Supra Section 1 Questions PDF

**Globalisation and Culture** 1. **What are early forms of globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Early forms of globalisation include ancient trade networks like the Silk Road, the Age of Exploration, and colonialism, which connected distant regions through commerce, migration, and cultural...

**Globalisation and Culture** 1. **What are early forms of globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Early forms of globalisation include ancient trade networks like the Silk Road, the Age of Exploration, and colonialism, which connected distant regions through commerce, migration, and cultural exchange. 2. **Is globalisation on the retreat?**\ *Answer*: Recent trends like Brexit, Trump-era protectionism, and rising nationalism suggest a backlash against globalisation. However, economic interdependence and technological advancements continue to drive global integration. 3. **How does globalisation affect social stratification?**\ *Answer*: Globalisation exacerbates inequalities by concentrating wealth and opportunities in certain regions while marginalizing others. Conversely, it can improve access to education, jobs, and information for some. 4. **What are nomad workers in a globalised world?**\ *Answer*: Nomad workers are individuals who leverage digital tools to work remotely while traveling. Globalisation has enabled this lifestyle by reducing physical boundaries and fostering interconnectedness. **European Union and Supranational Governance** 5. **What is the role of the European Parliament?**\ *Answer*: The European Parliament represents EU citizens, passes legislation, approves budgets, and oversees other EU institutions to ensure democratic accountability. 6. **What does the European Commission do?**\ *Answer*: The European Commission proposes legislation, implements EU policies, manages budgets, and ensures compliance with EU treaties. 7. **What is the function of the European Council of Ministers?**\ *Answer*: The Council represents member states and shares legislative and budgetary powers with the Parliament while coordinating EU policies. 8. **How does the EU Court of Justice function?**\ *Answer*: The Court ensures uniform application of EU law, resolves disputes between institutions or states, and interprets treaties. 9. **What is federalism in the EU context?**\ *Answer*: Federalism advocates for stronger central authority within the EU, balancing sovereignty with supranational governance. 10. **What is intergovernmentalism in the EU context?**\ *Answer*: Intergovernmentalism prioritizes national sovereignty, limiting EU institutions to act only where member states agree. 11. **What is Europeanisation?**\ *Answer*: Europeanisation is the process through which EU policies and norms influence domestic institutions and practices. It operates in three approaches: - **Top-down**: EU directives and policies influence domestic governance (e.g., implementing EU regulations). - **Bottom-up**: Member states influence EU policies by shaping its agenda (e.g., lobbying for national priorities). - **Horizontal/Lateral**: Policies and best practices are exchanged between states directly without EU mediation. 12. **What are vertical and horizontal levels of governance in the EU?**\ *Answer*: - **Vertical governance** refers to the interaction between different levels of government, such as the EU institutions (supranational) and member states (national governments). - **Horizontal governance** refers to cooperation between member states or within the same level of governance (e.g., agreements between two national governments or cities). **Theories and Philosophical Perspectives** 13. **What is the Transformationalist Thesis?**\ *Answer*: Transformationalists argue that globalisation is reshaping power structures and societies, creating a world that is interconnected yet uneven and unpredictable. 14. **What is the Principal-Agent Theory?**\ *Answer*: This theory examines the delegation of authority from states (principals) to supranational institutions (agents) and the mechanisms to monitor and control them. 15. **What is the Sceptics Thesis?**\ *Answer*: Sceptics believe that globalisation is overstated and that nation-states remain central actors, with economic interdependence confined to regional blocs. 16. **What is the Clash of Civilisations theory?**\ *Answer*: Proposed by Samuel Huntington, this theory suggests that post-Cold War conflicts will arise from cultural and religious differences rather than ideological or economic ones. 17. **How are supranational agents monitored and sanctioned?**\ *Answer*: Mechanisms include oversight committees, performance evaluations, and sanctions such as financial penalties or restructuring to ensure compliance with the principal\'s goals. **Global Institutions and Frameworks** 18. **What is the United Nations\' role?**\ *Answer*: The UN fosters international peace, security, and development through bodies like the Security Council, General Assembly, and specialized agencies. 19. **What is the structure of the UN Security Council?**\ *Answer*: It consists of 15 members---5 permanent (US, UK, Russia, China, France) and 10 rotating members elected for two-year terms. 20. **What is the role of the World Bank?