IR Flashcards
Describe the basic principles of trade and finance established by the Bretton Woods System.
The Bretton Woods system was a post-WWII standard exchange system based on the gold standard, which ended in August 1971 when America left the Bretton Woods system. It was based on the US dollar set equal to 1/35th of an ounce of gold, and other states’ currencies had rates based on the US dollar. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades (GATT) was founded to promote a set system of global trade.
What is IMF?
International Monetary Fund - an intergovernmental organization that sets exchange rates and regulates international currency exchange. It was formed to encourage exchange rate stability based on the US dollar, which had a fixed value of 1/35 to gold oz. (Bretton Woods)
What is the World Bank?
It was formed to lend money to EU countries affected by WWII.
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades (GATT)
A 1947 legal agreement that eliminated or reduced quotas, tariffs, and subsidies to promote trade; acts as an intermediary on trade disputes and clarified trade rules; replaced by the World Trade Organization (WTO).
What was the new system that replaced Bretton Woods after it collapsed in the early 1970s?
Special Drawing Right (SDR), or “paper gold,” a system created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which allowed shared currency to be exchanged for other currencies within central banks owned by sovereign states.
The Bretton Woods system was deepened with the creation of the WTO. When did that happen?
The WTO was created in 1995 to replace the GATT. It established monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for trade and expanded the focus to include services and intellectual property in addition to the focus on products established by the GATT.
What is the relationship of the creation of the WTO to globalization?
The WTO shapes the overall expectations and practices of member states regarding international trade through a series of agreements among member states, which aids globalization. Globalization is the process by which the world becomes more culturally, economically, and communicatively interconnected/integrated.
What is the Washington Consensus on international economic issues and development strategy?
The Washington consensus is a market-based approach to help emerging nations
develop. It is sometimes called mercantilism or neoliberalism. It is a 10-step
economic system that involves free market promoting policies (promotes free global
trade over just domestic trade), macro-economic stabilization, economic opening
(trade), and expansion of domestic market forces. The IMF, the World Bank, and the
US Treasury abide by this consensus. (Market oriented, supply and demand)
What is the Beijing Consensus on those same issues, and how does it differ
from the Washington Consensus? Why is this sometimes called “neo-
mercantilism”?
The Beijing Consensus, AKA The Chinese Economic Model (1976), replaces the trust
in a free market with a more hands on approach by the state for economic
development. It is called neo-mercantilism because it encourages exports,
discourages import, controls capital movement, and relegates currency decisions to
the government. (Government controlled and regulated, regardless of supply and
demand)
What types of arguments are made against theWashington Consensus by the anti-globalization movement?
Anti-globalists make arguments against the Washington Consensus because the
neoliberalist approach is too inflexible to work in some other contexts. Anti-
globalization advocates advocate for human rights and protection of natural
resources in states that may be negatively impacted by forced globalization (unsafe
work conditions, child labor, depletion of natural features, etc.). They believe in
putting power in the hands of the people rather than market corporations.
What are the current communist nations?
Cuba, China, North Korea, Laos, Vietnam
What is Communism?
political and economic doctrine that aims to replace private property and a
profit-based economy with public ownership and communal control of at least the major
means of production and natural resources. There is state ownership, central planning,
bureaucratic elite, single party governance. The government sets production goals
(central planning) and assigns work to each individual. The competition that exists are
individuals who compete with each other to get a certain role within society.
2 Types of Regimes
International Regime- rules, norms, and procedures where international actors
converge around a certain issue. An example would be the Geneva Conventions
procedures on treatment of POWs. A cool new set of regime will be rules for space
exploration.
Domestic Regime- What you typically think of when you hear that a government went
through a “regime change”. A domestic government of a state, generally considered
illegitimate by its opposition. An example can be the outcome of the 2020 Belarussian
presidential election, where President Lukashenko sought and won another term,
which many domestic actors (and international as well) have deemed fraudulent. The
Lukashenko Regime is considered illegitimate to the opposition (Brian Reddy).
