DP Global Politics: Unit 1

Power, Sovereignty and International Relations

 Power can be seen as ability to effect change and, rather than being viewed as a
unitary or independent force, is as an aspect of relations among people functioning
Key Concepts… within a social organization. Contested relationships between people and groups of
people dominate politics, particularly in this era of increased globalization, and so
understanding the dynamics of power plays a prominent role in understanding
global politics.

Power Sovereignty characterizes a state’s independence, its control over territory and its
ability to govern itself. How states use their sovereign power is at the heart of many
important issues in global politics. Some theorists argue that sovereign power is

Non- increasingly being eroded by aspects of globalization such as global communication and
trade, which states cannot always fully control.

State state
interdependence Sovereignty
Legitimacy refers to an actor or an action being commonly considered acceptable and
actors provides the fundamental basis or rationale for all forms of governance and other
ways of exercising power over others. The most accepted contemporary source of
legitimacy in a state is some form of democracy or constitutionalism whereby the
governed have a defined and periodical opportunity to choose who they wish to exercise
legitimacy power over them. Other sources of legitimacy are suggested in states in which such an
opportunity does not exist.

In global politics, the concept of interdependence most often refers to the mutual reliance between
and among groups, organizations, geographic areas and/or states for access to resources that
sustain living arrangements. Often, this mutual reliance is economic (such as trade), but can also
have a security dimension (such as defence arrangements) and, increasingly, a sustainability
dimension (such as environmental treaties). Globalization has increased interdependence, while
The international system often changing the relationships of power among the various actors engaged in global politics.

Political actors, the sovereign state, and the international system


The State:
‘a political association that
exercises political power through a
set of stable institutions within
defined territorial boundaries’
(Shorten, 2008: 36)
The state is distinct from Hence, State and ‘Non-
society (civil society) state’ actors
Includes governmental
institutions: courts, security The public vs. the private
systems, prisons, national sphere
industries

States are funded through Hence, IGOs, NGOs, Forums, etc.

taxation rely on voluntary donations or
state financial support

States have the authority to

legislate, and command the This is qualified sovereignty
authority to have laws obeyed

What is the ‘state’? What kind of states are there?

 States? How do they function? Example
The (Nation)
Unitary State State…
Democratic
States Authoritaria Fragile/Faile
Federal State
(liberal/social n states d states
)

Authoritarian State Militarised Dynastic

Unitary Federal Theocracies
states States

Theocratic State

Militarised State

Dynastic State (totalitarian)

Fragile State
Political actors, the sovereign state, and the international system
 What is a ‘state’? […] The modern state can only be defined in terms of a
specific means which is peculiar to the state, as it is to all other political
associations, namely physical violence […]

If there existed only formations in which violence was unknown as a means,

then the concept of the ‘state’ would have disappeared;

then that condition would have arisen which one would define, in this particular
sense of the word ‘anarchy’.

Violence is of course not the normal or sole means used by the state […] But it
is the means specific to the state.

Nowadays […] we have to say that a state is that human community which
Max Weber (1864- lays claim to the monopoly of legitimate physical violence within a certain
1920) territory, this territory being another of the defining characteristics of the state.

The complex matter of sovereignty…

 “This is the crux of the problem: nation-states rely on control. If they
State can’t control
Sovereignty:
Sovereignty:
information, crime, businesses, borders or the money supply, Supreme then
territory: are
theyauthority
political
Authority
will cease
to coerce.
withintoits
deliver =what
(internal citizens
relationship demand
between state of them. In the end, nation-states nothing but The Right to
agreed-
and citizen) coerce = legitimate force.
upon myths: we give up certain freedoms in order to secure others. But if that transaction
(external = relationship between states)
no longer works, and we stop agreeing on the myth, it ceases to have power over us.”

