Nature of World Order

Nature of World Order

Open Ended

What are some of the options for dealing with conflict between nation-states?

Interdependence

Since the end of WW2, nations are increasingly reliant on each other, especially in the area of trade.

Interdependence

• The global economy has many advantages. By specializing and trading with other countries this interdependence in trade has made the world richer, including the world's poorest countries

Interdependence

Nations rely on each other now more than ever. This may push us towards peace.

“Among the many reasons I don’t think we should bomb the Japanese is that they built my minivan."

Interdependence

However, global interdependence also has some disadvantages. For example, what happens if your country depends on another for oil, and its leader decides to stop selling to you? What happens to your country if the other country suddenly doubles the price of oil?

Most Australian trade with China has plummeted 40 per cent amid tensions, DFAT reveals - ABC NewsiviewListen

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Interdependence

• As the Syrian Civil War demonstrated, a major upheaval in one country can have a destabilising ripple effect in the region and around the world.

  
  

• This feature of the globalised world has made the world more vulnerable in some ways.

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT an example of increasing global interdependence?

• Many Asian countries are dependent on Australia for fossil fuels such as coal and gas

• Civil Wars on distant continents can eventually lead to increased terrorist attacks in Australia

• Economic shocks to the US economy can lead to Australians who work for multinational corporations losing their jobs

• Australia is working towards food self-sufficiency- growing enough food to not need to rely on imports

Multiple Select

Tick all the benefits of global interdependence

• Wars in one country can cause refugee outflows across large regions

• Increased wealth across the world

• More reluctance to go to war with trade partners

• More fragility, so economic downturns can have worldwide effects

Open Ended

Is more interdependence a good thing or bad thing? Why?

State sovereignty

• the authority of an independent state to govern itself (for example, to make and apply laws; impose and collect taxes; make war and peace; and enter treaties with foreign states) 

• This idea began with the Peace of Westphalia (1648) 

  
  

State Sovereignty

• The UN Charter is the founding document of the UN. It states, in Article 2 that the UN and its members:

• have no authorisation to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any state.

• respect the sovereign equality of all its members

• refrain from the threat or use of force against of any state

State Sovereignty: has it been successful?

• The big, powerful countries who caused so much destruction have stopped fighting each other

State Sovereignty: has it been successful?

• The most powerful countries are also involved in fewer wars in small countries

State Sovereignty: has it been successful?

Although it may be surprising that nations are actually upholding the UN Charter, it makes sense that interstate wars would fall if they did.

If no-one gets involved in each other's business, there will be no interstate war. This is known as the principle of non-interference.

Open Ended

Has the principle of non-interference been a good thing for global peace and security. Why or why not?

Multiple Choice

The authority of a "state" to govern itself is 

• Political Autonomy
• Sovereignty
• MAGA
• Common sense

State Sovereignty: has it been successful?

But wait: how about civil wars? There HAS been an increase in civil wars since the sixties.

State Sovereignty: has it been successful?

However, civil wars are far less deadly than interstate wars

State Sovereignty: has it been successful?

Therefore, there has been an overall decline in war deaths.

Open Ended

Why has state sovereignty resulted in more civil wars?

State Sovereignty and Civil Wars

Unfortunately, if nation states strictly stick to the principle of non-interference, they won't intervene in civil wars. This is a definite drawback of the principle of state sovereignty.

State Sovereignty and Civil Wars

• The Syrian Civil war (2011- present) is a good example of the limitations of international law (especially state sovereignty) in stopping civil wars

State Sovereignty and Civil Wars

In the case of Syria, both the Syrian government and Russia have called upon the principle of state sovereignty to reject UNSC resolutions to intervene.

Multiple Choice

In the Syrian Civil War, President Barack Obama initially assisted the _____________ opposition forces against the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

• Sunni and Kurds

• Sunni and Shia

• Arab and Turk

• Jewish and Muslim

Multiple Choice

Who is an Internally Displaced Person (IDP)?

• A person who willfully travels to another country

• A person forced to leave their country

• A person forced to leave their home but who is still in their home country

Multiple Choice

Who is the President of Syria?

• Muammar Gaddafi

• Bashar al-Assad

• Hafez al-Assad

• Hosni Mubarak

Multiple Choice

There have been world-wide tensions over how to deal with the situation in Syria. An example of such tensions is that

• Shiite-led Iran has backed ISIS, angering the U.S.

• several presidential candidates have criticized

  President Trump for being too aggressive against ISIS.

• Russia thinks Bashar al-Assad should remain in power

  in Syria, but many other nations strongly disagree.

• all of these

Multiple Choice

ISIS views the governments of Iraq and Syria as enemies mainly because these governments ...

• are led by Sunni Muslims.
• are led by Shiite Muslims.
• have forged close alliances with the United States.
• have recently claimed land that ISIS views as part
  of its own long-held territory.

Multiple Choice

Who is fighting on the side of Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war?

• United States, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey
• Isis, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda
• Russia, Iran, and China
• Kurds

Multiple Choice

President Bashar al-Assad and most members of the Syrian government belong to which religious group?

• Sunni Muslim

• Allawite/Shiite Muslim

• Kurds

• Christian

Multiple Choice

The rebels in Syria want to:

• to insititute a totalitarian Islamic caliphate.
• Limit the rights of women in Syria.
• Fight the influence of Western Civilization.
• To overthrow Assad's totalitarian government.

Open Ended

Should state sovereignty be absolute? That is, should nation-states always stick to the principle of non-interference? Why?