Rights and Justice
Define "codification" of rights and give one example of an international instrument that codifies rights
Codification: formal writing down of rights (e.g., UDHR 1948)
Give two dimensions of development and two dimensions of sustainability named in the guide.
Development dimensions: political, economic (also social, institutional). Sustainability dimensions: environmental, social (also economic).
Distinguish between positive and negative peace with one supporting detail and context specific evidence.
Negative peace is the absence of direct violence; positive peace addresses structural causes and builds reconciliation and justice (e.g., reconciliation processes, truth commissions)
What does UNHCR stand for and what is its primary mandate?
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; mandate: protect refugees, coordinate international responses and find durable solutions.
Which core theme best describes a state's actions to resist external humanitarian intervention?
Sovereignty ustification: state asserts supreme authority to control internal affairs and rejects external interference.
Explain the concept of "Responsibility to Protect (R2P)" and name one context in which it has been invoked or debated.
R2P is the principle that states and the international community have a duty to protect populations from mass atrocities when their own state fails; invoked/debated in Libya (2011) and extensively discussed in relation to Syria
What is meant by "marginalized, vulnerable and most affected groups" in development contexts? Give one specific example from a case context.
These are populations that face greatest risk and least access to resources or protection (e.g., migrants and refugees, children). Contexts could include: children in mining operations, immigrant workers being denied freedom to leave or basic wages, must include location, general date, some detail
List three parties to conflict indicated and give a short, named example of each.
1) States (e.g., national governments).
2) Intrastate groups (e.g., rebel or guerrilla groups).
3) Protest groups/individuals (e.g., civil resistance movements).
Spell out ICC and ICJ and give one function of each institution and one example in context.
ICC — International Criminal Court: prosecutes individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes. I
n 2024, the ICC Prosecutor applied for an arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander‑in‑Chief of Myanmar’s armed forces, for crimes against humanity committed against the Rohingya population.
ICJ — International Court of Justice: settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions. The Gambia v. Myanmar
Critics argue that this UN body’s decisions may lack _________ (core concept) because five permanent members can veto resolutions, even when most states support them—highlighting tensions between power and interdependence.
legitimacy, UN security council
Compare two conceptions of justice (egalitarian and cosmopolitan). How might each view approach refugee rights?
Egalitarian justice emphasizes equal distribution and may prioritize citizens' equal treatment within a state; cosmopolitan justice emphasizes global moral duties to individuals everywhere and would support stronger international obligations to protect refugees. Thus, an egalitarian approach might favor national-level solutions to refugees as long as the state's own citizens are treated equally, while cosmopolitanism would favor transnational responsibility and resettlement.
Explain how resource endowment and climate change can each effect development outcomes for a community.
Resource endowment shapes economic opportunities (natural resources can spur industry or cause dependency and vulnerability).
Climate change can damage agriculture, cause displacement, and reduce livelihoods, undermining long-term development and increasing vulnerability.
Explain the "greed vs grievance" framework as a cause of conflict and apply it to a resource-scarcity dispute.
"Greed" posits conflict arises from actors seeking wealth/control of resources; "grievance" emphasizes identity, marginalization, or injustice. In a water-scarcity dispute, greed actors might fight to control water infrastructure for profit, while grievance actors might mobilize because a marginalized community is denied water access.
Identify three regional human rights tribunals named in the GloPo guide.
IACtHR,
ECtHR,
ACtHPR
Inter-American Court of Human Rights; European Court of Human Rights; African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights
According to Susan Strange, this form of power allows states or institutions to shape the global political economy by controlling structures such as finance, production, knowledge, or security, rather than directly coercing other actors. Name it and give a context specific example
structural power- US/Russia on UNSEC
Describe three ways non-state actors (e.g., private companies, labor unions, civil society organizations) can influence rights protection and monitoring.
Advocacy and reporting (NGOs like Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International monitor abuses).
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and codes, supply-chain pressure, or union bargaining to improve labor standards, push for HR protection into WTO/WB agreements.
Strategic litigation or submissions to regional human rights tribunals to hold states OR companies accountable. (labor unions or HR CSOs/NGOs)
Outline three main criticisms of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) suggested by the IBO GloPo guide "critical views on sustainable development." and connect ONE to a theory or theorist.
Criticisms include that SDGs may be unrealistic or overly broad,
may reinforce growth-based models (neoliberalism) that ignore ecological limits,
and may insufficiently address structural inequalities and power imbalances (From a dependency theory perspective (Frank), the SDGs fail to address structural global inequalities, instead promoting development within a system that perpetuates dependence and unequal power relations.)
Describe Galtung's conflict triangle ABCs- Galtung's triangle: contradiction (incompatible goals), attitude (hostility), behavior (violence).and explain how it can be used to analyze a protest movement turning violent- use a specific case
To analyze a protest turning violent: identify the underlying contradiction (e.g., land rights), trace attitudes of mutual distrust, and examine behaviours that escalate (use of force, repression), then design interventions addressing each corner.
Explain the difference between the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and a binding treaty enforced by an international court. Use examples from the a specific context.
The UDHR is a non-binding declaration that sets normative standards; binding treaties (e.g., Genocide Convention) create legal obligations and can be enforced through courts or tribunals with jurisdiction, such as the ICC or regional courts.
This concept explains how interdependence can itself become a source of power when one actor is less affected by a disrupted relationship, enabling it to influence or coerce others. Give an example from a context/case study.
Asymmetrical interdependence
Explain how power can be exercised through "responses to violations of rights"-BONUS context-specific examples
Power exercised via sanctions and military intervention; also through trade limitations, financial freezes, or legal prosecutions (ICC).
List and define five development measures, and Compare and contrast two of them.
GDP per capita, HDI, Gini Coefficient, Multi dimensional poverty index, Happy Planet Index, Gross National Happiness Index, GDP, SDG Index Score
Distinguish between peace keeping, peace building, and peace making operations and give one example of each in specific context.
Peacekeeping maintains peace once fighting has paused UNMISS – United Nations Mission in South Sudan (2011–present) UNMISS was established after South Sudan’s independence to protect civilians, monitor ceasefires, and support stability during ongoing internal conflict.
Peacemaking negotiates peace while conflict is ongoing Colombian Peace Talks and Peace Agreement (2012–2016) Negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC, supported by international mediators, led to a formal peace agreement ending decades of armed conflict.
Peacebuilding strengthens societies to ensure peace lasts- UN peacebuilding efforts in Rwanda (post‑1994) Included rebuilding institutions, promoting national reconciliation, and supporting justice mechanisms after the genocide.
Write out the names of each of these UN organs and departments: UNGA, UNSeC/UNSC, ICJ, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, ECOSOC.
BONUS- can you give a context-specific example of four in action?
Realist critics argue that this phenomenon—often celebrated by liberals—does not reduce power politics, but instead creates new opportunities for powerful states to exert influence through trade, sanctions, and supply chains.
Complex Interdependence