Popular Sovereignty: “It commands and is never to be commanded”

Sovereignty belongs to the people and
authority is legitimate when it rests on the
consent of those subject to it

[…] Twenty years ago, many were prophesising its imminent demise. Globalisation, said the
Borders?
futurists, was chipping away at nation-states’ power to enforce change. Businesses, finance
“A ruler was sovereign only in his territory.
and people could up sticks and leave. The exciting, new internet
Outside of it, there were other sovereigns who Externalseemed to herald a
recognition:
borderless, made
free,the
identity-less
same claim forfuture.
their ownAnd climate change,
territories.” internet
Free from governance
interference from otherand
states in
the international system.
international crime all seemed (Grimm,beyond
2015) the nation-state’s abilities. It seemed too small to
handle international challenges; and too lumbering to tinker with local problems. Voters
The development
were quick to spot all this and of stopped
the modern,bothering sovereign, nation-state
to vote, making matters worse.
 The sovereign state can be defined in very loose terms as a territorially defined political
society that is legally recognized as being solely responsible for the governance of that
territory and, on the international stage, as independent from any political or religious
superior…
Sovereignty is also a
political doctrine that
captures the ideas of
freedom, independence and
self-determination that are
the primary claims of
existing states and the major
aspiration of many
subnational, cultural,
ethnic and religious groups
who are subsumed in the
territory of existing states.
The complex matter of sovereignty…
What is a ‘nation’? What is a ‘nation-state’ Why is this so important?

[…] a named human population sharing an

Are there ‘nations’ historical territory, common myths and
without statehood? historical memories, a mass, public culture, a
common economy […]

It is a psychological concept because it

concerns humans’ attachments to the group
with which they identify. The basis of national
identity is often shared ethnicity, language, or
religion. A state, in contrast, is a political
organization or a government that exercises
supreme authority over a defined territory

(Karbo, 2015: 97)

Nations without States…

 Key Concept: Legitimacy…
Legitimacy refers to an actor or an action being commonly considered
acceptable and provides the fundamental basis or rationale for all forms of
governance and other ways of exercising power over others. The most
accepted contemporary source of legitimacy in a state is some form of
democracy or constitutionalism whereby the governed have a defined and
periodical opportunity to choose who they wish to exercise power over them.
Other sources of legitimacy are suggested in states in which such an
opportunity does not exist…

Questions for consideration…

- When is state violence legitimate? - By what criteria can we judge state power to be
legitimate?
- to what extent is a stateless nation a legitimate political actor?
- All human beings have a legitimate claim to citizenship and state protections. To what
extent do you agree with this claim?
Legitimacy…
Stateless Nations & Legitimacy: Kurdistan
 Stateless nations have no legitimate claim…
There are far more self-identified nations than there are
Stateless Nations & Legitimacy: Debate
existing states and there is no legal process to redraw state
boundaries according to the will of these
peoples. According to the Helsinki Act of 1975, the UN,
ICJ and international law experts, there is no
contradiction between the principles of self-determination
and territorial integrity, with the latter taking precedence.
There is not yet a recognized legal definition of
"peoples" in international law.
Stateless ‘nations’ have no legitimate claim to self-determination (sovereignty):
To what extent do you agree with the claim
Stateless nations have a legitimate claim…
e.g., Kosovo (2008): The US and the West supported
Kosovo’s claim for independence from Serbia. The
ICJ stated that its claim ‘did not violate international
law’. However, it has not been confirmed by the UN
that Kosovo can be an independent member state of
the UN
e.g., Kurdistan: In 2017 Iraqi Kurds voted
overwhelmingly in a referendum to create a self-
determining sovereign state of Kurdistan. However,
the Iraqi government ruled it unconstitutional and no
other countries or IGOs have recognised the Kurds
claims in law.
National self-determination appears to challenge the
principle of territorial integrity (or sovereignty) of
states as it is the will of the people that makes a state
legitimate. This implies a people should be free to
choose their own state and its territorial boundaries
(democratic legitimacy)
Note taking as we go…

Ensure you are updating your notes as we go: email your notes to me!!
• Insurgencies create displacement • Border/Territory
and refugees. disputes: (Extreme)
• Syria, Libya, Yemen Crimea (Ongoing)
Kashmir (Ongoing)
Taiwan

Permanent Defined
Population Territory

Capacity to
enter into
Effective
relations
Government
with other
states
• Sanctions and
• Fragile States: Corruption;
Embargos (e.g. Cuba,
unstable government; coup Iran, North Korea,
d’etate; Taiwan)
• DRC, Myanmar, Libya etc. • IGOs.

