Centrum: the power center(s)

Domestic and international power relations: no transformation, not analogue structures

No global governance→ world politics depends on the power relations

→ history is the continous story of wars and conflicts

Measures to contain conflicts:

International law

International organizations, institutions (approx. 6000)

Global public opinion

Interaction between world politics and world economics

World order = world economics + world politics + ecological system

+ social structures
+ ideologies, cultures (Huntington

World economy is

Subject to the changes in world politics

Initiating changes in world politics

Types of world order

After the industrial revolution: unipolar

Approx. 1920-1940: „multipolar”

1945-1991: bipolar

Actors in international relationship

1. Nation-states

2. Organizations

International organizations

– IGO (Intergovernmental Organization)

– NGO (Non-governmental Organization)

TNC - MNC

Companies (Import-export)

Civil organizations

3. Individuals
realism: states (biliard pool model)

Idealism + structuralism: institutions

(spider web theory)

reformists: institutions √ but reformed

Characteristics of the world

Order and disorder, confrontation and cooperation

International power relations

Depends on:

1. the relative potential of the actors

2. their goals (security, wealth, prestige, etc.)

State, nation-state

Sovereign state: „the set of legislative, executive (governing) and judicial institutions that have
sovereignty over a definite territory and population.” (G. R. Berridge)

1. Great powers:
(permanent members of UN SC)

Explicit military power or implicit potential

Nuclear weapons

Special rights and responsibilities

2. Superpowers (Cold War): potential for dominance

Nuclear weapons

Macroeconomic indicators (SU?)

3. Middle-sized powers: regional influence

4. Small states: no clear definition  geographical or based on population

2 types of behaviour:

Military bloc

Don`t belong to any --- then

Neutral states: recognized neutrality

Non-aligned states

many times see themselves as “bridges” between major powers (in terms of economy or politics)

conditions:

Historical and geographical background

permeability: infrastructure

5. Micro states: below 1 million

Interactions:

cooperation

conflict:

Debate

Hostility

Intl. conflict

Reasons

1. economic
2. ideological
3. ethnic
4. structural
5. complex

economy territorial: strategic territories

economic: free trade etc

ecological: e.g. water resources

demographic: e.g. migration, illegal migration

1. imperialism theory:
e.g. Lenin

BUT: no conflict between major powers since the end of WW II.

great power rivalry exists

2. dependency theories

main conflict: N-S

ideology: comprehensive, universal ideas that facilitate social behavior

e.g.

nationalism

liberalism

socialism / communism

fundamentalism

3.- explicit:

Hitler

South-Africa

Western Balkan

Arab-Israeli conflict

- implicit: e.g. shiite/shia vs sunni

4.aggressive members (intl community cannot contain them)

 military power
 arms race  military alliances
 balance of power disappears
 possible military conflict!

 ANARCHY

5.Most conflicts: e.g.

Cold War

SU - China

Israel

I. military

II. economic

III. intelligence, secret agencies

IV. propaganda

V. intervention

I. MILITARY

1. Explicit (war): use of power for specific purposes without taking into account the other
states’ interests

local or global

conventional or nuclear (+ terrorism)

STRATEGIES:
traditional (Napoleonic)

indirect approach

extended war („revolutionary wars”): civilians, irregular armies, guerilla war etc

2. pressure: with of without the use of force (e.g. threatening with aggression) make the parter give
up own policy or own goals.

types:
- deterrence

- carrot and stick

Types of aggression

2. pressure: with of without the use of force (e.g. threatening with aggression) make the parter give
up own policy or own goals.

types:
- deterrence

- carrot and stick

2. pressure: with of without the use of force (e.g. threatening with aggression) make the parter give
up own policy or own goals.

types:
- deterrence

- carrot and stick

a. deterrence: action in order to prevent an aggression

e.g. Cuban missile crisis, MAD

Tools:

ultimatum

demonstration of military might

mobilization

b. Obliged bargain
„carrot and stick”

reward vs punishment

conditions:

- automatic
 - punishment worse than continuing policy

danger: opponent loses face (domestic)

Military doctrine: concise guiding principles

who?

what sort of goals? (+ enemy)

what means? (finances, technical background)

e.g..: „containment”, „flexible response” „MAD - mutual deterrence”

definition: treaty signed between two or more countries to ensure common action under specific
conditions. Formal and explicit obligation.

