Non-State Actors in International Relations

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Questions and Answers

What are the primary functions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

The IMF maintains global financial stability and provides short-term loans to countries.

List two specialized agencies established after World War II.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

What is the main purpose of the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

The WTO aims to facilitate and regulate international trade.

Which organization was created in 2002 to prosecute individuals for war crimes?

The International Criminal Court (ICC). Signup and view all the answers

Identify one key responsibility of the United Nations Security Council.

The Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace. Signup and view all the answers

How many members are in the UN General Assembly?

There are 193 member states in the UN General Assembly. Signup and view all the answers

What criteria are used to elect non-permanent members of the UN Security Council?

Non-permanent members are chosen from regional caucus proposals and need qualified approval from the General Assembly. Signup and view all the answers

Name one regional organization focused on political cooperation in South America.

Mercosur. Signup and view all the answers

What are Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and can you name two examples?

IGOs are organizations composed of states, such as the United Nations and the European Union. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the main purpose of Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs).

NGOs aim to achieve social, economic, or humanitarian goals. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Violent Non-State Actor, and provide an example?

A Violent Non-State Actor is a group that uses violence to achieve political objectives, such as terrorist organizations. Signup and view all the answers

What historical significance does the Order of Malta hold?

The Order of Malta is considered the oldest humanitarian association, established in the 10th century during the Crusades. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the League of Nations when it was founded in 1919?

The primary aim was to maintain peace and prevent future wars through collective security. Signup and view all the answers

Identify one major improvement the United Nations had over the League of Nations.

The United Nations includes a universalist scope addressing various issues from environment to security. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the formation of the Universal Postal Union in 1874?

The Universal Postal Union established international standards for communication and exchange among countries. Signup and view all the answers

What are Transnational Advocacy Networks, and how do they operate?

Transnational Advocacy Networks are coalitions of NGOs and activists promoting specific causes across borders. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of resolutions 242 and 338 in the context of the Israel-Palestinian conflict?

They called for Israel to return territories captured in 1967 and established a framework for future peace agreements. Signup and view all the answers

How do peacekeeping operations impact the UN budget?

They account for a significant portion of the UN budget, approximately $6 billion. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes peace enforcement forces from traditional peacekeepers?

Peace enforcement forces are fully armored with tanks and artillery, designed to actively enforce ceasefires. Signup and view all the answers

Describe a major failure of UN peacekeeping during the Yugoslav Wars.

The Srebrenica Massacre in 1995 saw UN peacekeepers fail to protect the safe area, resulting in the deaths of around 8,000 Bosniak men and boys. Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the Siege of Sarajevo during the Yugoslav Wars?

It led to 2 million people being displaced and widespread ethnic cleansing, alongside mass rapes by Serbian nationalists. Signup and view all the answers

What are unarmed military observers and their role in UN peacekeeping?

They are sent in small numbers to monitor situations and report back to the UN. Signup and view all the answers

How do the duties of UN peacekeepers differ from those of peace enforcement forces?

UN peacekeepers negotiate and interpose between parties, while peace enforcement forces may actively engage in combat to maintain order. Signup and view all the answers

What were the direct humanitarian impacts of UN interventions globally?

UN interventions have saved thousands of lives and facilitated humanitarian aid distribution, benefiting millions. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the veto power play in the effectiveness of the UN Security Council?

The veto power allows any of the five permanent members to block initiatives, often leading to uncertainty and limiting the council's ability to act decisively. Signup and view all the answers

How did the use of vetoes in the Security Council change from the late 80s to 2020?

The use of vetoes diminished substantially from 1995, with a total of 34 vetoes recorded by 2020, primarily by Russia, the US, and China. Signup and view all the answers

What has been a significant impact of serious divisions within the Security Council, particularly post-2001?

Serious divisions, especially regarding interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, have crippled the Security Council's ability to act coherently. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways are the diplomats in the Security Council limited in their decision-making power?

Diplomats depend entirely on their governments' directives and often lack independent power to compromise or act effectively. Signup and view all the answers

How can decisions made by the UN Security Council still have a significant impact despite not being approved by permanent members?

Even unapproved decisions can guide international norms and actions, influencing state behavior and international relations. Signup and view all the answers

What led to the humanitarian crisis in Somalia during the early 1990s?

A civil war erupted in Somalia in 1991, resulting in famine and violence. Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993?

The raid resulted in 18 American soldiers being killed, leading to the withdrawal of US troops. Signup and view all the answers

How did poor coordination affect the UN's mission in Somalia?

Poor coordination and mission creep made it impossible for the UN to achieve its nation-building goals. Signup and view all the answers

Define the Most-favoured nation (MFN) principle in WTO negotiations.

The MFN principle requires that any trade restrictions on a WTO member's most favoured trading partner must apply to all other partners. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)?

