Political Globalization

Roots of Political Globalization

Refers to the increasing role of international institutions, treaties and norms in shaping global politics.

Geneva Convention 1864

One of the earliest efforts to establish international humanitarian law.

Red Cross (1863)

Humanitarian organization supporting Geneva convention implementation.

World War I

1914-1918: Led to push for global peace institutions.

Woodrow Wilson's 1918

Proposed framework for peace and international cooperation.

UN Security Council (UNSC)

Consisted of China, France, Great Britain, Soviet Union and the United States as permanent members when it was founded.

Function of UNSC

Peacekeeping, international sanctions, military action, binding resolutions.

General Assembly (UNGA)

Equal representation (1 country = 1 vote), responsible for budget (binding decisions), primarily deliberative & policymaking body.

Resolutions in UNGA

Are non binding except budget.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Settles legal disputes between states; based in The Hague.

Secretariat

Administrative arm headed by the UN Secretary-General.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Oversees economic, social, cultural cooperation.

Plenary

A meeting where all the UN member states are invited to participate (formerly 65 members, now 193).

General Debate

Annual week-long event in September where world leaders deliver speeches expressing their views on global priorities.

Corridor Work/Diplomacy

Informal discussions and negotiations that occur outside official sessions, often crucial in reaching agreements.

Binding Decision

A resolution or action (typically from the Security Council) that member states are legally obligated to follow.

Observers

Entities not full UN members but allowed to participate in discussions (Vatican, Palestine).

International Court of Justice (ICJ) 1945

Arbitrates disputes between states, defines international legal norms.

Nuremberg Trials 1945-1946

Tried Nazi leaders for holocaust crimes, precedent for international justice.

International Criminal Court (2002)

ICC investigates and tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern for the international community, Last resort- does not replace national courts but complements them and world's first permanent international criminal court.

Rome Statute

Treaty that established the ICC.

Holocaust (1930s-1945)

Inspired the creation of the United Nations in 1945 & Nuremberg trials.

1994 Rwandan Genocide

Failure of UN peacekeeping to prevent mass killings of Tutsis in Rwanda led to demands for stronger international criminal accountability.

Yugoslav Wars (1990s)

Introduced the concept of 'ethnic cleansing' and ethnic tribunals.

Extremism

Advocating extreme views or extreme measures to promote ideology based on violence or hatred.

Genocide

International destruction of an ethnic, racial, religious or national group.

Ethnic Cleansing

Forced removal of a group from a specific area.