Alternative approaches to International Relations

Question 1

define cosmopolitanism

Answer 1

idea that we should not only be loyal to one nation but to humanity as a whole

Question 2

What does cosmopolitanism want ?

Answer 2

• a global civil society with uniform norms and values and harmonised rights and responsibilities
• calls for transcending state borders

Question 3

what is international civil society?

Answer 3

a group/collective that includes professional associations, charities, social movements and businesses
viewed favorably by proponents of cosmopolitanism

Question 4

Describe the UN

Answer 4

• head of all intergovernmental organisations
• formal commitment to maintain international peace and security, developping friendly relations among states and promote better living standards, human rights and social progress

Question 5

What was the predecessor of the UN?

Answer 5

The League of Nations
- established 1919 after Treaty of versailles
- purpose: control germany’s authority in the intern. sphere
- seen as failed experiment in global governance bc it didn’t prevent WW2
- drew from the Concert system
- key institutions and practics adopted by UN

Question 6

What is the concert system?

Answer 6

• product of the congress of vienna 1815
• not an international organisation bc it lacked: formal constitution, regular meeting and secretariat
• benchmark for: interstate cooperation, managing of waterways, establishing diplomcay protocols, setting international boundaries

Question 7

What conferences followed after the disappearance of the concert system?

Answer 7

Berlin conference 1878
Hague conferences

Question 8

What did the congress of vienna pioneer?

Answer 8

First international conference to take a stand against a broad humanitarian issue by saying slavery is inhuman
led to the anti-slavery movement starting in Britain

Question 9

Why did the UN start?

Answer 9

Emerged from wartime co-operation between allied states at the time
then more states joined and it became a truly international body

Question 10

Name the six UN organs

Answer 10

• Trusteeship council
• security council
• general assembly
• economic/social council
• international court of justice
• secretary/ office of secretary general

Question 11

What does the general assembly do?

Answer 11

• weakest but largest organ in UN
• general assembly can’t be compared to a legislature because its legislations don’t have the same legal status as national parliaments
• only organ for reps. of state to come together to debate more or less on equal foooting
• key forum for states to vote on strategic alliances

Question 12

what is the liberal view of the UN?

Answer 12

• inernational organisations are essential
• minimising conflict through institution building
• focus on egalitarianism: equal access to membership for all states
• Declaration Human Rights and UN genocide convention expanded security beyond the survival of the sovereign nation state- state issues became global

Question 13

Realist view on UN

Answer 13

• reflected in the domination of five member states
• centrality of military issues
• preservation of state based view of world order