**\ *Answer*: The World Bank provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for poverty reduction and sustainable development. 21. **What does the IMF do?**\ *Answer*: The IMF ensures global financial stability, facilitates international trade, and provides financial assistance to countries in economic crisis. 22. **What is the WTO\'s purpose?**\ *Answer*: The World Trade Organization promotes global trade by reducing tariffs, resolving disputes, and enforcing trade agreements. 23. **What is NATO\'s function?**\ *Answer*: NATO is a military alliance that ensures collective defense among member states, primarily in Europe and North America. **Governance and Policy** 24. **What is Multi-Level Governance?**\ *Answer*: Multi-level governance describes the distribution of authority across local, national, and supranational levels in policymaking. 25. **What is the legitimacy challenge for supranational regimes?**\ *Answer*: Supranational regimes face criticism for lacking democratic accountability and transparency in decision-making. 26. **What are soft international regimes?**\ *Answer*: Soft regimes rely on norms, recommendations, and voluntary compliance rather than binding enforcement mechanisms. 27. **What is the democratic deficit of international institutions?**\ *Answer*: The democratic deficit refers to the lack of direct representation and accountability in international institutions, disconnecting citizens from decision-making processes. **Economic and Corporate Themes** 28. **What is labour outsourcing?**\ *Answer*: Labour outsourcing is the practice of relocating jobs to countries or regions with lower labor costs, often to maximize corporate profits. 29. **What are transnational companies (TNCs)?**\ *Answer*: TNCs operate in multiple countries, shaping global markets and economies by leveraging economies of scale and accessing diverse markets. **Cultural and Societal Themes** 30. **What are ghetto cultures?**\ *Answer*: Ghetto cultures emerge when marginalized communities are isolated, often developing distinct cultural identities. 31. **What is glocalisation?**\ *Answer*: Glocalisation refers to adapting global products or ideas to fit local cultures, creating hybrid forms. **Historical and Political Aspects** 32. **What are the historical aspects of globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Historical globalisation includes events like colonization, imperialism, and the rise of trade networks, which connected diverse parts of the world. 33. **What was the New World Order?**\ *Answer*: The New World Order refers to post-Cold War efforts to promote a unified global governance system emphasizing cooperation and liberal democratic values. 34. **What is the multipolar world order?**\ *Answer*: A multipolar world order describes a global system with multiple centers of power, such as the US, EU, China, and Russia. 35. **What is the demise of the nation-state?**\ *Answer*: Globalisation and supranational governance challenge the sovereignty and relevance of nation-states by emphasizing interconnectedness and shared authority. **Environmental and Legal Aspects** 36. **What are the environmental effects of globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Globalisation contributes to deforestation, climate change, and resource depletion, but also fosters international cooperation on sustainability. 37. **What is globalising administrative law?**\ *Answer*: Globalising administrative law refers to developing legal frameworks that govern international institutions and transnational processes. **Cultural and Societal Themes** 1. **What is the velocity and intensity of cultural globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Cultural globalisation is characterized by the rapid spread of cultural products, values, and ideas through digital media, trade, and migration. Its velocity refers to the speed of exchange, while its intensity indicates the depth of cultural integration. 2. **What is the institutionalisation and stratification of cultural globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Institutionalisation refers to the formal structures that support global cultural exchanges (e.g., global media companies). Stratification highlights the uneven distribution of cultural influence, with dominant cultures shaping global narratives. 3. **What does \"multiculturalism or ghetto culture\" refer to?**\ *Answer*: Multiculturalism emphasizes cultural diversity and coexistence, while \"ghetto culture\" critiques the isolation and marginalization of minority groups within globalised societies. 4. **How is society depicted in the 21st century?**\ *Answer*: The 21st-century society is interconnected, technologically driven, and diverse, influenced by global media, migration, and transnational corporations. 5. **What defines society in the context of globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Society is a complex system of shared norms, values, and institutions shaped by global interconnectedness and local cultural adaptations. **Historical and Political Aspects** 6. **What are the benefits and contestations of globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Benefits include economic growth, cultural exchange, and technological advancements. Contestations involve inequality, loss of cultural identity, and environmental concerns. 