The complex matter of sovereignty: Challenges to the Sovereign State (1)

Challenges to State Sovereignty…
 In 2016, this
Q: To what extent are do IGOs erode state sovereignty?
happened…

A referendum in
The UK triggered
the UK asked the
the Article 50
electorate:
clause in its
agreement with
Should the United
the EU…
Kingdom remain
a member of the
…a legal
European Union
mechanism for a
or leave the
member state of
European Union?
the
European Union
52% said yes
(EU) to leave.
48% said no

Is the Sovereign State being eroded in the modern world? Non-State Actor: Regional level of
analysis
 Q: To what extent are do IGOs erode state sovereignty?
Should I stay?
Why? Being part of one of the largest trading
blocs in the world: 45% of UK trade is
with the EU (single market), 18% with the
USA and 7.3% with the BRICS countries
(Brazil, Russia, India, China, South
Africa). Trade matters – external
sovereignty – attracts investment
Interdependence and cooperation: On
terrorism, crime, human rights.
Maintenance of regional stability: the EU
project concerns the avoidance of conflict
through closer trade relations
EU migration has had a net economic
benefit, and free movement means UK
citizens are free to pursue opportunities
within the community
Is the Sovereign State being eroded in the modern world? Non-State Actor: Regional level of
analysis
Or should I go?
The EU threatens UK sovereignty
(pooled sovereignty – EU law trumps
UK law)
The EU is undemocratic: The EU
commission is not accountable to the UK
electorate (legitimacy)
EU regulations cause the UK harm ($880
million per year)
The single currency is a disaster: The
2008 financial crisis hit the Eurozone
hardest (Spain & Greece had 20%
unemployment rates)
Too much Immigration: strained resources
& identity politics.
 Q: To what extent are do IGOs erode state sovereignty?

Remainers…

Brexiteers…

Is the Sovereign State being eroded in the modern world? Non-State Actor: Regional level of
analysis
The European Union is a unique economic and political
union between 27 EU countries that together cover
much of the continent.

Thanks to the abolition of border controls between EU countries,

people can travel freely throughout most of the continent. And it has
become much easier to live, work and travel abroad in Europe. All EU
citizens have the right and freedom to choose in which EU country they
want to study, work or retire. Every EU country must treat EU citizens
in exactly the same way as its own citizens for employment, social
security and tax purposes.

The EU's main economic engine is the single market. It enables most
goods, services, money and people to move freely. The EU aims to
develop this huge resource to other areas like energy, knowledge and
capital markets to ensure that Europeans can draw the maximum
benefit from it.

The Non-state actor… Q: To what extent are do IGOs erode state

Intergovernmental Organisations: (IGOs) sovereignty?

The curious paradox of Brexit: IGOs & state sovereignty

Is the Sovereign State being eroded in the modern world? Non-State Actors…
At the regional level…

On the one hand…Is the Sovereign State being eroded in the modern world? Non-State Actors…
 Brexit seems to be a set of contradictions:
1. Exiting a major IGO and revoking ‘pooled sovereignty’ should
in principle afford the UK state greater legislative power and
border control (migration inward)…
2. Brexiting however, reduces the ability of the UK to enter into
free trade with other countries (e.g. single market), and it
cannot stop businesses migrating outward. (*plus 1.3 million
worker have left the UK to Jan. 2021)

