International Institutions and Global Governance Practice Flashcards

Practice flashcards covering the purposes, relevance, case studies, and theoretical foundations of international organizations like the UN, ECOWAS, and OPEC, based on the provided lecture notes.

United Nations Organisation (UNO)

Established in 1945 in response to the Second World War, its principal purposes include maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation.

UNMIL

The United Nations Mission in Liberia, established in 2003 and operational until March 2018, which supported peace processes and national institution development.

Mano River Region Peacekeeping Outcomes

UN operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Côte d'Ivoire led to the disarmament of approximately 250,000 combatants and the return of over 3.5 million displaced persons.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Adopted in 2015 as the 2030 Agenda, these 17 goals expanded the development framework to include issues like climate action, gender equality, and reduced inequalities.

UNRWA

The agency described as the 'backbone' of the humanitarian response in Gaza, providing life-saving assistance despite operational difficulties in 2024.

Paris Agreement (2015)

A UN-sponsored climate framework where countries committed to keeping global temperature increases well below $2^\circ C$ above pre-industrial levels, aiming for $1.5^\circ C$.

COVAX

A multilateral mechanism that delivered 240 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 139 countries by September 2021.

P5 (Permanent Five)

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council—the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France—who each possess absolute veto power.

G-4 nations

A coalition of India, Germany, Brazil, and Japan that campaigns for the expansion of permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

Seven Sisters

A group of powerful multinational oil companies that dominated the international petroleum industry prior to the formation of OPEC in 1960.

OPEC+ (Declaration of Cooperation)

A producer coalition established in 2016 between OPEC members and non-OPEC producers like Russia to manage oil-market stability.

U.S. Crude Oil Production (2025)

The United States reached a record average production of $13.6\,million$ barrels per day in 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Treaty of Lagos (1975)

The founding treaty that established the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to promote economic integration.

ETLS (ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme)

A regional framework designed to allow qualifying goods to circulate among West African states without customs duties or taxes.

ECOMOG

The regional peacekeeping and conflict-management arm of ECOWAS, known for interventions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Alliance of Sahel States

A competing regional structure established by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger following their withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2025.

Functionalism

A theoretical foundation pioneered by David Mitrany, arguing that specialized, technical cooperation in 'low politics' (like health) can build international trust and peace.

Spillover

A neo-functionalist concept where integration in one economic sector inevitably necessitates integration in neighboring policy sectors.

Nicaragua v. United States

A landmark ICJ case where the Court ruled that U.S. military support for Contra rebels breached international law prohibiting the threat or use of force.

Chagos Archipelago Dispute

A 2019 ICJ case concluding that the UK's administration of the territory was unlawful because it did not complete Mauritius' decolonisation.

Montreal Protocol (1987)

An environmental treaty that achieved universal ratification to protect the ozone layer by eliminating the production of ozone-depleting substances.

The Commonwealth

A pluralistic international organization bringing together countries sharing historical links and values, demonstrating that cooperation is not always geographically determined.

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation)

A security alliance established in 1949 based on the principle of collective defense, where an attack against one member is treated as an attack against all.

UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

A UN institution that works with states to combat drug trafficking, corruption, money laundering, and migrant smuggling.

IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)

A body that supports nuclear safeguards agreements with more than 180 states to verify nuclear material is used for peaceful purposes.