7. **What were early world organisations?**\ *Answer*: Early world organisations include the League of Nations and the International Telecommunication Union, which laid the groundwork for global governance. 8. **What is the internalisation of politics as a response to economic integration?**\ *Answer*: Economic integration requires nations to internalize global norms, harmonize policies, and participate in international institutions to manage interdependence. 9. **What does \"towards a new world order\" mean?**\ *Answer*: This refers to efforts to create a global system emphasizing cooperation, governance, and liberal values following major historical shifts like the Cold War. **Global Institutions and Frameworks** 10. **What does \"civil society goes global\" mean?**\ *Answer*: Civil society organizations, such as NGOs, increasingly operate transnationally to address issues like climate change, human rights, and poverty. 11. **What is \"regionalisation and globalisation: complementary forces or a tug of war\"?**\ *Answer*: Regionalisation and globalisation often complement each other as regional blocs promote trade and integration within global markets. However, they can also conflict when regional priorities clash with global norms. 12. **What are the conditionalities and contestations in global institutions?**\ *Answer*: Conditionalities refer to requirements imposed by institutions like the IMF and World Bank, such as economic reforms. Contestations arise when these conditions are criticized for undermining sovereignty and worsening inequality. 13. **What is cultural imperialism?**\ *Answer*: Cultural imperialism refers to the dominance of one culture over others, often through global media, entertainment, and consumerism, resulting in the marginalization of local cultures. 14. **What are global brands and international VIPs\' roles in cultural globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Global brands and international celebrities act as agents of cultural globalisation by spreading shared values, lifestyles, and consumer habits across borders. 15. **What is the infrastructure of cultural globalisation?**\ *Answer*: The infrastructure includes technological advancements, global trade networks, and media platforms that facilitate the exchange and integration of cultural products and ideas. 16. **What role does cultural imperialism play in globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Cultural imperialism promotes cultural homogenization, where dominant cultures overpower and erode local traditions, creating a more uniform global culture. 17. **What is cultural resistance in globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Cultural resistance occurs when local communities push back against dominant global influences by promoting indigenous traditions, languages, and customs. 18. **What is cultural hegemony?**\ *Answer*: Cultural hegemony is the control exerted by a dominant culture over others, shaping global norms, values, and practices to align with its worldview, often through media and education. 19. **What role did colonialism play in early globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Colonialism spread political, cultural, and economic systems globally, laying the foundation for interconnected trade networks and cultural exchange, but often at the expense of colonized peoples. 20. **What is the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)?**\ *Answer*: The WTO promotes free trade by reducing barriers, resolving trade disputes, and providing a framework for negotiating trade agreements. 21. **What is NATO's purpose?**\ *Answer*: NATO is a military alliance that provides collective defense for its members, primarily focused on North America and Europe, ensuring security against external threats. 22. **What is the structure of the United Nations (UN)?**\ *Answer*: The UN has several key organs: the Security Council (ensures international peace and security), General Assembly (forum for multilateral discussions), International Court of Justice (judicial body), and specialized agencies like WHO and UNESCO. 23. **What are conditionalities in global financial institutions?**\ *Answer*: Conditionalities are requirements imposed by institutions like the IMF and World Bank on borrowing countries, often involving economic reforms such as austerity, privatization, or deregulation. 24. **How does the UN Security Council function?**\ *Answer*: The Security Council is composed of 15 members (5 permanent and 10 rotating) and is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It can authorize peacekeeping missions and impose sanctions. 25. **What are the implications of labour outsourcing in a global economy?**\ *Answer*: Labour outsourcing shifts jobs to regions with lower wages, benefiting corporations but often resulting in job losses, wage stagnation, and exploitation in outsourced regions. 26. **What is the Principal-Agent Theory in global governance?**\ *Answer*: This theory explains why states delegate power to international institutions (agents) and how states (principals) monitor and control them to ensure they act in their interest. **Environmental and Legal Aspects** 27. **What are the environmental implications of globalisation?