International Relations Overview

The Security Council, General Assembly, Secretariat, ECOSOC, and the International Court of Justice (World Court) are the five main organs of the United Nations.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France. They have veto power, meaning they can block any resolution.

Regional organizations are groups of countries in a specific region that cooperate on shared issues. Examples include the European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), African Union (AU), Organization of American States (OAS), and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

International law is a set of rules that nations agree to follow in their relationships with each other. It's like a code of conduct for countries. Examples include rules governing trade, human rights, and the use of force.

International treaties are written agreements between states that create legal obligations. They establish rules, responsibilities, and rights for the participating countries. An example is the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are groups of states that cooperate to achieve shared goals. Only states or governments can be members of an IGO. The United Nations is an example of an IGO.

The Prisoner's Dilemma is a classic example of game theory that shows how rational actors might act against their own best interests if they only consider their immediate self-interest. It highlights the need for cooperation and trust to overcome these dilemmas. This applies to international relations, for example, on issues like climate change.

The shadow of the future refers to the idea that actors are more likely to cooperate if they believe they will interact repeatedly in the future. This is because they realize that their current actions will have consequences for their future interactions. Examples include the use of a four-way stop sign.

Traditional peacekeeping involves the deployment of UN forces to separate warring parties, usually states, under the invitation of the host country. Traditionally, UN peacekeepers are neutral and do not take sides. An example is the UN peacekeeping mission in India and Pakistan.

Complex peacekeeping involves the deployment of UN forces to help with post-conflict reconstruction and nation-building, often in civil wars or situations involving terrorism. It involves more than just separating sides, as it includes efforts to rebuild government institutions, promote human rights, and ensure stability. The UN has used force in these situations, which is different from traditional peacekeeping. Examples include the missions in Congo and Mali.

Extradition is the process of transferring a person accused of a crime from one country to another where the crime was committed. This requires treaties between the two countries, allowing for the legal transfer of the accused individual.

Universal jurisdiction is a legal principle that allows states to prosecute individuals for certain heinous crimes, such as genocide, regardless of where the crime was committed or the nationality of the perpetrator. It is based on the idea that these crimes are so serious that all states have a moral obligation to bring justice to the victims.

The Just War Doctrine is a set of ethical principles that govern the use of force in international relations. It examines when it is permissible to go to war, as well as how war should be fought. The concept is rooted in Western philosophy and Christian thought, dating back to Saint Augustine. Key concepts include Jus Ad Bellum and Jus In Bello.

Jus Ad Bellum focuses on the conditions that make it morally acceptable to go to war. It states that war is only justified in certain cases, such as self-defense, defense of others, or humanitarian intervention. The concept of just cause makes it important to distinguish between just and unjust wars.

Jus In Bello governs the conduct of warfare. It outlines rules for how wars should be fought, emphasizing the protection of civilians and non-combatants, the use of proportionate force, and the prohibition of certain weapons and tactics. These principles aim to limit the violence and suffering caused by war, upholding human dignity and the laws of war.