Comprehensive Study Guide for International Relations, Global Governance, and Middle Eastern Geopolitical History
Foundational Political and Economic Systems
Capitalism * Definition: An economic system where trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. Individuals or groups have ownership and receive profits or losses within a free market. * Social Structure: Characterized by the existence of social classes. * Strengths: * The ability to generate money. * The opportunity to be your own boss. * Weaknesses: * Workers are at the mercy of business owners. * Existence of the working poor. * Potential for government corruption. * Unfair influence on policy by business owners.
Communism * Definition: A political and economic system seeking to create a classless society through the abolition of private property. Major means of production, including mines and factories, are owned and controlled by the public. * Metaphor/Critique: The transcript notes it "doesn’t work because people like to own stuff." * Strengths: * Ensures everyone's needs are met. * Provides jobs for everyone. * Aims for a classless society. * Weaknesses: * The rise of dictatorships. * People have no ability to exercise creativity. * Loss of ambition and lack of resources.
Democracy * Definition: A political system defined as "rule by the people." People have the power to select leaders and make laws. The government is given the right to rule because the citizens agree to be governed. * Functionality: Leaders can be changed in a peaceful manner. * Strengths: * Ability to choose your leader. * Governance by consent (people agree to be governed). * Ability to change leaders and laws. * Weaknesses: * Highly dependent upon the participation of citizens. * Not everyone participates, which can result in power remaining in the hands of a few.
Cold War Concepts, Figures, and Events
Iron Curtain * Definition: A metaphor representing the divide between the Communist world (nations under Soviet influence) and the Free World. * Origin: The term was coined by Winston Churchill.
Soviet Bloc * Definition: Refers to the nations that are under Soviet influence, described as being "behind the Iron Curtain."
Winston Churchill * Significance: Credited with coining the term "Iron Curtain."
Nikita Kruchev * Significance: Leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
John F. Kennedy * Role: US President (-) during the Cuban Missile Crisis. * Actions: Demanded the withdrawal of Soviet missiles, imposed a naval blockade (quarantine) on Cuba, and warned of stronger military action. He negotiated the removal of Soviet missiles in exchange for the USA removing missiles from Turkey.
Mikhail Gorbachev * Significance: The final leader of the Soviet Union. He was heavily influenced by USA President Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan * Significance: U.S. President credited with winning the Cold War. He utilized "brinkmanship" to cause the USSR to collapse and had a heavy influence on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Fidel Castro * Significance: A Cuban revolutionary and politician who led the Republic of Cuba for nearly years as both Prime Minister and President.
Cuban Missile Crisis * Context: A showdown between the USA and USSR triggered by the USSR placing missiles in Cuba. * Impact: Considered the closest the world has come to nuclear war. * Resolution: Following two weeks of tension, the USA agreed not to attack Cuba and to remove weapons from Turkey; the USSR agreed to remove its nuclear weapons from Cuba.
NATO * Full Name: North Atlantic Treaty Organization. * Role: Attempted to destroy ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant).
International Relations Theories
Realism * Statism: Realists believe nation states are the primary actors in international politics (state-centric theory). * Survival: The international system is governed by anarchy (no central authority), making international politics a struggle for power between self-interested states. * Self-help: States cannot rely on others to guarantee their survival.
Liberalism * Definition: A theory suggesting the international system is a space for cooperation and mutual benefit rather than just a struggle for power. * Advocacy: Emphasizes that interdependence through international law, organizations, and free trade leads to peace and prosperity.
Constructivism * Core Notions: Ideas matter, and agents are socially constructed rather than given. Individuals, especially powerful ones like leaders, continually shape and reshape international relations through interactions.
Marxism * Theory: Argues that the unequal distribution of wealth makes the international order unstable. This instability enables the poor to rise and overthrow the system that keeps them impoverished.
Middle Eastern History: Iran
The Shah and Early Concessions * Nasir al-Din Shah: Persian for ‘king’. To finance his lifestyle and Iran’s development, he granted "concessions" (rights to develop parts of the economy) to foreign merchants. * : A concession allowed a British company to build Iran's telegraph system. * : A massive concession was awarded to Britain for the construction of railways, dams, and canals. Russian companies were given concessions to balance those given to the British. * William D’arcy: An Englishman awarded the right to oil in most of Iran.