Characteristics:

defensive

previous times: closed org – now expansive (NATO)

domestic threat (Breznhev-doctrine)

Types

bilateral, multilateral

unilateral (USA-Japan, 1970)

universal or limited

E.g. military equipment, training, R&D, consultation, etc. no clear action taken.

ECONOMIC AGGRESSION

influence by monetary and trade policies – resembling market actions and dominance.

Tools: reward or punishment

promising

offering

threatening

revoking

1. Applied only if:

strong economy

strong political potential

previous actions

 great power
 2. Sanctions effective if –
greater disadvantage than the advantage of sanctioned behaviour
greater disadvantage for sanctioned country

Defense against sanctions:

stock

diversification of sources

import substitution

reducing consumption

illegal (smuggling, re-export)

counter-sanctions

III. INTELLIGENCE

Functions:

1. Gathering information by secret and unofficial means. Subjects:

enemy

friendly/allied?

2. Counter-espionage

3. Misleading information

4. Political interference:.

friendly rulers/gov.s (USA: Diem in Vietnam)

hostile governments

Means:

traditional („007”): secret agent

target country – involving persons in key positions: HUMINT

corruption

intimadation, blackmail

ideological commitment

Technology, electronic devices, satellite systems etc. SIGINT

HUMINT remains important because

Physical limitations

Counter - espionage

vulnerable
Can be lost (e.g. Iran)

Secret actions:

allies

enemy:

propaganda

Economic drawbacks

Direct political actions

Intelligence

Effectiveness:

Can be negative

Evaluation!

Over- or underestimation

Previous experience

„jungle reality” (USA, Vietnam)

Rivalry

IV. PROPAGANDA

Def.: manipulating the public opinion by media tools (4th branch of govt?)

Before 1945 – only in war

1945-1990: cheap, no risks, more effective, lack of information

Nowadays: information dumping

Changes in 20th century:

Political – public opinion, democracy

Social, cultural changes

technology

Bipolar world

Effectiveness:

Human behaviour and beliefs can be changed?

Or already existing beliefs?

trustworthiness

targeting
Defense against:

censorship (UN, Helsinki etc)

Physical destruction

Counter-propaganda

Importance in bipolar system

forum

Democratic values

 speed up changes

Nowadays: disinformation/alternative interpretation more important

V. INTERVENTION

Def: actions against another state in order to influence its domestic or foreign politics

Pl: Vietnam, Hungary, Czechslovakia, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Lybia etc etc

characteristics

Against weaker powers

Individual or collective (e.g. Prague, Iraq, Afgh.)

One or more tools

Legal background

questionable

UN Charter 2nd part

Non-interventionist public opinion →

Ideology

Govt. asked (1956, 1968, 1979)

Reasons?

Self-defense

Civil war

Humanitarian reasons R2P

1899, 1907 Hague conferences

1919 League of Nations

1928 Briand-Kellogg Pact

1945 UN Charter

Article 2: peace is the legal status

Article 4: violence prohibited

Article 33: instruments of peaceful conflict handling

Diplomacy

„bons office”

Mediation

Fact-finding committees, experts

arbitration tribunal

International Court of Justice

UN SC

International agreements

Domestic law

Norms, customary law

Gentleman’s agreement

Implicit (tacit) agreement

International agreements

trade, financial rel.

interest zones

handling conflicts

against aggression

moderating in case of war, domestic or international conflict (ius in bello)

No glob. governance

but: public opinion etc

Helps:

retaliation

strong allies

peaceful instruments

II. INTL ORANIZATIONS – functions:

Forum

Database

Peer review, pressure

Normative function
Actions, missions

III. DIPLOMACY – a special and traditionally most important branch of intl relations

Functions:

Common interests, compromise

types: – bilateral

– multilateral

– political negotiation

– specialized

III. DIPLOMACY – a special and traditionally most important branch of intl relations

Functions:

Common interests, compromise

types: – bilateral

– multilateral

– political negotiation

– specialized

Functions:

communication

Gathering information (intelligence)

Symbol of statehood

Preventing conflicts

Consul

IV. BALANCE OF POWER

One goal of diplomacy

How to reach?

