Anarchy and International Law

Anarchy

• Anarchy is a state where society functions without authorities or a governing body.
• It rejects a set hierarchy and reflects an absence of government.
• Arguments that most of human history has been anarchic (internationally).
• Personal interactions are governed by conscience and social judgment.
• Psychologists argue that 'negotiating/compromiser' skills are learned from unsupervised play.
• Concerns that the current culture of 'helicopter parents' is preventing such learning.

International Law

• The existence of true international law is questionable because it often approaches anarchy.
• Historically, 'might makes right' has determined international borders.
• There is no true authority to fairly and legally judge or enforce laws on international events.
• Some international laws exist through organizations like the UN and the EU.
• There is no universally recognized authority to enforce these laws except perhaps the USA.
• The USA has the military force, means, and self-proclaimed 'authority' to enforce laws.
• The USA prefers anarchy for itself, avoiding restraint by a 'higher authority'.
• Business/trade/economic agreements are followed when mutually beneficial.
• 'Bully' nations can ignore agreements, like China and India with patents, or the USA imposing trade sanctions

International Law Requirements

• The need for a true government with mutually agreed authority.
• All countries must agree to relinquish some independence.
• It is hard to imagine such an authority emerging from the current international anarchy.
• The EU has largely achieved this.
• Starting with economics and trade agreements is important.
• Progressing to border control and administrative/legal agreements is also important.
• There is questioning why the USA and China would agree to a higher authority.

Basic Facts for Spain

• Spain has a population of 47 million people.
• Spain has an estimated GDP of ~$38000/27000
• Madrid has a population of 6 million.
• Barcelona has a population of 5 million.
• The predominant religion is Catholic, with 73%
• Spain is a member of the European Union (EU).

Spain and Islam

• Islamic occupation occurred in ~700 AD.
• Wars of conquest and reconquest continued until ~1200s, with Christian hands regaining much of the country.
• Moorish Spain was once the wealthiest and most 'advanced' center.
• There is a huge Islamic legacy in Spain, including architecture, art, and culture.

Spanish Empire

• The Spanish Empire peaked in the 16th century (~1500s).
• Christopher Columbus's voyage led to colonization and the mistreatment of indigenous peoples.
• Many colonies were formed shortly after this 'discovery' of 'new world'.
• Colonies include almost all of South and Central America (except Brazil), much of the Caribbean, key areas of the USA (Florida, California, Texas, New Mexico), and the Philippines & Morocco, among others.
• The Spanish Empire was considered the richest and most advanced empire at its peak.
• Most American colonies gained independence in the 1800s, thanks to Simón Bolívar.
• Cuba and the Philippines were lost to the USA in the Spanish-US war of ~1900.

Most Spoken Languages

• Spanish is the 2nd most spoken 1st language in the world, with 500 million speakers.
• Mandarin is the 1st most spoken 1st language in the world, with 12.5% of speakers.
• English is just behind Spanish, with 4.8%, and Arabic (3.3%) and Hindi

Spanish Civil War

• The Spanish Civil War was a pre-World War II (WWII) civil war (1936-39).
• Fascist Franco won, remaining dictator until his death in 1975.
• The war is considered a dress rehearsal for WWII, with fascists versus communists.
• Italy and Germany helped Franco.
• USSR helped the socialists, along with 'volunteers'.

Fascist Franco

• Fascist Franco remained dictator until death in 1975.
• Franco was opposed to communism, socialism, anarchism, liberalism, and anti-colonialism.
• The regime was corporatist, nationalist, and conservative, defending Portugal's traditional Catholicism.
• Franco's regime was officially condemned for human rights abuses and self-enrichment.
• His decisions were controversial and he stayed out of WWII.

Spain After Franco

• After Franco's death in 1975, Spain made a successful democratic and economic transition from the 1980s onwards.
• Spain joined the EU in 1986.
• Now it is the ~12th largest economy in the world (per capita GDP).
• Spain is a strong democracy with a high HDI.

Spain Crisis

• Spain is currently suffering through a financial crisis, as it has over 20% unemployment, and too much debt.
• There are internal separatists in Catalonia (including Barcelona).
• The region had a recent referendum on separation.
• There was a 90% support for those that voted but only -40% voted.
• Spain refused to recognize independence and is fighting to keep Catalonia within Spain.

Basic Info on Portugal

• Portugal has a population of 11 million.
• Portuguese language is a language with ~250M speakers.
• Portugal is full EU.
• Portugal has the lowest GDPpc in Western Europe but is still a wealthy, high HDI country.

Portuguese empire

• It was one of first global empires, the pioneers of maritime exploration.
• They pioneered the Age of Discovery.
• Vasco de Gama was 1st to sail to India via South Africa and lost over half his crew.
• It led to the imperial age, and beginning of maritime spice trade for Europe
• There were many Portuguese colonies: Goa, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique.

Fascist dictator Salazar

• He was the leader of Portugal from 1932-1968.
• Like Franco in Spain, but with better ratings.
• Opposed to communism, socialism, anarchism, liberalism, and anti-colonialism, the regime was corporatist, nationalist and conservative in nature, defending Portugal's traditional Catholicism.
• Called 'world's best dictator!' by Life magazine in 1940, was highly respected, lauded for his education, intelligence and 'good intentions'.
• Won the TV award for greatest Portuguese ever! with 41% of vote in 2006.

