Global Politics Unit 3 and 4 Notes PDF

Title Global Politics Unit 3 and 4 Notes
Course Global Politics
Institution Victorian Certificate of Education
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Global PoliticsUnit 3 and Unit 4Global Politics Unit 3 AOS 1 NotesIntergovernmental OrganisationsUN - 193 member statesAims - Maintain international peace and security - Develop friendly relationships between states - Promote respect for human rights Roles - Uphold international law - GA: Provide a ...


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Global Politics Unit 3 and Unit 4

Global Politics Unit 3 AOS 1 Notes Intergovernmental Organisations UN - 193 member states Aims Maintain international peace and security Develop friendly relationships between states Promote respect for human rights Roles • Uphold international law • GA: Provide a forum for international debate on international issues and recommend resolutions Resolution 68/262 - After Russia attempted to annex Crimea from Ukraine, the UN put together resolution 68/262 which states that Crimea belongs to Ukraine, not Russia. • UNSC: Adopt resolutions which can authorise economic sanctions, military forces, peacekeeping missions and create agreements to settle disputes. - Look at the case study • • •

Power • Lies in the UNSC which can authorize economic sanctions, military action, peacekeeping and agreements to settle disputes • Restricted by resolutions which are non-binding • In the P5 which allows the already powerful states to focus their power on international issues and resolutions. CRITICISMS • Funding comes 22% from the USA, which could create bias towards the USA • Membership of the UNSC (United Nations Security Council) - Permanent 5 (P5) - USA, China, UK, France and Russia = Veto power = unfair as they are all winners of WW2 • Non-binding nature of UN resolutions • UNSC has no standing army and therefore has rely heavily on soldiers from member states Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Rwanda CASE STUDY - UN role in Libya - Resolution 1973 - SUCCESSFUL • 2011 - protests erupted following the Arab Spring against the dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi (in power since 1969) in Libya • Protestors in Benghazi city were fired upon by security forces and protestors form National Transition Council o UNSC referred matter to ICC for investigation • Gaddafi retook control of Libya in March of 2011 • Resolution 1973 - Introduced by France, UK and Lebanon o Abstain: Russia, China, Brazil and more • Resolution 1973 - Immediate ceasefire and no-fly zone and all necessary measures to protect civilians • Day later French and British air forces attacked Libyan army bases and soldiers to enforce no-fly zone • Over next 6 months anti-Gaddafi forces of the NTC gained control of most of the state • ICC issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi ad his family for crimes against humanity • UNSC member states gave grace concerns about outcome resolution • Ended in October, 2011 after mob execution of Gaddafi Resolution 1970 (arms embargo on all sides) Resolution 1973 (ceasefire on both sides and a no-fly zone over Libya) CASE STUDY - Yemen - UNSUCCESSFUL

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Civil war began in 2014 - backed by Saudi Arabia and Iran. Has worst Cholera epidemic and worst humanitarian crisis. UN failed to send humanitarian aid, food and drugs to civilians amid a bloackade imposed on the country UNSC Resolution 2014 - no attention to economic or social issues UNSC Resolution 2216 - determines UN actions in Yemen - UN however has been unable to achieve any progress

IMF - 189 member states Aims Support a system of exchange rates International trade Promote employment and sustainable economic growth Reduce poverty Roles • Provide loans to member states with balance of payment problems • Monitor financial development of member states • Provide technical assistance to member states that request it - Making new tax systems, effect banking and new legislation frameworks Power • Loans predicted on austerity based reforms of economy policies • Inefficient due to imposing same fiscal strategy on every member state regardless of circumstance • Funding comes from member states • • • •