Global governance?

Integrations

Collective security (impossible)

States’ military power + others’ military might: security

Balance of power = high military expenditures + alliances

Nuclear parity in Cold War

V. PEACEKEEPING
Alternative to collective security

Ineffective? since 1945:

superpowers

aggression - retaliation

modern weapons – counterstrike?

Peacekeeper

Def: legally accepted govt asks intl community to create buffer zone in order to stop escalation (only
self-defence, after ceasefire, UN SC resolution)

Cannot turn into aggressive instrument

Time to diplomatic tools

Financing: participating countries (voluntary) and funds

UN and states joint supervision

Limited, light equipment, small army

Neutrality

Great powers

pressure, prestige

UN SC

financing

BUT

aggression

intervention

involvement in conflict

General facts about IMF

created in Bretton Woods, 1945

headquarters: Washington DC

membership: 187 countries

staff: approx. 2500

from 158 countries

total quotas: $ 328 billion

loans outstanding: $ 200 billion to 84 countries

response to the global crisis

April 2009: triple lending capacity to USD 750 billion

2009 London: supplemental cash increase tenfold to $ 500 billion

Oct 2010: 6 % shift to emerging economies

Objectives of IMF

international monetary cooperation;

expansion and balanced growth of international trade;

exchange stability;

establishment of a multilateral system of payments;

making its resources available (under adequate safeguards) to members experiencing balance of
payments difficulties.

How the IMF works

membership quotas:
SDR = Special Drawing Right
/IMF unit of account/

SDR determines:

subscription – financial resources

voting power

access to financing

IMF activities

Surveillance – regular dialogue and policy advice

Financial assistance – correct balance of payments problems

Technical assistance

Forms of IMF loans

Stand-by agreement

Extended credit facility

Flexible credit line

Precautionary and liquidity line

The World Bank Group

Bretton Woods institution, 1945

HQ: Washington DC

membership: 187 countries

staff of about 9300
from 160 countries

$ 20.1 billion provided in 2011 for 245 projects in developing countries

long term, low interest loans

grants

IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

IDA: International Development Association

IFC: International Finance Corporation

MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

ICSID: International Center for Settlement of International Disputes

Objectives about WB

fight poverty

improve the standards of living in the developing world

empower the poor to take advantage of opportunities

means to goals

long term, low interest (or interest-free) loans (IBRD, IDA)

grants (IDA)

policy advice

technical assistance

knowledge sharing

promote growth – assist private sector (IFC)

job creation

How thw WB works

raising capital: in the world’s financial markets (bonds)

credit rating: AAA

member countries: shareholders

cofinancing (banks, regional financial org, governments etc.)

type of development loans

loans for a particular project

sectoral adjustment loans

structural adjustment loans

IMF

controls the intl. monetary system, exchange rate stability and liquidity

SHORT and MEDIUM term loans

own capital from members’ quotas

monitors governments’ monetary policy, macroeconomic stability

adjusts balance of payments problems

WB

assists developing countries, fights poverty

LONG term, low interest loans

capital from intl. financial markets

cooperates with private sector, governments, NGOs in special projects

engages in long term development projects

criticism of IMF and WB

dominated by G-7 (especially US treasury)

programs favour bankers and elites

unaccountable

concentrates on countries with deficit

focuses on reducing inflation -> discourages economic growth

programs impose austerity on countries in financial crisis

encourages developing nations to reduce trade barriers while not industrial countries

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

„provisional” between 1947-1994

de facto organization, but agreement

original goal: create ITO as UN specialized agency

GATS: General Agreement on Trade in Services

TRIPS: Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights

GATT: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GATS: General Agreement on Trade in Services

TRIPS: Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights

Copyright and related rights

Protection of performers

Producers of sound recordings

Broadcasting organizations

Industrial designs etc.