Spain and Portugal Similarities

• Share similar location, on Iberian Peninsula
• Both conquered by Romans, then Muslims
• Similar history of exploration/colonization/empire,
• Similar 20th c. fascism/dictator,
• Followed by peaceful transition to democracy, successful joining into EU,
• Current economic troubles, both with serious debt crisis

Basic Facts about Greece

• 11M citizens, poorer than 'NW' Europe, but still EU
• Athens (4M) is the capital.
• 6000+ island archipelago
• 98% Greek Orthodox opposed to Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity.

Greece's WW2 and Post-WW2

• Conquered by Germany during WW2 after Italy’s attack failed.
• Post-WWII civil war: almost went socialist but West intervention in civil war helped place Right Wing (RW) military dictatorship into power instead.
• Western supported military dictatorships until 1975.
• They were anti-communist, and it was the Cold War.
• Was first instance of the Truman Doctrine 1947 right after WW2: US declared they would support anti-communist dictatorships in order to prevent the expansion of communism/USSR-influence beginning of Cold War?!
• After the eventual failure of final military dictatorship, Greece joined EU in 1981.
• But were they ready.
• Seemed successful at the time, but much corruption has since been uncovered.

What is ‘odious debt’ Controversial?

• Is it paying for the ‘odious’ debts incurred by military dictatorships that were supported by the ‘lending’ governments such as USA.
• Or should we say sorry for supporting those oppressive governments and forgive those debts.
• Should Greeks pay off debts accumulated under dictators supported by the West, or is it the West's fault for supporting/lending to corrupt rulers? What to do with odious debt is a common problem for many oppressive regimes that were supported by the West/USA during the cold war...and are now struggling to pay them off
• Made worse due to fact that these are poor countries that are paying huge interest payments to rich countries. Many of these countries have paid far more back than the original debt, due to high interest payments, and still owe lots of money. Calls to mind the 'sin' of usury...

Greek Debt Crisis

• Current Greek debt crisis is so complex as is their ongoing debt crisis and large EU bailout
• Due overspending/underfunding by successive Greek governments such as too generous social programs & too low taxes & much corruption and false reports (lies) on financial assets & also including huge odious debts of earlier dictatorships.
• EU/IMF comes to the rescue after 2008 financial crisis, but bail-out comes at a price, because 'Structural adjustment policies' are imposed on Greece as a condition for accepting the bail-out: I.e. Bail out comes with strings attached.
• the IMF (International Monetary Fund) was formed postWW2 to help ensure global economic stability by providing short term bailouts to countries in distress these 'Structural adjustment policies' (SAPs) enforce Greece to impose a harsh austerity budget in order for them to receive their bailout.
• such as cutting government spending, raising taxes, raising interest rates, and selling government assets
• all measures that slow down the economy even more.
• SAPs help ensure that Greeks will repay their debt/bail-out
• turns economy into 'debt-repayment machines' by cutting spending and raising taxes, and shrinking loans but these policies also contract the economy and result in unemployment and much economic sacrifice.
• Huge protests in Greece followed and a new anti-austerity govt was elected.
• Serious financial/debt issues persist, despite who is in control: who is in control Threatens democratic sovereignty: can Greece be allowed default? Who decides Bankers (lenders) would lose all their money/interest, who benefits from the bail-out? Bankers or citizens? Greeks or non-Greeks? Some Greeks argue that declaring bankruptcy is a better choice for Greece than SAPs bankruptcy is a legal recourse in most capitalist societies that allows entities with huge debts to get some debt-default relief from creditors/lenders and a possible fresh start.
• Greeks would lose their credit rating no one would want to end to them for awhile! but then they would have no debt.

Norway Facts

• 5M, GDPpc is $55000, very high
• Not full EU, by their choice, because they are doing so well.
• surrounded by North sea & Baltic sea
• Primarily Norway, Denmark (also owns Greenland), and Sweden (they all share very closely related languages)
• Some argue it also includes Finland (completely different culture/language, but geographically close, and conquered by Sweden for centuries, so most Finns also speak Swedish!) and Iceland (similar language/culture but geographically isolated).
• Does include Denmark, home of the Vikings 8th-11th century.
• 4 main European seas: Baltic & North, Mediterranean, Black, & Caspian Seas
• Norway has a Nordic Model welfare state economy: see below. #1 HDI in world! 30% employed by the government; extremely low unemployment, ranked by some as most democratic country.

Reasons Norway Regularly Ranks With Highest HDI

• Oil money: highest per-capita oil production outside of the middle east.
• Statoil/Equinor is the main oil corporation and the government owns ~70% of its shares.
• The government is able to keep ALL of the profits from their oil and use them to support the public services/welfare offered to its citizens
• Question: Is this a better model than what Alberta has done with its oil
• Answer: we have let private corporations develop our oil and sell it, and then we tax the corporations at a (low) tax rate (to better encourage them to come and utilize our oil at attractive/competitive rates).

Finland Facts

• 5M; rich GDP; full EU
• Recently joined NATO, because of Russia
• Historically part of Sweden from 12th century to 19th, then part of Russia
• Independence from Russia in 1917, WWII vs Russia