate NATO’s Libya intervention?

State interests matter more than humanitarian legitimacy

How would liberalists evaluate NATO’s Libya intervention?

It weakened collective security and increased regional instability

What triggered El Salvador’s state of exception?

A surge in gang violence killing dozens of civilians

What powers did Bukele gain under the state of exception?

Emergency powers allowing mass arrests and suspension of rights

Why does El Salvador show strong internal sovereignty?

The state successfully suppressed gangs using hard power

Why is El Salvador’s legitimacy questioned?

Democratic processes were suspended and human rights violated

How does public approval affect Bukele’s legitimacy?

High approval boosts perceived legitimacy despite authoritarianism

How does Just War theory justify El Salvador’s crackdown?

There was just cause last resort and probability of success

Why does Just War theory still criticise El Salvador?

Lack of ongoing democratic authority and questionable intentions

Who are the Rohingya?

A Muslim ethnic minority denied citizenship in Myanmar

What happened to the Rohingya in 2017?

Military operations caused mass displacement and atrocities

What does Myanmar’s response show about internal sovereignty?

Strong internal sovereignty through military control

Why is Myanmar’s external sovereignty weak?

It ignores ICJ rulings and international pressure

How does China protect Myanmar internationally?

By using its UNSC veto for diplomatic shielding

How would realists view Myanmar’s actions?

Acting independently increases hard power

How would liberalists view the Rohingya crisis?

International institutions failed to protect civilians

What is China’s mask diplomacy?

Exporting PPE to improve global image after COVID

What is China’s vaccine diplomacy?

Donating and selling vaccines to gain soft power

Why was China’s participation in COVAX important?

It showed multilateral cooperation

What shows success of China’s soft power?

Positive responses from developing countries

What limited China’s soft power effectiveness?

Defective equipment and confrontational Wolf Warrior diplomacy

What political division exists in Libya today?

GNU controls the west and GNS controls the east

What does Libya show about legitimacy?

External recognition does not guarantee internal legitimacy

Why is Sudan’s civil war a proxy war?

Foreign states support rival factions for strategic interests

Why does Sudan lack internal sovereignty?

It cannot control governance or conflict outcomes

How do natural resources affect Sudan’s conflict?

They attract foreign intervention and worsen instability

How do realists view proxy wars like Sudan?

They are efficient ways to pursue interests without direct war

Why is Sudan’s legitimacy extremely low?

Civilian exclusion and humanitarian catastrophe

What was the Arab Spring?

A wave of pro democracy uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa

Where did the Arab Spring succeed?

Tunisia and Egypt

Where did the Arab Spring fail?

Syria and Bahrain

Why does Syria still show sovereignty after the Arab Spring?

It resisted international pressure and retained power

What is Boko Haram?

An Islamist terrorist group operating in northeastern Nigeria

What does Boko Haram’s resurgence show?

Nigeria’s weak internal sovereignty

Why is Nigeria’s legitimacy undermined?

Failure to protect civilians and ensure security

How would realists assess Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram?

Loss of effective sovereignty in contested regions