On the other
hand Is the Sovereign State being eroded in the modern world? Non-State Actors…
 Even within global politics sovereignty no longer refers exclusively to the capacity of the
Traditionally,
state sovereignty
to make arbitrary referred
decisions, buttorather
the ability of a state to make
to its international decisions about
obligation ‘to events
preserve life-
within its borders
sustaining standards without
for itsexternal Ininterference.
citizens’, while
the longmore Globalisation
widely
run, reduced observing hasthe
trade lowers however
rule of progressively
productivity.lawFactoring
and post- in
robbed individual
war conventions on human states in isolation
rights. of control
these effects
Sovereignty over
substantially
is thus their
about economic
increases the costsaffairs.
the responsibility toGlobal
of Brexit to a loss of
protect the
6.3% to 9.5% of GDP (about
manufacturing and commerce rights and increasingly
interests depend
of the on the
population, not£4,200
co-operationto £6,400
control. per household).
of trading partners,
to ensure goods pass across borders and are accepted for sale in foreign markets. From this
Being outside the EU means that the UK would not automatically
perspective,
The free-trade
understanding agreementspropounded
of sovereignty and institutions
benefit such
by the
from future as
UKtrade
EU thedeals
EU’s
government single
with isothermarket
mindless ofdo
countries. not
these
This
reflect a lossdevelopments.
global but a poolingThe of sovereignty:
success control
of ‘take
would mean back is extended
control,’
missing thebeyond
out on the theand
key slogan
current US boundaries
of Japanese
the Leave of the
deals,
campaign in 2016, lay not only in the outdated state.
which are forecast
idea to improve real
that sovereignty incomes
is the by 0.6%.
capacity of a state
to make unfettered decisions within its borders—an idea that particularly a post-imperial
After Brexit, would the UK obtain better trade deals with non-EU
state might be inclined to entertain—but,
The vast majority of economic
countries? within
It wouldthat,
notthe
havesingularly
to English
compromise so conception
much with other
studies from the May Government and
others show that the higher the barriers
of parliamentary sovereignty.
EU states, but the UK would lose bargaining power as its economy
to trading with the EU, the larger the makes up only 18% of the EU’s ‘single market’.
negative impact on the UK economy. Do you mean…
Potential trade-boosting deals with non- UNDHR Article 25:
EU countries are not expectedEveryone Evaluate
to make has the right to a standard the adequate
of living claim that sovereign states
for the
up for weaker trade flows with the health
EU. and well-being of himself and of his family…
(These studies show that the economy
become less powerful when they join
will still grow, but not by as
Is the much.) State being eroded
Sovereign intergovernmental
in the modern world?organizations (IGOs).
Non-State Actors…
 On the evidence so far, it looks
Before Brexit, the UK was like Brexit did not enhance the
automatically part of any trade power or sovereignty of the
deal the EU had negotiated with UK…
another country. The EU had
about 40 trade deals covering …but…
more than 70 countries at the
time the UK left.
The UK has made deals to
continue trading in the same
way with 63 of these countries
(BBC)
The UK signed a deal with Japan on 22 October - the first that differed from an existing EU deal. The total value of UK-Japan
trade (imports and exports) was £31.6bn in 2019, or 2% of the UK's total trade.
On 31 January, the UK government announced it would apply to join a free trade area with 11 Asia and Pacific nations
called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Current members include
Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.
Separately, the UK government is also holding trade talks with the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Evaluate the claim that sovereign states become less powerful when they join
intergovernmental organizations (IGOs).
 Evaluate the claim that sovereign states become less powerful when they join intergovernmental
organizations (IGOs).
Sovereign states become less powerful when they join
IGOs because…
• States are subject to regulations and standards on trade, environmentalism, quality
assurance etc. and compelled to follow them. This means that they cannot
necessarily determine their own laws or regulatory frameworks (*challenges
legislative sovereignty). For this reason, it can be argued that sovereign states
become less powerful when they join IGOs.
For example, at the regional level, we can observe the United Kingdom leaving the
European Union (EU). Tension was created in the UK over EU migration laws on
the free movement of people across member state borders. Domestic UK fears over
mass immigration, falling living standards, a strain on resources, public services
and diminished employment availability, led to the rise of mass Euroscepticism and
protest parties like UKIP campaigning for the UKs exit from the EU. The argument
was that the UK had ceded control over its borders and its legislative powers, and
hence its sovereign power had been eroded. Many invoked the argument that self-
determination and prosperity was not possible under membership of the EU, and
that the UK’s economic interests could be better controlled outside of it. The issue
became pivotal in UK politics and forced the government to hold a referendum in
which 52% of the electorate opted to leave the EU.
Finally, because the EU commission is an unelected body and hence not directly
democratically accountable to the citizens of EU member states, the further
argument that it was an illegitimate body that controlled the domestic policies of its
members, but not in their interest or by their consent.
Therefore, it could be argued that by ceding legislative and regulatory sovereignty
to the EU, the UK lost some of the authority to control its domestic affairs, and
became less powerful as a result.
Sovereign states enhance their power when they join
IGOs because…
• On the other, hand pooled sovereignty gives member countries like the UK access to
valuable multilateral arrangements brokered by the EU on trade and security from
which social, security, and economic benefits derive.
For example, the EU is a founding member of the World Trade Organisation which
gives it access to a global, multilateral trading treaty, as a discreet, regional
member. Membership of the WTO allows member states of the EU to reap the
economic benefits of global trade (e.g. enhanced economic growth, access to a wider
range of goods and services at cheaper prices). The EU also enhances the security,
and hence the sovereignty of its member states through EU Security Union Strategy,
which allows more cohesive cooperation and information sharing between member
states on issues like cyber crime, organised crime and terrorism, which can cut
across national borders. Further, the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
means that security and military resources are pooled between EU nations in order
to strengthen member states in conflict prevention and international security. The
CSDP has undertaken missions in Moldova, Ukraine, Kosovo, and Georgia, which,
one can argue serves to enhance regional security.
The EU also has the ‘single market’; research suggests that member states’ GDP is
enhanced by up to 9% in virtue of membership….etc.
 To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?
IGOs: Inter-governmental Organizations
refers to an entity created by treaty, involving two or
more nations, to work in good faith, on issues of
common interest. In the absence of a treaty an IGO
does not exist in the legal sense. For example, the G7
is a group of seven nations that have annual economic
and political summits. IGOs that are formed by
treaties are more advantageous than a mere grouping
of nations because they are subject to international
law and have the ability to enter into enforceable
agreements among themselves or with states.
 To what
Then extent
we had (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?
this…
What is the WTO and what do they
do?