WTO general facts

Successor after 1995: WTO: World Trade Organization

established in 1995 by Urugay-round

headquarters:
Geneva

membership:
148 countries

secretariat staff: 600

Functions of WTO

Administering WTO trade agreements

Forum for trade negotiations

Handling trade disputes

Monitoring national trade policies

Technical assistance and training for developing countries

Cooperation with other international organizations

Principles of international trade

no discrimination

most favoured nation treatment

national treatment: treating foreigners and locals equally

freer trade – lowering trade barriers

predictability: through binding and transparency

fair competition

encourage development and economic reform

Barriers to international trade

Non-tariff barriers: quotas

Tariffs: import taxes

Administrative and technical barriers

Subsidies to national industries

Dumping prices

Dispute settlement in WTO

Request consultations between the two parties

Panel hearings by dispute settlement board

Request the elimination of discriminative tariff / non-tariff barriers

Measures in response allowed to a justifiable extent (economic impact equivalent or less)

WTO case study

Spain: import tariff modifications

Apply to: unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee

„Colombian mild” duty free

Most affected: Brazil

„Like products”? (Substitutable?)

Brief history of the United Nations

1941 Atlantic Charter GB-US

1942 Washington Declaration (+26 states)

1943 Moscow Declaration („Big Four”)

1943 Tehran Conference

(Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin)

1944 Dumbarton Oaks Conference

draft agreement

3 votes for the USSR (Belorussia, Ukraine)

1945 Yalta Conference

membership and voting issues

voting in the Security Council, right of veto

mandates -> trusteeship system

1945 April-June San Francisco Conference

24 Oct. United Nations Day

The Charter of the United Nations

The Statute of the International Court of Justice

General facts

193 members

headquarters: New York

European headquarters: Geneva

office: Vienna

Economic Commissions:

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)

Amman (Jordan)

Bangkok (Thailand)

Santiago (Chile)

6 official languages:

Arabic

Chinese

English

French

Russian

Spanish

UN day: 24 October

The UN charter

purposes and principles

membership

organs

General Assembly – functions, powers, voting

Security Council – functions, powers, voting

peaceful settlement of disputes

threats to peace, aggression

regional arrangements
international economic and social cooperation

ECOSOC

XII-XIII. trusteeship system and council

XIV. International Court of Justice

XV. Secretariat

1, purposes

maintain international peace and security

develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-
determination of peoples

achieve international cooperation in solving

int. problems of an economic, social, or humanitarian character

promote respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to
race, sex, language, or religion

2, principles

sovereign equality of all its members

fulfillment of international obligations

peaceful settlement of international disputes

no threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state

cooperation of member states

enforcement – non-members also comply with UN decisions

non-intervention – but not prejudice enforcement of Chapter VII.

Implied in the objectives:

self-determination

respect for human rights

3, memberships

all peace-loving states which accept obligations and are able to carry out

recommendation by Security Council

decision by General Assembly

Concerns:

Central and Eastern European (communist) states (1955)

newly decolonized states (1960)

2 Germany-s (1973), 2 Korea-s (1991)

China – Taipei

4, observes

Holy See

Palestine

IGOs:

African Union

Carribbean Community

Commonwealth

European Union

International Seabed Authority

League of Arab States

International Committee of the Red Cross and

the Red Crescent

Organs of the UN

General Assembly

Security Council

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Trusteeship Council

International Court of Justice

Secretariat

The general assembly

plenary organ

all members have 1 vote

recommendations, no binding decisions

only on financial issues

main objectives:

promote international political cooperation

the development and codification of international law

the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms

international collaboration in economic, social, cultural, educational and health fields

functions and powers of the general assembly

discussion and recommendation

exception: currently considered by SC

supervision and review of all UN activities

annual reports of SG, SC, ECOSOC, TC
+ subsidiary agencies

deciding financial matters

approve the budget

apportion expenses

examine the budget of specialized agencies

elective function

non-permanent members of the Security Council

ECOSOC

non-administering members of the Trusteeship Council

joint responsibility with SC:

International Court of Justice

Secretary-General

membership – by 2/3 vote

Charter amendment and revision – by 2/3 vote

Sessions of the generally assembly

regular sessions

special sessions
on request of the Security Council,
or the majority of Member States

emergency special sessions

– within 24 hours
Uniting for Peace resolution 1950

The UN security council

maintain international peace and security

functions continously

Chapters V-VII

Chapter VI: recommend procedures to peaceful settlement

Chapter VII: make binding decisions

economic sanctions and interruption of diplomatic relations

use of armed forces

decision making procedural matters: 9 vote

substantive matters:

“Great power unanimity” = veto

9 votes but no „no” vote by any great power

Committees of the SC

Standing Committees – all members of SC

Committee of Experts on Rules of Procedures

Committee on Admission of New Members

Ad Hoc Committees

Counter-Terrorism Committee

Sanctions Committees

Al-Qaeda and the Taliban

Iraq and Kuwait

Libya

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Rwanda

Angola

The economic and social council (ecosoc)

54 members (originally 18, 27)

elected for 3 years by GA

no continous membership, but 5 permanent members of SC reelected

other seats rotated on regional basis

voting: simple majority

annual session in NY or Geneva

¾ of UN budget is spent on economic and social programs

Functions and powers of ecosoc

deliberation and recommendations

human rights
refugees

economis and social

development

culture

education

health

labor conditions

environment

communication

reserch and reports

primary source of data

coordination
Director-General for Development and International Economic Cooperation

coordination

Programmes and Funds (11)

UNCTAD

UNDCP

UNICEF

Specialized Agencies (14)

ILO

FAO

UNESCO

Consultation with academics, business representatives, 2100 registered NGOs

Commissions of ecosoc

Functional Commissions

Human Rights

Narcotic drugs

Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Science and Technology for Development

Sustainable Development

Status of Women

Population and Development

Commission for Social Development

Statistical Commission

Regional Commissions

ECE: Economic Commission for Europe

Geneva (Switzerland)

ESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Bangkok (Thailand)

ECLA: Economic Commission for Latin America

Santiago (Chile)

UNECA: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)

ESCWA: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Amman (Jordan)

Sessional and Standing Committees

Expert, ad hoc and related bodies

Members of the trusteeship council

all permanent members of SC (administering and non-administering)

administering states

elected non-administering states

to attain parity

inactive since 1994

The international court of justice

Statute: integral part of Charter

headquarters: The Hague

automatic membership

15 judges elected by GA and SC for 9 year

simple majority vote

only STATES

all parties have to agree in referring the case to ICJ

no compulsory jurisdiction to all

advisory opinion on legal questions

the secretariat

international civil servants

staff of about 25,000

neutrality

independence

exclusively international character

double loyalty

secondment, conflicts

Functions of the secretariat

organize meetings, conferences of UN bodies and agencies

economic and social activities and projects, surveys, studies, reports

administer peacekeeping operations

administrative role: financial and accounting services, translation, personnel services, supplies,
transportation etc.

The secretary-general

head of Secretariat

appointed by the GA (2/3 vote) upon recommendation of the SC

SC: right of veto

5-year term, renewable

symbol of the UN

Functions of the secretary general

chief administrative officer, “manager”

secretary to all the major delegate bodies

perform functions assigned by the GA and the 3 Councils (prepare agenda)

annual report to the GA

draw up the budget

supervise day-to-day operations

appoint the Secretariat staff under regulations set by the GA

Extended functions of the SG

coordinate peacekeeping operations

“good offices” – mediation

preventive diplomacy

serve as diplomatic agent

suggest new programs

represent the UN

Kofi Annan

first SG elected from UN staff

renewing UN

good offices

peacekeeping

Nobel Peace Prize laurate 2001

Ban Ki-moon

Former foreign minister of S. Korea

Took office on 1st Jan. 2007

Reforms: split peacekeeping operations into two departments (operations & arms)

Antonio Guterres

Former prime minister of Portugal

Took office on 1st Jan. 2017

First to be ex-head of state, first to born after establishment of UN

Similarities with the league

UN

General Assembly

Security Council

Secretariat

International Labour Org.

International Court of Justice

Trusteeship Council

World Health Org.

Food and Agriculture Org.

UNESCO

League of Nations

Assembly
Council

Secretariat

International Labour Org.

Permanent International Court of Justice

Mandates Commission

Health Org.

Nutrition Committee
Committee on Intellectual Cooperation

Differces

UN

all Allied Great Powers

ex-enemies joined

only 21% is European

SC: 9 out of 15

social questions: comprehensive structure with great flexibility

economic issues: wide range of financial and development agencies

budgetary problems but still functioning

League of Nations

only 2/3/4 Great Powers

45% European

Council: unanimous

social questions: good framework but not comprehensive

studies and statistics

but great slump after 1929 limited success

lack of cash-> restricted results