CRITICISMS • Tough conditions - IMF provided Greece with 50 billion euro loan with an interest rate of 5.5% o Deregulation of trade laws o Focus on exports o Privatisation of state assets - hospitals, transport systems = impact on public services • Washington Consensus - Group of IFI that coerce countries into adopting policies against their will • More funding = more voting rights - USA contributes 17% so they can almost veto things by themselves Japan, Germany and China 6% each - Greece was expected to raise 5.3 billion euro by 2018 just through privatisation of assets - pensions were cut, teachers overworked, public sector jobs cut • All policies enforced at once - Unemployment in Greece peaked at 27.9% in 2013 due to rapid privatisation leading to a loss of jobs • Public backlash - Riots and protest in Greece led to many deaths and injuries as well as strikes. • States with IMF programs have income inequality - UN raised concerns about the austerity measures placed on Greece - 15% of population live in extreme poverty CASE STUDY - Greek Sovereign Debt Crisis - UNSUCCESSFUL • Christine Lagarde - President of the European Central Bank • Global financial crisis - 2008 • 2010 - Greece unable to maintain balance of payments due to public service costs = sovereign debt crisis o Low retirement age and generous pensions o Public service employees (nurses, teachers, doctors, train drivers, electricians for state company) paid very well o Taxation - easy to not pay tax o Excessive borrowing - reliant • Fear of defaulting on debt = unable to and will not repay debt = bankruptcy - Troika stepped in (IMF, European Central Bank and the European Commission) provided bailout loans o Severe austerity measures - pensions cut, public service pay cut, taxes increased, poverty increased and state assets privatisation = recession o Unemployment = 16.7% as of 2019 o Troika pressured Greece to get more loans • Tourism represents 20% of Greece GDP

CASE STUDY - Serbia, 2014 - SUCCESSFUL • Serbia government took a hit from the global financial crisis • Tax receipts collapsed • Government and state-owned institutions overspent which resulted in a build-up of public debt. • The Serbian government reached out to the IMF to bail them out. • The IMF started a program for them, with fiscal strategies and economic monitoring and mentorship. • After 3 years in the program the Serbian economy turned around. • The accounts who had 2nd largest deficit in Europe in 2014, boasted a surplus in 2017. • Unemployment rates are near historic lows

ICC - 123 member states Aims To try those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide Hold people to account for their actions Assist national jurisdictions Roles • Assist national jurisdictions tor bring the worst perpetrators to trial • To try those accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide Power • Lacks power due to inability to try heads of state - President Omar from Sudan • Dependent on state actors • Limited global governance due to opposition from China, Israel, USA and South Africa - Omar form Sudan hid in South Africa for years and therefore evaded the ICC • • •

CRITICISMS • A lot of state opposition • Selective in how it chooses cases due to lack of funding o Relies on states for funding and their voluntary contributions o Focuses on small cases, mainly on relatively powerless countries = African countries • Powerful states have refused to sign memberships and have given misgivings about it - USA, China, Israel and South Africa CASE STUDY - Thomas Lubanga Dyilo - SUCCESSFUL • From DRC and leader of the UPC which was backed by Uganda • Accused by HRW (Human Rights Watch) • Ordered massacres and recruitment of child soldiers • Operated and apprehended in Congo • Taken to The Hague by DRC • Found guilty of child solder conscription = 14 years - 2012 - 6years



Laurent Dbagbo has also been put on trial for starting post-election violence - found not guilty due to lack of evidence - Ivory Coast - UNSUCCESSFUL

China believes that the ICC impinges upon state sovereignty because the court can undermine a countries legal system and war crimes include internal conflicts as well as external

State Actors Created by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 AIMS o Maintain sovereignty of the state • Operation sovereign borders, 2013 - Keeping asylum seekers from coming illegally into Australia o Pursue national interests • 2016 Paris Agreement - Australia signing o Defend its borders from both internal and external threats • Brainwashing of Uighur Muslims in China. This was to quash an East Turkmenistan secession ROLES o Meet the needs of its citizens • Legalisation of Same-sex marriage in Australia o Preserve statehood and maintain sovereignty POWER o Comes from having power of its territory and over its citizens and exercising power over both foreign and domestic issues o No enforcement of policies from IGO’s so powerful states can do what they like in regards to the pursuit of their national interests o Weaker stats power is constrained by their limits in regards to economy, security and stability

CHALLENGES TO STATE SOVERIEGNTY CONTESTED BORDERS Challenges the aspects of defined territorial boundary, having control over its territory/population and a permanent population E.g. Chile - Bolivia EXTERNAL Russia - Crimea > Russia wants Crimea as a part of Russia due to the oil wealth in the area. In 2014 Russia sent 600 troops in an attempt to take over Crimea = resolution 68/262 in the UNGA INTERNAL South Sudan > 2011 South Sudan wanted independence from Sudan and was granted it after years of civil war - between government and opposition forces - came from the Comprehensive Peace Agreement REGIONAL GROUPINGS States must forfeit sovereignty upward to supranational organisations. However, states sometimes chose to ignore regional policies in the pursuit of their own national interests. Junker Migrant Deal - Poland, Slovakia and Hungary were required to take on refugees despite having voted against it as EU law prevails over state law. Schengen Area – countries within the EU do not require a passport to travel through the countries THIRD AGENDA ISSUES Issues that require multilateral resolutions to solve. This requires cooperation between state actors to solve them. Issues that require multilateralism threaten the territorial sovereignty of states States may have to forfeit control over their territory in order to reach the wanted resolution E.g. Trump pulling the USA out of the Paris agreement in 2017 Paris Agreement which is a collaboration of multiple states coming together to achieve an overall emissions drop Trump pulled the USA out as it conflicted with his "America First" policy

