Key terms
Global governance
Refers to institutions, rules, norms and legal arrangements that seek to facilitate cooperation, and manage relations, between states. Governance is carried out by both governmental organisations such as the United Nations and non-governmental organisations.
Nation-state
Political or social grouping in which people within territorial boundaries, with recognised sovereignty, have common bonds based on culture, language and history. For example, Japan.
IGO
An intergovernmental organisation is an organisation composed primarily of states. They are established by a treaty, a founding charter for the organisation, and thus subject to international law. Examples include the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and International Criminal Court.
NSA definition
A non-state actor is a global actor that is not a state but still influences global politics. Often this refers to global actors that are not a direct part of global governance and international law, such as NGOs, global terrorist movements and/or organised religions.
TNC definition
Refers to a company whose operations and investments extend beyond the boundaries of the state in which it is registered, and can also be referred to as a Multinational.
Globalisation
Refers to acceleration and intensification of exchanges of goods, services, labour and capital, which promote global interdependence. These have been facilitated by rapid changes in communication and technology.
nation
•a group of people who share common bonds based on culture, history and language. An example of a nation is the Kurds (35 million people) who are spread across northern Iraq, north-western Iran, eastern and south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria.
Aims of the UN
•Keep peace throughout the world
•Encourage and nurture the friendly relations between states
•Work together to help people live better
role of ISIS
•Terrorism acts (directly or indirectly)
•Recruitment
•Sources of funding
•Take land- create a caliphate
Aims of Shell
Shell wants to maximise profit for its investors.
Shell wants to produce and sell energy. In the short-term, this means producing oil and gas. In the long-term, this means moving to more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Shell wants to ensure it is free to conduct its operations without criticism or obstruction by the public of governments
Legitimate or widely recognised ability to exercise effective control of a territory within recognised borders. This is the primary organising principle of global politics, providing states with the authority to represent their territorial entity within the international community. State sovereignty can be challenged internally (for example, secessionist groups) or externally (for example, one state invades another).
Regional groupings
•Are collaborative, geographical assemblages that states enter
Roles of the IMF
•Surveillance- Japan (2018) concerns over ageing population
•Lending- Ireland (2013) success
•Capacity development- Caribbean Regional Assistance Centre (CARTAC) provides assistance to 20 different Caribbean island states.
power of Amnesty
7 million members + supporters
Its research is widely respected - can ‘name and shame’ violators of human rights
Can influence public opinion
Power of Shell
Valued at $261 billion by market capitalisation (i.e., the value of its public shares)
$305 billion revenue (i.e., all income) making it the largest publicly-traded energy company, and 6th globally
$13 billion profit (i.e., money kept after expenses) 1st globally
Directly employs 92,000 employees in 70 states
State
Traditionally this term refers to the central actor in global politics. States possess a permanent population, defined territory and recognised sovereignty. States are not necessarily culturally homogenous, for example Australia.
Example of how multilateralism threatens state sovereignty
•States cannot resolves these issues on their own and will likely seek assistance from other states or IGOs.
•Example- Paris Agreement (2016)
•Example- the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure Iran’s compliance with the 2015 commitment to a peaceful nuclear program.
•Criticised for too much of a focus on Africa
•Major powers not ratifying the Rome Statute (Russia, US & China)
•Example- failure to prosecute Omar al-Bashir
Extent to which ISIS achieves aims
Short-term: successful in creating a caliphate that governed Iraq and Syria, in waging war against ‘crusader’ states and Shiism.
Long-term: caliphate destroyed; most members returned home; unable to seriously challenge state system.
•Maintains strong license to operate – e.g. support of Nigerian government in court cases and bids for new oil field concessions
•Strong stock price makes it most valuable public energy company - valued at $261 billion
Refers to a system of coordinating relations between three or more global actors, usually in pursuit of specific objectives.
How do state borders challenge state sovereignty
This occurs when the borders of a state are challenged. This not only has the potential to effect the defined territory, but also their population and its ability to ‘reign’/‘control’ the area.
•Internal- 2011: secession of South Sudan from Sudan
•Internal- 2017: Catalonia declared independence and wants to secede from Spain. It accounts for 20% of Spain’s GDP and 25% of its exports.
•External- 2014: Russian military intervention in Ukraine (annexation of Crimea). This impacted Ukraine’s legitimacy and authority over the area, and it also extended Russia’s boundaries.
•ual representation of states in the GA (smaller states can have an equal say)
•However, resolutions in GA are non-binding
•UNSC can pass binding resolutions on the international community
•UNSC can implement economic sanctions
•EXAMPLES
•2010- UNSC Resolution 1929 which imposed sanctions on Iran
Extent to which Amnesty challenged state sovereignty
•Tax avoidance through transfer mispricing = challenge to economic sovereignty of Nigeria
•Political influence through bribery = challenge to political sovereignty of Nigeria
•However, Nigeria’s relationship with Shell is profitable = 40% of state tax revenues are from Shell
Extent to which sovereignty is challenged
•Tax avoidance through transfer mispricing = challenge to economic sovereignty of Nigeria
•Political influence through bribery = challenge to political sovereignty of Nigeria
•However, Nigeria’s relationship with Shell is profitable = 40% of state tax revenues are from Shell