Exam+3+Study+Guide+%28POSC020%29-3 (1)

Study Guide: Law & Environment

Disclaimer

• This study guide aims to help you review key concepts for the international political economy module for the World Politics exam.

• It is not an exhaustive list; refer to textbooks and lectures for complete study.

• Designed to help think about major ideas and connections, not as a checklist.

• Use to structure studying and identify questions for discussion or office hours.

INTERNATIONAL LAW Key Concepts

• International Law: Rules governing relations between states and international actors.

• International Humanitarian Laws: Laws governing armed conflict situations (laws of war).

• Customary International Law: Practices recognized as legally binding over time.

• Obligation: Degree to which states are legally bound by a rule or agreement.

• Precision: Clarity of legal language to minimize misinterpretation.

• Delegation: Transfer of authority to enforce rules to courts/institutions.

• Norms: Standards of behavior; not always legally binding.

• Norms Entrepreneur: Individual/group advocating for new norms and behavior changes.

• Transnational Advocacy Networks (TAN): Networks promoting common political agendas across borders.

• Private Authority: Influence of non-state actors in defining norms.

• Boomerang Model: A process where domestic groups seek help from international actors to pressure their governments.

Two Mechanisms of International Law

• Customary Law:

  • Develops over time based on state practices.

  • Not written in a single document.

• Treaty-Based Law:

  • Formally negotiated agreements among states.

  • Clear set of rules; requires ratification.

Three Key Characteristics of International Law

• Obligation: States must adhere to rules.

• Precision: Laws must be clearly defined.

• Delegation: Enforcement authority given to courts and institutions.

Human Rights Key Concepts

• Human Rights: Basic rights and freedoms entitled to all individuals.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): Foundational document outlining human rights.

• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Supports civil and political rights.

• International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR): Addresses socioeconomic rights.

• International Bill of Rights: Includes UDHR, ICCPR, and ICESCR as core human rights charter.

• Nonderogable Rights: Rights that cannot be suspended or taken away.

• Prisoners of Conscience (POC): Individuals detained for holding beliefs without inciting violence.

• Individual Petition: Process for individuals to report human rights violations to international bodies.

• International Criminal Court (ICC): Court responsible for prosecuting serious crimes like genocide.

Key Differences Between Human Rights and Other Legal Rights

• Human Rights:

  • Universal, inalienable, internationally recognized.

• Other Legal Rights:

  • Country-specific, can be surrendered or altered, nationally recognized.

• Historical Context:

  • UDHR: After WWII, in response to global conflicts.

  • ICCPR: Introduced in 1966 to address civil rights.

  • ICESCR: Also established in 1966 to mirror socio-economic values.

Environmental Politics Key Concepts

• Global Climate Change: Long-term changes in the Earth's temperature and weather patterns.

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): International environmental treaty.

• Paris Agreement: 2015 climate deal aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Common-Pool Resources: Resources that may be overused (forests, fisheries).

• Kyoto Protocol: Agreement to reduce greenhouse gases.

• Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer: International treaty to protect the ozone layer.

• Montreal Protocol: Treaty aimed at phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

• Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): Country-specific plans for reducing greenhouse gases.

• Externalities: Unintended side effects of actions affecting others, often seen in environmental politics.

Types of Goods

• Public Goods: Available to all, non-excludable and non-rival.

• Common-Pool Goods: Shared resources that can be overused.

• Private Goods: Individual ownership, excludable and rival.

• Club Goods: Excludable but non-rival in consumption.

Questions for Review

1. Define international law and its relation to state sovereignty.

2. Compare and contrast customary international law with treaty-based law.

3. Explain the three characteristics of international law: obligation, precision, and delegation.

4. Distinguish between hard law and soft law; how can soft law evolve?

5. Discuss the effectiveness of international law in influencing state behavior and challenges in compliance.

6. Outline human rights context, differences with other legal rights, and barriers to enforcement.

7. Delve into the political and economic trade-offs of states engaging with international law and the importance of various theoretical frameworks.