**\ *Answer*: Globalisation contributes to deforestation, carbon emissions, and overexploitation of resources, while also fostering international cooperation to address environmental issues like climate change. 28. **What is Globalising Administrative Law?**\ *Answer*: This concept refers to creating international legal frameworks to regulate transnational processes and institutions, ensuring accountability and good governance. 1. **What factors contribute to the demise of nation-states in a globalised world?**\ *Answer*: Factors include economic interdependence, supranational governance (e.g., EU), the rise of non-state actors, and challenges to sovereignty from global trade, climate change, and digital transformation. 2. **How does globalisation challenge the sovereignty of nation-states?**\ *Answer*: Globalisation limits state sovereignty by encouraging free trade, multinational corporate influence, and supranational decision-making in areas like finance, law, and security. 3. **Are nation-states still relevant in the 21st century?**\ *Answer*: Nation-states remain relevant in providing governance, law enforcement, and social services, but their influence is challenged by global governance structures and transnational issues. 4. **What are the key global realities shaping contemporary international relations?**\ *Answer*: Key realities include the rise of multipolarity, climate change, technological innovation, economic interdependence, and shifting power dynamics between developed and developing nations. 5. **How have global realities shifted since the end of the Cold War?**\ *Answer*: The Cold War\'s end led to a unipolar world dominated by the US, but recent decades have seen the emergence of multipolarity with powers like China, the EU, and India gaining influence. 6. **How do global realities influence the balance of power between developed and developing nations?**\ *Answer*: While globalisation creates opportunities for developing nations, it also reinforces inequalities through economic dependency, capital flight, and unequal access to technology. 7. **What are the key processes of Europeanisation, and how do they impact member states?**\ *Answer*: Europeanisation involves the adoption of EU policies and norms by member states, influencing domestic governance, legal systems, and economies. 8. **How does Europeanisation function in a top-down versus bottom-up context?**\ *Answer*: In the top-down approach, EU directives influence member states' policies. In the bottom-up approach, member states shape EU policies by lobbying and proposing initiatives. 9. **What role does Europeanisation play in shaping EU governance and policy?**\ *Answer*: Europeanisation harmonizes policies across member states, strengthens supranational governance, and fosters integration, but it also faces challenges from Euroscepticism. 10. **How does the documentary *Garbage Dreams* depict the impact of globalisation on local industries?**\ *Answer*: The film shows how globalisation threatens traditional recycling practices in Cairo, as multinational waste management companies compete with the Zaballeen community. 11. **What lessons can be learned from the Zaballeen community\'s recycling efforts in *Garbage Dreams*?**\ *Answer*: The Zaballeen demonstrate the value of sustainable practices, recycling 80% of waste, and highlight the need to preserve local industries in the face of global competition. 12. **How does *Garbage Dreams* illustrate the conflict between traditional practices and global competition?**\ *Answer*: It portrays how traditional recycling systems are undercut by multinational corporations, risking the livelihoods of local communities and cultural heritage. 13. **What is principled leadership, and how does it differ from other leadership styles?**\ *Answer*: Principled leadership prioritizes ethical values, accountability, and the common good, differing from styles that focus solely on results or personal gain. 14. **How can principled leadership address challenges in global governance?**\ *Answer*: It promotes trust, cooperation, and fairness, essential for addressing global issues like climate change, inequality, and international conflicts. 15. **What examples illustrate the importance of principled leadership in resolving international crises?**\ *Answer*: Leaders like Nelson Mandela (post-apartheid reconciliation) and Kofi Annan (UN reforms) embody principled leadership by emphasizing ethics and collaboration. 16. **How has globalisation transformed the service economy?**\ *Answer*: It has expanded cross-border services, enabled digital platforms, and created outsourcing opportunities, making services a significant driver of global economic growth. 17. **What are the implications of digitisation and automation for the global service sector?**\ *Answer*: Digitisation increases efficiency and connectivity, while automation reduces jobs in certain sectors but creates demand for high-skill roles in technology and data services. 18. **How does the transformation of the service economy impact employment and inequality?**\ *Answer*: While it creates new opportunities, it widens the gap between high- and low-skill workers, increasing income inequality in many regions. 