What is the significance of the Treaty of Westphalia for international relations, in
two sentences?
The Treaty of Westphalia was a turning point of international diplomacy where
instead of one nation outlining the conditions of another’s surrender/defeat, multiple
states came to a compromise through the representation of emissaries and
diplomats. This ended both the 30 and 80 year wars between independent states
within an empire and provided sovereignty to individual, but united, states within an
empire.
Describe the UN system and its founding.
The UN system is an international organization that was founded in 1945. It was made after
the League of Nations failed to counter aggression. Its purpose is to increase international
order and the rule of law to prevent another world war.
UNGA
UN General Assembly: all member states of the UN (193) come together to
pass resolutions; coordinate the other autonomous agencies
UNSC
UN Security Council: 15 countries as members; 5 permanent members:
USA, UK, France, Russia, China
Secretariat
(UN) led by secretary general; executive branch and administration
World Court
(UN) The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law,
legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal
questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.
WHO
World Health Organization: works to improve world health & promotes
immunizations; adopted by 61 countries in 1946
UNHCR
UN High Commissioner for Refugees: coordinates efforts to protect, assist,
and repatriate refugees across borders to escape war and political violence
Human Rights Council
inter-governmental body 47 States responsible for the
promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It has the ability to
discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention
throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva
UNESCO
UN Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization: facilitates international communication and scientific collaboration
UNICEF
UN Children’s Emergency Fund: works in 190 countries and
territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfill their
potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
WFP
World Food Program: aims to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. WFP
helps almost 100 million people in approximately 88 countries with assistance
every year through food or cash distributions and more. The World Food
Programme was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
List the 9 Major Human Rights Treaties
ICERD- International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
ICCPR- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICESCR- International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
CEDAW- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women
CAT- Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment
of Punishment
CRC- Convention on the Rights of the Child
ICRMW- International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant
Workers
CED- International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced
Disappearance
CRPD- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Reservation
a declaration made by a state by which it purports to exclude or alter the
legal effect of certain provisions of the treaty in their application to that state. AKA,
exceptions to the rules.
Signature
a means of authentication and expresses the willingness of the signatory
state to continue the treaty-making process. The signature qualifies the signatory state to
proceed to ratification, acceptance or approval. AKA, wants to be part of a new club.
Accession
a state accepts the offer or the opportunity to become a party to a treaty
already negotiated and signed by other states. AKA wants to be part of an old club.
Ratification- a state indicates its consent to be bound to a treaty. AKA becoming a
member of the club.
4 Geneva Conventions
- Established guidelines for the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers in the
time of war - Extended the same protections as above to maritime combatants
- Established guidelines for the treatment of Prisoners of War
- Established protections for civilians in times of war
ICJ
International Court of Justice: Settles disputes between nations and establishes
the precedent for international law.
ICC
International Criminal Court: prosecutes individuals that have committed
international crimes against humanity (genocide, war crimes, etc.)
–The US did not join the International Criminal Court because it believed the
prosecution of US citizens without the authorization of the US was an infringement of
its national sovereignty, and was the sole authority of the US Supreme Court.–
IGO
Intergovernmental Organization: Organizations whose members are national
governments. OPEC, WTO, NATO
NGO
Non Governmental Organization: transnational group that interacts with states,
multinational corporations, other NGOs and IGOs. Catholic Church, Amnesty
International
MNE
Multinational Entity: companies that span multiple countries, whose interests
don’t necessarily align with any one state’s interests.
Transnational Organization
an entity that has its services and production based out
of multiple nations
What is international anarchy and how does that relate to the “security dilemma”
faced by states, in two sentences?
When there is no definitively ruling nation or entity, or if international actors are of
equal strength, there is a “power vacuum” that allows actors to act with the sole
consideration of their own group. The lack of an authoritative entity allows for the
misinterpretation of other nation’s actions as threatening, leading to the continuous
escalation of security measures known as the security dilemma.