Transnational Corporations – Volkswagen AIMS • Maximise their profits • Build the brand • To maintain and mould brand perception ROLES • Employment o Utilise human labour o VW employs 642,000 people globally 45% Germany alone • Foreign Direct Investment o Make investments into business interest in another state o Establish business operations o Provide revenue • Trade o Exchange of goods and services across state borders POWER • Ensures that government laws are favourable so that they can achieve their aims • Has a big annual profit • Contributions to tax which means that governments cannot lose the business of VW CASE STUDY • VW uses employment to increase sales. VW employ up to 280,000 people in Germany alone • Provide stable income to middle-class employees - reduce burden of welfare on the state • Contributes to 2.7% total GDP of Germany • Significant contributor to Germanys tax revenue • • • •

Use FDI, VW employs workers to create new markets fro their profits Argentina used to be against free-trade and transnational corporations, in 2015 Argentina allowed VW to expand into Argentina VW invests $650 million into Argentinian production VW creates 2500 jobs in Argentina alone

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY • Volkswagen is moving to develop autonomous and electric cars. This comes into line with the Paris agreement which many states where Volkswagen operates have signed. GLOBALISATION • Emissions scandal in the USA where VW attempted to cheat on the CO2 test in the USA. This resulted in VW losing billions of dollars and many jobs were lost. This resulted in Germany going into an economic recession and there was an increase in people on welfare in Germany. = predator of the state

Non-State Actor TERRORIST - Islamic State of Syria and the Levant AIMS o To establish a worldwide Islamic Caliphate o To purify the world by either converting or eliminating enemies of ISIS - e.g. Christians, atheists, Hindu's, Jews ROLES o Spread propaganda to recruit foreign fighters • Uses social media to spread propaganda - Globalisation and the rise of the internet o Perpetrate acts of international terror • November 2015 Paris Attacks - perpetrated by ISIL. Resulted in the deaths of 130 civilians and injured 413 • Manchester bombing 2017 - 23 dead and 112 hospitalised o Capture territory from opposing forces POWER o Demonstrated its power by capturing territory and challenging the sovereignty of states • 2014 - ISIS captures Mosul - ISIS captures Mosul despite Iraqi military presence o Boko Haram uses globalisation to spread its ideology and incite fear into the international community. • 2015 - Boko Haram released its "Harvest of Spies" video on Twitter where they decapitated two people o Power of ISIS is declining due to its inability to control the territory it seizes • 2017 - Fall of Mosul - Iraqi forces took back control of Mosul putting a hold to ISIS' control on Iraq GLOBALISATION o ISIL harnesses the worldwide spread of social media. They had an estimated 46,000 - 90,000 active accounts in 2014. They use the social media accounts to spread their ideology and to recruit foreign fighters and brides.

NGO - Amnesty International AIMS o Fight human rights abuses worldwide o Fights those who do not allow people to express article 18 and 19 of the UDHR (Freedom of religion and of expression) - Prisoners of Conscience o Abolishment of the death penalty - USA, China, Saudi Arabia, Iran o Abolishment of torture ROLES o To fight human rights abuses world wide o Undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending abuses of the UDHR o Publish reports on human rights abuses o Lobbies governments and companies POWER o Mobilizes civil society to act • Has over 7 million members worldwide and in over 150 states CASE STUDY

o o o

Chelsea Manning - court-martialled in 2013 for being a 'spy' and sentenced for 35 years AI Campaigned through petitions and a letter to Barak Obama Manning was released in 2017 after being granted clemency

Global Politics Unit 3 AOS 2 Notes – PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Background on Chinese examples o

CPC and Xi Jinping

"Chinese Dream" - Very important to young Chinese (18-39) "Realising the great renewal of the Chinese nation is the greatest dream for the Chinese nation in history - CPC) o Strong China (economically, diplomatically, scientifically, militarily) o Civilised China (equity and fairness, rich culture and high morals) o Harmonious China (Amity among social classes) o Beautiful China (healthy environment and low pollution) o "Together we will achieve common prosperity" - President Xi Jinping, 2020 o