19. **What is the structure of the United Nations, and how does each organ function?**\ *Answer*: Key organs include the General Assembly (deliberative body), Security Council (peace and security), International Court of Justice (judicial), and specialized agencies like WHO and UNESCO. 20. **How does the UN balance the interests of powerful and less powerful member states?**\ *Answer*: The UN promotes equality through the General Assembly but faces criticism for privileging permanent members of the Security Council. 21. **What challenges does the UN face in maintaining international peace and security?**\ *Answer*: Challenges include veto power in the Security Council, limited enforcement capabilities, and member state non-compliance with resolutions. 22. **What are the key institutions of the European Union, and how do they interact?**\ *Answer*: Institutions include the European Commission (proposes laws), European Parliament (legislative approval), and Council of Ministers (represents member states). They collaborate on policy-making and enforcement. 23. **How has the EU evolved in terms of governance and policymaking since its inception?**\ *Answer*: The EU has expanded its policy domains, introduced the euro, and reformed its governance through treaties like Maastricht, Lisbon, and Schengen. 24. **What challenges does the EU face in achieving greater integration among member states?**\ *Answer*: Challenges include rising nationalism, Euroscepticism, unequal economic development, and migration policy disagreements. 25. **What is global cultural governance, and why is it important?**\ *Answer*: It involves managing cultural exchanges and protecting cultural heritage in a globalised world, ensuring diversity and equitable access. 26. **How do international organisations contribute to global cultural governance?**\ *Answer*: UNESCO, WTO, and other bodies establish frameworks for cultural trade, heritage protection, and intellectual property rights. 27. **What are the main challenges in creating a global cultural governance policy?**\ *Answer*: Challenges include balancing cultural preservation with free trade, addressing inequality, and mitigating the effects of cultural imperialism. 28. **What are the main arguments of the hyperglobalists, sceptics, and transformationalists in the globalisation debate?**\ *Answer*: Hyperglobalists argue that globalisation diminishes state sovereignty, sceptics believe its impact is overstated, and transformationalists see it as reshaping power structures unpredictably. 29. **How do anti-globalists critique globalisation's impact on society and the environment?**\ *Answer*: Anti-globalists highlight issues like exploitation, inequality, environmental degradation, and loss of cultural identity. 30. **What are non-state actors, and how do they operate within a system dominated by nation-states?**\ *Answer*: Non-state actors like NGOs, multinational corporations, and civil society groups influence global governance through advocacy, trade, and humanitarian work. 31. **What are the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of non-state actors?**\ *Answer*: Challenges include accountability and regulation, while opportunities involve increased innovation and problem-solving capacity. 32. **What challenges do indigenous ethnic groups face in a globalised world?**\ *Answer*: Indigenous groups face threats like land dispossession, cultural erosion, and political marginalization. 33. **How do indigenous groups assert their identity and sovereignty within nation-states?**\ *Answer*: They use legal mechanisms, international advocacy, and cultural preservation efforts to protect their rights and identity. **Delegation to Supranational Institutions: Why, How, and With What Consequences?** 34. **Why do nation-states delegate power to supranational institutions?**\ *Answer*: Nation-states delegate power to address global challenges like trade regulation, climate change, and security, which require collective action beyond the capacity of individual states. Delegation also enhances credibility and efficiency by creating impartial bodies to enforce rules. 35. **How is power delegated to supranational institutions?**\ *Answer*: Power is delegated through treaties, agreements, and charters, which define the scope of authority, decision-making processes, and mechanisms for monitoring compliance (e.g., EU treaties, WTO agreements). 36. **What are the benefits of delegating power to supranational institutions?**\ *Answer*: Benefits include fostering international cooperation, reducing transaction costs, ensuring uniformity in regulations, and addressing cross-border issues like trade disputes or environmental degradation. 37. **What are the dilemmas of delegation?**\ *Answer*: Delegation creates risks like loss of sovereignty, lack of accountability, and the \"democratic deficit,\" where citizens feel disconnected from decisions made by supranational bodies. 38. **What are the consequences of delegating power to supranational institutions?**\ *Answer*: Consequences include increased global governance, reduced national control over certain policies, and the need for mechanisms like monitoring and sanctions to ensure institutions act in the interest of member states.