AIOC (Anglo-Iranian Oil Company) * Status: Located in Iran but owned by the British. * Iranian Perspective: A desire to own the oil resources and remove foreign influence.
Mohammad Mossadegh and the National Front * Formation (): Mossadegh formed the "National Front," a coalition of secular groups and the ulama (led by Ayatollah Kashani). * Aims: To free Iran from foreign influence, establish an Iranian democracy, and nationalize oil resources (returning control to Iran).
The Islamic Republic * Constitution: Included the principle of "The Guardianship of the Jurist," preached by Khomeini. * Status: Most Iranians are noted to be better off under the Islamic Republic than under the Shah. * Sharia Law: Body of religious law based on the Qur’an and Hadith. It is a set of interpretations rather than a static code, covering public life and private religious practices. Its legal application varies by country.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Zionism * Definition: The movement for establishing the state of Israel based on the Hebrew word ‘Zion’ for the land of Israel. * Origins: Founded in Europe due to long-term Jewish persecution. Early Zionist thinkers considered East Africa and South America before choosing Palestine. In the early s, Zionists began buying land in Palestine for settlements.
Balfour Declaration * Dual Promise: The British promised to help establish a national home for Jews in Palestine while also promising to help Arabs set up an independent Arab state.
U.N. Partition Plan * The Plan: The British announced their departure from Palestine. The UN General Assembly passed a plan to partition the land between Jews and Palestinian Arabs. The plan passed by two votes, largely assisted by U.S. support.
Israeli War for Independence * Other Name: The Arab-Israeli War or "The Great Catastrophe."
Six-Day War () * Outcome: Rapid Israeli attack devastated Arab armies. * Territorial Gains: Israel won the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip (from Egypt), the Golan Heights (from Syria), and the West Bank and Jerusalem (from Jordan).
October War () * Events: Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack. The Israeli government, led by Gilda Meir, was initially unprepared but attained U.S. support. Ends in a cease-fire. * Economic Impact: Arab members of OPEC declared an oil embargo during the war.
Peace Treaties and Figures * Camp David Accords (): Negotiated between Egyptian President Sadat, Israel Prime Minister Begin, and US President Carter. Led to a treaty in where Sinai was returned to Egypt and Egypt recognized Israel. * Oslo Accord (): The PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist; Israel recognized the PLO as the official representative of the Palestinians. Created the Palestinian Authority and established self-rule in half of Gaza and parts of the West Bank. * Yasser Arafat: Chairman of the PLO and first President of the Palestinian Authority; a central figure in the struggle for statehood. * Hamas: A group considered a terrorist organization by the United States. * ISIS: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Global Governance and International Organizations
Global Governance: A system of global cooperation.
UNSC (United Nations Security Council) * Composition: members, including permanent members. * Powers: Possesses the power to make binding decisions. Permanent members hold veto power.
IMF (International Monetary Fund) * Role: Referred to as the world’s "financial firefighter."
WTO (World Trade Organization) * Role: Establishes rules of trade between countries, works to exchange currencies, and ensures fair trade.
WHO (World Health Organization) * Role: Researches and fights infectious/chronic diseases and prevents pandemics from spreading across borders.
UNESCO * Role: UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Promotes international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding.
WFP (World Food Programme) * Role: Largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger, feeding over million people annually in conflict and disaster zones.
UNICEF * Role: Works for children’s rights, survival, development, and protection. Focuses on access to education, healthcare, and ending child labor and abuse.
UNDP (UN Development Programme) * Role: UN’s lead agency on international development, operating in countries to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. * Focus Areas: Sustainable development, democratic governance, peace building, and climate/disaster resilience.
International Law (ICC and ICJ) * ICC: International Criminal Court. * ICJ: International Court of Justice. * Effectiveness: Requires "buy-in" to be effective; larger countries often opt out.