The GSP allows richer states to offer favorable trading deals to developing countries without extending the same treatment to other rich countries. Signup and view all the answers

What challenges does the WTO face currently?

The WTO is currently experiencing a period of stagnation, also described as being 'frozen'. Signup and view all the answers

What were the main tasks assigned to UNOSOM I and II in Somalia?

Their main tasks included the distribution of humanitarian aid, nation-building, and the disarmament of warring factions. Signup and view all the answers

What has been a significant political consequence of globalised trade?

A significant political consequence is the rising reluctance of states to foster free trade agreements. Signup and view all the answers

Why have recent rounds of trade negotiations, like Doha and Hong Kong, faced challenges?

These rounds have faced challenges primarily because developed states, particularly the EU, are unwilling to make further concessions in agricultural output. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the initial step when a state believes a partner has wrongly increased tariffs.

The initial step is for the state to open a legal process with the WTO regarding the perceived violation. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the WTO play if initial consultations fail in a trade dispute?

If initial consultations fail, the WTO opens a dispute panel to investigate the violation and submit its findings. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if a member state does not comply with the recommendations of a WTO dispute panel?

If a state does not comply, the affected member can retaliate by negotiating an increase in tariffs against that country. Signup and view all the answers

How have NGOs contributed to the international stage according to the provided material?

NGOs have substantially improved the lives of people globally by addressing various issues, including humanitarian crises. Signup and view all the answers

What concerns are raised about the influence of multinational corporations in global negotiations?

Multinational corporations raise concerns due to their power to negotiate directly with global executives, often overshadowing state interests. Signup and view all the answers

What is one limitation of the WTO's mechanisms when it comes to human rights?

The WTO's mechanisms are not designed to address human rights issues, focusing instead on trade agreements and tariffs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Non-State Actors

States are not the only actors in international relations (IR)
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) are composed of states (e.g., UN, EU).
Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) are private entities aiming for social, economic, or humanitarian goals (e.g., Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders).
Multinational Corporations (MNCs) operate in multiple countries (e.g., Apple, Amazon).
Violent non-state actors use violence to achieve political goals (e.g., terrorist organizations).
Transnational Advocacy Networks are coalitions of NGOs, activists, and advocacy groups (e.g., climate change activist groups).
Epistemic Communities are networks of professionals with specific expertise in a particular area (e.g., climate scientists).

History of Non-State Actors

The Order of Malta is considered the oldest humanitarian association, founded in the 10th century.
The Anti-Slavery Society (1839) is likely the first international NGO.
The Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine is possibly the first intergovernmental organization.
Other institutions emerged early to manage international communications and exchanges (e.g., International Telegraph Union in 1865, Universal Postal Union in 1874).

Historical Development of IGOs

The League of Nations (1919-1946) was created to maintain peace, but failed due to weak commitment.
The United Nations (UN) (1945) replaced the League of Nations. Its three pillars are international peace, promotion of development, and upholding human rights. It shows improvements over previous efforts despite remaining flawed by institutional constraints and limited budgets.

Bretton Woods Institutions (1944-1945)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintains global financial stability and provides short-term loans.
The World Bank provides long-term financial assistance for development projects and reconstruction.
Specialized agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) were established.

New International Organizations and Global Issues

The World Trade Organization (WTO) (1995) replaced the GATT, providing a more structured bureaucracy and dispute-settlement mechanism to promote trade flows.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (1988) provides a platform for environmental negotiations.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) (2002) prosecutes individuals for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

Regional IGOs

European Union, Mercosur, and ASEAN are examples of regional IGOs that aim for economic and political integration.

The UN: Structure and Function

The UN has 193 member states, represented in the General Assembly.
The General Assembly is a deliberative body which acts as a forum for discussion and passes non-binding resolutions.
The Security Council has 15 members, including 5 permanent members with veto power.
The Security Council is responsible for maintaining international peace, can impose sanctions, and authorize military intervention.

The UN: Peacekeeping and Failures

Peacekeeping is a significant part of the UN budget.
Observers (unarmed) and peacekeepers (lightly-armored) are deployed.
Peacekeeping failures have occurred in areas like Yugoslavia (1991-1995), including the Srebrenica Massacre, and Somalia (1992-1995), including the Battle of Mogadishu.

The WTO: Principles and Mechanism

The WTO is based on most-favored nation (MFN) and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) principles.
The WTO's dispute settlement mechanism involves consultations, dispute panels, and an appellate body to resolve trade disputes.

Other Non-State Actors

NGOs (like Amnesty International and Emergency) have made substantial improvements to people's lives.
Some non-state actors (like MNCs and PMCs) present challenges due to a lack of accountability for security threats and fragmented authority.

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Description

This quiz covers the various types of non-state actors that influence international relations, from intergovernmental organizations to violent non-state actors. It also explores the history of significant non-state entities and their roles in global issues. Test your knowledge on the importance and impact of these actors in world affairs.