Brief History…

• After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and Great

Depression in the 1930s, developed nations were
suffering high unemployment, and low economic
output…
• To protect their economies, many nations introduced
tariffs to try and curb imports and boost
production.
• Problem was…other trading partners retaliated to
the loss in trade with tariffs of their own: ‘tariff
wars’ After WW2 29 countries formed an agreement known as the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), intended to
• International trade suffered and in many national
economies, output suffered too gradually liberalise (free up) international trade and prevent further
outbreaks of tariff wars.
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?
 To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

Like the IMF and the World Established on 1 January 1995, the Trading System Principles
GATT provisions…
Bank, it also exists as a broader WTO is a more formal,
institution, in this case
1. Non-discrimination – General Agreement on Tariffs and GATT provisions…
institutionalized version of the
consisting of trade
equal, non-discriminatory
representatives sent from treatment for all Trade (GATT) 2. Elimination of non-tariff trade barriers –
Non-Discrimination
member
member countries. Thistomeans that a country’s
countries (164) gradual elimination of non-tariff barriers.
meetings
trade organized
policy cannot at adiscriminate
number between its Exceptions were made for agricultural products
of levels, and thousands of and countries with balanceFree
of Trade
payments
trading partners (for example,
specialists, consultants and
it cannot impose a higher tariff on imports difficulties.
lobbyists who exercise
from considerable
one country powerand a lower one on imports
– the Predictability
intricacies
from anotherof trade regulationsException was made
country).
inviting expertise. Promoting
for bilateral and regional trading blocs
fair
The WTO advocates the GATT provisions…
competition
‘liberalization of trade’ –
3. Consultations to resolve trade disputes –
that is, the freeing of Development and economic
international movements of
GATT provided a forum for discussions to
reform should be encouraged
commodities resolve disagreements between countries.
Byand services
1994, 124 countries were signed Protecting
from tariffs andup restrictions,
to this multi-lateral trade the
fostering competition – but
agreement environment
all set within a framework
of rules
 To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

