Global Systems and Global Governance Case Studies

UN Apple Antarctica Banana Trade

UN Overview

Created in 1919, first called the ‘League of Nations’
193 members today

UN Bodies

General assembly →all member states
Security council → UK, France, USA, China and Russia are permanent members, 10 elected members
WHO → manages disease
UNESCO → protects heritage
UN Development Programme → 2000-2015 Millenium Development Goals (now Sustainable Development Goals)

UN Successes

WHO eradicated Small Pox and Polio
UNESCO protected the Galapagos Islands
UN World Food Programme reduced famine

UN Failures

Peacekeepers brought cholera to Haiti after earthquake (killed 8000)
Peacekeepers committed sexual abuse in DR Congo
Failed to prevent 1994 Rwandan genocide
Corruption of the Iraq ‘Oil for Food’ Programme

Antarctica’s Importance

World’s largest desert
Cold, nutrient rich waters support phytoplankton
Feeding ground for 80% whales
Trans-Antarctic Mountain Range
98% glacial ice
100,000 tourists in 2023

Threats to Antarctica

90% whales killed since 1960
Some areas reaching 3 degrees celsius rise
Bacterial invasion from Arctic moss transfered by researchers
Increasing resource pressure

Antarctica’s Governance

1959 Antarctica Treaty System (will end in 2048)
UNEP→1991 Madrid Protocol- bans on mining, obligatory inspections
Linbald Plan manages tourism
International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators
NGOs : IUCN (shares knowledge) ASOC (at governance meetings)

Antarctica’s Governance Evaluation

ATS will end in 2048
Took 5 years for CCAMLR to set up Ross Sea Marine Protected Area
2012 Plans for Antarctic Reserve cancelled due to Ukraine war
NGOs have no decision-making power
Incentive gap → tragedy of the commons

Apple’s Trade

Worth $1 trillion
Operates in 22 countries
137,000 employees
HQ in Apple Park, California
Production at Taiwanese Foxconn and Pegatron (in China) → skilled, non-unionised workers, special economic zone,

Apple’s Positive Impacts

6000 jobs at HQ in Cork, Ireland
1.3 million jobs created indirectly in China (FDI tripled since 2000)
‘Green my Apple’ campaign means factories are supposedly net zero
2016 $1.5 million green climate bond

Apple’s Negative Impacts

14 workers commited suicide at Foxtronn
Pegatron employees have IDs taken (cannot leave)
Tax evasion → 12.5% tax rate in Ireland
Only 60% of employees at Cork HQ are Irish
Child labour allegations
Caught in US v China trade war

Banana Trade

Most traded fruit ($15 billion/year)
4th most important food product for LICs
S. America exports 23 million bananas each year
80% of bananas are produced and consumed in the same country
99% traded are the Cavendish type- risk of TR4 disease

Banana Trade Impacts

TNCs relocated to West Africa → poor working conditions
85% of the price consumers pay doesn’t end up with the producer
Agrochemical contaminants
ACP countries can’t compete with low TNC prices

Banana Trade Stakeholders

USA TNCs → Del Monte, Chiquita, Dole
1975 Lomé convention gave ACP countries SDT to EU markets → TNCs complained to WTO and caused a US v EU trade war → agreement reversed in 1994 → 2009 Geneva Banana Agreement reduced tariffs

Evaluation of the Banana Trade

Rise in fair trade promotes sustainability e.g. El Guaba Association provides healthcare/ education
‘Race to the bottom’ increases poor working conditions
WTO bias for free trade disadvantages ACP countries