Interdependence and Trade Review
Distinctions Between Government and Governance in the United States
In the context of the United States of America, which is the formal name of our country, there is a fundamental distinction between the entities of government and the concept of governance. The government is composed of the elected officials who serve within the political system. Governance, however, is defined by the US Constitution. Specifically, governance refers to the set of rules and guidelines that the government must strictly follow and adhere to in the execution of its authority and functions.
The Liberal World Order: Characteristics and Requirements
The Liberal World Order is a global structure discussed in scholarly works such as 'Order in A Liberal World Crisis' by Georg Sorensen. This world order is heavily dependent upon two primary global transitions: the process of more nations becoming democracies and those nations opening up their domestic economies to the rest of the world through global trade and economic integration.
Frameworks and Institutions of International Law
International Law is facilitated through key judicial bodies, most notably the ICJ (International Court of Justice) and the ICC (International Criminal Court). For International Law to be truly effective on a global scale, it requires 'buy-in' from the participating nations. A recurring challenge in the international legal system is that larger countries typically choose to opt out of these frameworks, which can limit the effectiveness of global judicial oversight.
Legal Precedents: The Nuremberg Trials and Tokyo Tribunals
The Nuremberg Trials and the Tokyo Tribunals were revolutionary in that they established the principle of individual accountability. For the first time in history, high-ranking government officials were brought before an international court and held personally accountable for their actions. This represented a major break from previous legal norms where only sovereign states were held responsible for violations of international standards. These trials laid the primary foundation for modern international criminal law by defining new legal concepts and creating a structural model for future international tribunals. The principles established in these trials served as a direct precursor to the creation of the International Criminal Court.
The Geneva Conventions: Protections for Combatants and Non-Combatants
The Geneva Conventions constitute a larger set of treaties that establish the rules for protecting victims of armed conflict across different domains.
Geneva Convention and Geneva Convention are dedicated to the protection of armed forces members during conflict. Geneva Convention protects the wounded and sick members of armed forces on land, ensuring they receive medical care and humane treatment without any form of discrimination. Geneva Convention extends these identical protections to maritime warfare, specifically protecting the wounded, sick, and shipwrecked members of armed forces at sea.
Geneva Convention establishes the precise standards for the humane treatment of prisoners of war (POWs) during armed conflict. It mandates that POWs be treated humanely at all times, receive adequate food, clothing, and medical care, and be strictly protected from acts of violence or humiliation. Furthermore, the convention outlines specific rights for POWs, including the right to correspond with their families, the right to receive fair trials, and the requirement that they be repatriated once hostilities have concluded.
Geneva Convention serves the primary purpose of protecting civilians during armed conflict, including those living in occupied territories. It prohibits specific acts of cruelty such as murder, torture, and general brutality against civilian populations. It ensures that civilians receive humane treatment and are protected from discrimination.
Theoretical Perspectives on International Relations
Realism is a state-centric theory of international relations based on three core concepts: Statism, Survival, and Self-help. Realists believe that nation-states are the main actors in global politics. They posit that the international system is governed by anarchy, meaning there is no central authority above the state. In this view, international politics is a perpetual struggle for power between self-interested states. Because no other states can be fully relied upon to guarantee a state's survival, states must engage in 'self-help' to secure their own existence.
Liberalism is a theory suggesting that the international system is not merely a struggle for power, but also a space for cooperation and mutual benefit. This perspective emphasizes that interdependence, facilitated through international law, international organizations, and free trade, can lead to global peace and prosperity.
Constructivism centers on the idea that 'ideas matter' and that political agents are socially constructed rather than being naturally fixed or given. Under this theory, individuals, especially powerful ones like leaders and influential citizens, continually shape and reshape the nature of international relations through their ongoing actions and social interactions.
Marxism argues that the unequal distribution of wealth makes the international order inherently unstable. This instability eventually enables the poor to rise up and overthrow the economic and political systems that have kept them in an impoverished state.
The Structure and Organs of the United Nations
The United Nations is comprised of principal organs: 1. The United Nations General Assembly; 2. The United Nations Security Council; 3. The Secretariat; 4. The Economic and Social Council; 5. The International Court of Justice; and 6. The Trusteeship Council.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) consists of members. There are permanent members within this council who possess veto power. Unlike many other international bodies, the UNSC has the power to make binding decisions that member states are required to follow.
Specialized UN Agencies and International Organizations
The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) is the lead agency for international development, working in countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. The UNDP concentrates its work in focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, the sciences, culture, and communication. It promotes the free flow of ideas and knowledge sharing to accelerate mutual understanding between people.
The WTO (World Trade Organization) establishes the rules governing trade between different countries. It also works to facilitate the exchange of currencies and ensures that international trade remains fair and equitable.
The WHO (World Health Organization) is dedicated to fighting infectious diseases through research, addressing chronic diseases, and preventing the spread of pandemics across international borders.
Global Finance and Collective Security Systems
The IMF (International Monetary Fund) serves as the primary 'financial firefighter' of the world, intervening in financial crises. The World Bank was originally founded to provide loans for rebuilding postwar Europe to support long-term development. Today, its mission has evolved to focus on ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity worldwide.
Collective Security involves nations combining into alliances to assure the mutual protection of all members. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is the most powerful example of a collective security alliance. NATO was created by the USA, Canada, and Western European nations specifically in opposition to the expansion of the USSR. In the context of military operations, deterrence is defined as the act of discouraging a specific behavior through the threat of punishment or military action.