the concept of interdependence most often refers to the

mutual reliance between and among groups,
organizations, geographic areas and/or states for
access to resources that sustain living arrangements.
Often, this mutual reliance is economic (such as trade),
but can also have a security dimension (such as
defence arrangements) and, increasingly, a
sustainability dimension (such as environmental
treaties). Globalization has increased interdependence,
while often changing the relationships of power among
the various actors engaged in global politics.
Multilateralism can broadly be defined as a process that
Intergovernmentalism refers to interaction among states which takes coordinates behaviour among three or more countries on the
place on the basis of sovereign independence. The most common form basis of generalized principles of conduct. For a process to be
of intergovernmentalism is treaties or alliances, the simplest of which genuinely multilateral, it must conform to three principles.
involve bilateral agreements between states. he other main form of These principles are non-discrimination, indivisibility
intergovernmentalism is leagues or confederations. In such bodies, (participating countries must behave as if they were a single
state sovereignty is preserved through a process of unanimous decision- entity, as in collective security), and diffuse reciprocity
making in which each member state has a veto, at least over matters of (obligations among countries must have a general and
vital national importance. enduring character, rather than being examples of one-off
cooperation).
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

Sovereignty vs Interdependence: ‘Veto power’

Veto power (from the latin ‘to forbid’) is where member states of IGOs
can unilaterally block policies, legislation, resolutions, or
Meow! appointments. The U.N security council has 5 members states that can
block security resolutions from being passed, by ‘vetoing’ them.
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?
Is it just strong states like the
US that object to the
multilateralism of IGOs like
the WTO?

WTO members to self-identify as “developing”

countries in order to receive special treatment

the failure of many WTO members to properly

notify the WTO of government subsidies in
accordance with specific agreement rules

More veto! The WTO has failed to aid developing

(*it didn’t work in the end) countries and has favoured/promoted States in
the Global North
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

A failing
institution? Some international trade rules risks hampering global efforts to
recent “Developing
tackle COVID-19, countries
Amnesty International said today.
criticisms… should be offered flexibility
 
Last night, members
on tradeofbarriers,
the Worldgiven
Trade Organisation failed to
agree on amore
landmark
timeproposal made
to adjust, andby India, South Africa,
Kenya and Eswatiniprivilege”
to temporarily waive certain provisions of
the TRIPS Agreement - a global treaty governing intellectual
property rights - relating to COVID-19 medical technologies.

If agreed, the waiver would suspend the implementation,

application and enforcement of certain intellectual property
rights, such as patents on pharmaceutical products, and facilitate
the development and manufacture of more and lower-cost
COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments and vaccines..