The Two 100s • By 2021 China will have reached Xiaokang Society or better known as a moderately well-off society (10,000 GDP per capita) • By 2049 China will have achieved the Chinese Dream

o

South China Sea • The South China Sea is currently claimed by five states - UN Charter says that all states have access to 200nm off their coast to use for economic purposes (EEZ - Exclusive Economic Zone) • 9 DASH LINE • The CABBAGE strategy - Surround contested islands with ships = unable to access island MILITARY POWER • ICC charged China with invaded Vietnamese space - 2016 (breaking UNCLOS) • US flies over - Military power • RESPONSE: Undermines idea that China is a peaceful actor • EP: - oil and gas reserves in the area • NS: - Building of military structures = strengthen claims in 9-dash line and extend sovereignty. • RR:- Philippines commenced proceedings against China and the US and Japan were critical of Chinese military drills in the SCS in 2019. US accused China of undermining and bullying regional states • InS:- China's international standing had been damaged and goes against "peaceful rise" idea.

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Belt and road Initiative • 3 continents and 60% of worlds population • Designed to reroute trade • To make China the next superpower • $4-8tril USD • OVERLAND - 6 corridors to get trade in and out of China § Rail from China to London § Oil lines form Caspian Sea to China § High speed train network from SE Asia to China • MARITIME - From China to Africa route • Includes - oil refinery's, industrial parks, power plants and coal deposits • THIS IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE WORLD TO TRADE WITH CHINA • 60 countries have signed • PAKISTAN § Corrupt government § $62 billion highway in Pakistan - meets maritime § Alternative oil route

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Companies and workers employed internationally Easier to get help than from IMF or World Bank Sri Lanka - China loaned $1.5bil - couldn't pay it back so gave China use of its Maritime ports STRING OF PEARLS THEORY - China trying to establish string of naval bases in the region allow it to guard shipping routes Challenging the US in leadership/power NATIONAL INTERESTS § Economic Prosperity: - China's pathway to Hegemony, provides ~$1tril worth of trade between China and BRI countries. BUT "there is concern that some investments - if not properly tended - could wither on the vine." -- This could mean that China could lose some money form their investments as states are sometimes unable to pay back their loans from China. § International Standing - China is attempting to reposition itself in the global economy and it is the "beginning of a new era.". BUT some people believe that the loans and debts that China is creating is a trap to get states to relinquish economic or military power, this is called "debt diplomacy". § National security - Gaining control over ports to further their military power (String of Pearls Theory). § Regional Relationships - China is helping Laos. BUT the USA has concern that "China's projects are weaken international standards relating to development, labor protections and environment protection." - US embassy in Beijing, 2019 Foreign Policy § Trade § Military

DOMESTIC ISSUES • Xinjiang § A small autonomous region of China made up of 45% Uighur Muslim minority people § Policies have been put it in place to limit the Uighurs religious, cultural and commercial activities § Han Chinese have moved into the area (largest ethnic group in China) § Infrastructure projects are taking place in Xinjiang, but the Han Chinese are taking the jobs § Region under virtual lockdown with police stations and passport confiscations of Uighur people and prevented Muslim names § All residents were told to download an app that scanned phones for illicit files § Political education camps - 1mil - subjected to Chinese propaganda § China is worried that the Xinjiang province will separate from China as it has oil, gas and coal seams = energy for China § ALSO IMPORTANT FOR BRI as lots of things go through Xinjiang § NS- re-education camps are enabling the reduction of extremism and separatism movements § EP: - Greater control within the region to aid in the BRI - " the territory of Xinjiang is important to the BRI as all the highways, pipelines, railways go through Xinjiang." - Dr Anna Hayes, JCU § RR:- neighbours have beene reluctant to criticie the actions, but Japan and Australia both signed a letter from the UN to the UNHRC critising the treament § IS:- See above o

Hong Kong • Protest against bill • Extradition bill • One country, two systems -HK will have democratic freedom = different from China as they use the law to arrest those that speak against the state • 2014 - Umbrella Protests • 2019 - fighting extradition bill as it gives more power to China and the Chinese government can then extradite those that speak are pro-democracy • Came about after a man murdered his wife in Taiwan then went back to HK. He couldn't be charged in HK as he committed no crime there



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