Migration, Identity and Sovereignty EQ3

what was the first post-war IGO to be established?

The United Nations

what is global governance?

guiding regulations used to regulate human activity at an international level

when was the UN set up?

1945

what are the 5 main functions of the UN? + eg

1\. Maintaining international peace/security (Security Council using sanctions and troops)

2\. Promoting sustainable development and climate change mitigation (SDGs + COP)

3\. Protecting human rights (UNHCR)

4\. Upholding international law (ICJ + war crime trials)

5\. Delivering humanitarian aid (WHO)

how many member states are in the UN?

193

what impacts impacts the UN’s global governance?

different geopolitical visions of Security Council members - when national disputes spill over into decisions and 1 of the 5 permanent members uses their veto vote

what is an example of national disputes spilling over into UN policy making?

Syrian conflict -> idealogical differences between Russia backing president Assad and the US backing rebel groups

2 examples of personal influence on the UN by the Secretary General?

1997-2006: Kofi Annan bringing in Millennium Development Goals

2017-present: Antonio Gueterres focussing on United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

which global body set up by the UN intervened in the Ebola crisis?

World Health Organisation

evaluate the intervention of a named UN global body in the Ebola crisis

set up UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (for W Africa) eg safe burials -> decline in cases in 2015

BUT kept spreading due to fear of reporting cases to the authorities and fatigue of precautions

overall, evaluate COP + IPCC

good in theory BUT global greenhouse gas emissions still increase, no major country is even on track to meet targets and UN is unable to stop states from selfish pursuit

when and where were the MDGs created?

2000 at the Millennium Summit in New York

which goals followed the MDGs and when?

Sustainable Development Goals (2015)

evaluate the SDGs

17 rules addressing the root causes of poverty with stakeholders in 70 countries

BUT focussed on developing world vs consideration of aid from developed states

evaluate the MDGs

progress on all 8 fronts as extreme poverty reduced by 33%

BUT uneven progress, report that ‘targeted efforts will be needed to reach the most vulnerable people’

what two strategies have been used by the UN to defend human rights?

economic sanctions and direct military intervention

what is a trade embargo?

banning specific import items to the country involved/the purchase of exports from the country

what is an arms embargo?

banning weapons and military supplies

why were UN forces sent to Bosnia?

due to 1993 allegations of ethnic cleansing by Bosnian Serb forces against Bosnian Muslims

evaluate the actions of UN forces in Bosnia

designated safe zone in Srebrenica protected by 600 Dutch peacekeepers but this was taken back by the Bosnian Serbs and 8000 Muslim men and boys were massacred

what is unilateral action in terms of the UN?

where one country/group of countries acts against another without formal UN approval

which 2 members of the UN take the most unilateral action and how?

US - war on terror after 9/11, invading Iraq 2003 and deposing Saddam Hussein’s government

Russia - annexation of Crimea 2014

what is a failed state?

a state that is unable to project authority over both its territory and peoples, and that cannot project its national boundaries

what are 3 indicators of a failed state?

crumbling infrastructure, deteriorating HDI, an environment of flourishing corruption

what caused Syria to become a failed state?

Arab Spring uprisings -> Syrian government using deadly force against 2011 pro-democracy protests

describe unilateral involvement of the UK in Syria as a failed state

2013 proposition to ban Syrian use of chemical weapons but this vote did not pass

describe unilateral involvement of Russia in Syria as a failed state

Russian intervention supporting Assad government

what belief does both the World Bank and IMF follow and what does this mean?

Washington Consensus - belief that economic efficiency can only be achieved if regulations are removed

the IMF, WB and WTO have been important in maintaining the dominance of what?

western capitalism, global economic management and trade policy (free trade)

what round of negotiations shows a problem with the WTO?

the Doha round - 2001 then stalled for 14 years

what two problems make it so difficult for the 162 member states of the WTO to reach an agreement?

\- wealthy countries failing to agree on how far trade in agriculture should be liberalised

\- fast growth of emerging economies like China

global borrowing rules and trade policies have been especially effective in what?

delivering growth to the developed world

the impact of SAPs and HIPC policies is disputed because…

loan repayments + interest are unaffordable for many developing countries, destabilising the global economy

undermines economic sovereignty

what is an example of a somewhat dodgy SAP?

Jamaica - IMF loans with 4 decades of austerity and SAPs (eg privatising ports)

As a result, Jamaica spends 2x on debt repayments than on health and education combined and the economy has not grown since the 90s

HOWEVER inflation is decreasing and an economic turnaround may be happening eg high end car dealerships

what is the HIPC initiative?

Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative - IMF and WB providing debt relief and low-interest loans (to make up for their dodgy SAPs basically)

what is an example of the HIPC initiative in action?

Uganda - total debt write off in 2000 → 70% rise in healthcare spending, 5 million extra primary school children attending school

8B.8c