Hmmmm….
 To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

“We (2011)
seek to“[…]
placethe
developing countries’has
WTO membership needs andto deliver the promised pro-development changes.”
failed
interests at the heart of the Work Programme x p ort
d e ir
adopted in this Declaration,” they said. revealed
“… We shall n
  1. Cotton: the Fairtrade Foundation last year how the $47bn ininsubsidies g’ a .” (Fa paid to rich-country
continueintothe
make p ged
producers pastpositive
10 yearsefforts designed
has created to ensure
barriers for the 15 million cotton e
u m
‘d coura ) across west Africa trying to
farmers
thattheir
trade developing
way out countries,
of poverty,and
andespecially the least-
how 5 million of the world's pooreste s lik farming
d is tifamilies
on have been forced out of
t ic a r e e t i
developed among them,businesssecure a and
shareinto
in the growth ac ies those mpsubsidies.
deeper “Pr bsidof
poverty because C o
of world trade commensurate with the needs of their su
economic
2. development.
Agricultural In this context,
subsidies: beyond cotton,enhanced
WTO members have failed even to agree how to reduce the huge
marketpaid
subsidies access, balanced
to rich worldrules, andwhose
farmers, well targeted,
overproduction continues to threaten the livelihoodserof ingdeveloping
sustainably financed technical assistance and w
world farmers. ? Lo
capacity-building programmes have important roles to i l ity
i c t ab r s ?
3. Medicine: the poorest inplay.developing countries are unable to access affordablePrmedicine ed rrie because members have
e & de Ba
failed to clarify ambiguities between the need for governments to protect d tra health on one hand and on the
rapublic
T
ree
other to protect the intellectual property rights of Fpharmaceutical companies.
More
4. Protectionist economic policies: […] the WTO failed to curb the speedy increase in the number of protectionist
criticism…
measures applied by G20 countries in response to the global economic crisis over the past two years – despite
G20 leaders' repeated affirmations of their "unwavering" commitment to resist all forms of protectionist measures.
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

• The value of world trade

has increased because of
multilateral agreements.

• The Global economy has

grown as a whole, and
free trade agreements
have benefitted a great
deal of states.
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?
We agree economic cooperation hinders sovereignty…
 Sometimes, membership of some organizations or.
mechanisms aimed at economic cooperation
requires states to alter their domestic rules and
legislation or even face action in case of non-
compliance. For instance, the WTO has been
criticized for creating a supranational court system
that has the power to force states to comply with
its rulings, which may even require legislative
changes at the national level
 Many trade and investment agreements tend to
cover much more than just commerce, including
instead reference to areas such as environment,
migration, or labour policies – which means that
they tend to impinge on state sovereignty and its
domestic policies in such areas. (EU/Brexit)
We disagree economic cooperation hinders sovereignty…
 It is ultimately the state which decides if it wishes
to be part of economic cooperation mechanisms
or to open up their economy. In that sense, the state
remains the primary decision maker on whether it
accepts external authority structures (WTO/EU).
 The Westphalian notion of sovereignty has
altered its form to include economic cooperation
mechanisms which increase network-
interdependence, which leads states to pool
sovereignty for better output (WTO/EU)
 Economic cooperation mechanisms such as trade
and investments bolster economic activity by
reducing barriers, thus states may be seen as
engaging in ‘sovereignty bargains’ in which one
dimension or type of sovereignty is bargained away
for gains in another. Any argument which advances
a graduated or non-traditional conceptualisation of
sovereignty should be rewarded as such.
(EU/Brexit)
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?
 To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

2. Honesty Check 1: 3.
Plan/brainstorm your
Read the question response: Will my thesis,
1.
carefully! Thesis/Arguments/ arguments/
i. Introductio Command Words? Case Discussion directly
n Studies/Concepts answer the essay Q?
ii. Body 4.
iii. Conclusion 5. Intro…
Body… Body…
6.
Writing: Stage 1
25 mark Writing: Stage 2 The introduction –
Writing: Stage 3 Argument 1 – P.E.A.L Thesis; roadmap; key
essay Argument 1 –
25
terms/ concepts
Counterclaim and
rebuttal (explored; Conclusion
justified) Body… 9.
8. Writing: Stage 6
Writing: Stage 5
Body… Conclusion –
7. Argument 2 –
Summarise arguments
Writing: Stage 4 Counterclaim and
and thesis (answering
Argument 2 – rebuttal (explored;
the Q!)
P.E.A.L justified)
10?
To what extent (so far) do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?

Let’s look at an essay and assess its structure, focus, and

argumentation…

The marks
scheme
follows after
the text…