What is the difference between a nation and a state, in two sentences?
Nation: A group of individuals who feel like they have a lot in common (interests, habits,
way of thinking) that they should become a particular state. Refers to the subjective feelings
of the people
State: An inhabited territorial entity controlled by a government that exercises sovereignty
on its territory. Refers to the exercise of power and ability to enforce rules/laws.
What is the difference between separatism and irredentism? Can you name at
least 2 conflicts that would fall under each category?
Separatism: The advocacy or practice of separation of a certain group of people from a
larger body on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender. Typically refers to full political
separation. Examples: Czechoslovakia was split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Cyprus was granted independence in 1960 from Turkey
Irredentism: Irredentism is the process by which a part of an existing state breaks away
and merges with another. It is a territorial claim based on national, ethnic, or historical
basis. The territory of another country should be annexed for ethnic or historical reasons.
Examples: Nazi Germany’s claims to Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. Conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh region
(ongoing).
Power
the ability to influence another actor’s decisions/actions
Sovereignty
the authority of a state to do whatever it wants within its own territory
National Interest
nations will act in their own best interest as rational actors to accomplish the most possible at the least cost
Hegemony
A state or group that has authoritative power to influence structures and
other states
Balance of Power
the concept of one or more states’ power being used to balance
that of another state or group of states. The balance of power means that there is
generally an interest in states to form alliances to have heightened security at lower
costs. Alliances and balances of power also create reliance and reciprocity that
incentivize states to remain peaceful amongst each other.
Multipolar System
an international system with typically five or six centers of power
that are not grouped into alliances. In this model there isn’t a hierarchy of power, but
it’s more evenly balanced amongst participants
Bipolar
a balance of power split between two main states or alliances. NATO and the
Warsaw Pact are an example of a Bipolar balance of power. In this model, there are
two hierarchies against each other.
Unipolar System
a hegemony where one state or entity has the overruling power. A
unipolar system can exist within a bipolar system. In this model there is just one
hierarchy with a single, unrivaled actor at the top.
Sovereign Wealth Fund
A state owned investment fund that invests in financial
assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, and/or hedge/private
funds. It is primarily used for diversification and to establish wealth for future
generations. The money typically comes from a country’s reserves/surplus
Autarky
Economics system of self-sufficiency and limited trade. Complete
autarky=closed economy (no international trade whatsoever)
Dependence Theory of International Economics
The notion that resources flow from a “periphery”
of poor and underdeveloped states to a “core” of wealthy states, enriching
the latter at the expense of the former
Interdependence (International Economics)
Mutual dependence, reciprocal efforts among countries
The Four Tigers
The four asian tigers refer to the economies of Taiwan, South
Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong who underwent rapid industrialization
between 1960-1990 and had high growth rates
Nationalization
Process where a privately owned business is transferred
into government or public ownership. The government may take control of a
certain corporation or industry
Privatization
A government/public owned business is transferred into
private ownership
Comparative Advantage
What a country produces at a lower opportunity cost than
another country. For example, if it takes France 5 hours to produce 1 unit of cloth
while it takes the USA 2 hours, then it makes sense for the USA to produce and trade
cloth.
Microfinance
Financial services (loans, credit, insurance, savings accounts) who target people or businesses that do not have access to conventional banking. Typically for those who live in rural areas.
FDI, or foreign direct investment
The investment of a party in one country into a
business in another country with lasting interest. This leads to controlling
ownership in that business and having control over operations.
How is the poverty rate for nations defined? Which five countries have the
highest poverty rate?
The ratio of the number of people (in a given age group) whose income falls
below the poverty line; taken as half the median household income of the total
population. South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea
The United States accounts for roughly what share of world exports? Of world
imports? US exports of goods and services represent roughly what percentage
of US GDP?
US Exports of Goods as a percentage of GDP: 10.4%
Collective Security Treaty Organization
a broad alliance in an international system
for the purpose of jointly opposing aggression by any actor. The US participates in
NATO, the Organization of American States, and the UN.
