Foreign Policy and Non-State Actors Flashcards
(20 cards)
Explain what ICAN is
ICAN is the Intl Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. It coheres a broad coalition of interests and NGOs, hoping to promote full adherence to and implementation of a treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, as well as the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
How is ICAN significant as an NSA in FP?
ICAN calls on govt to support a nuclear weapons convention. At the December 2014 Vienna Nuclear Weapons Conference, this saw Austria pledging to ‘fill the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons’ at ICAN’s behest. This was also attended by nuclear weapon states (see UK and US).
When was the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted? What did this achieve? How was ICAN involved?
The Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted in 2017, serving as the first multilateral, legally binding, instrument for nuclear disarmament to have been negotiated in 20 years.
ICAN was involved through decades of advocacy for such a document.
What are NSAs? What forms are these found in?
NSAs are those organisations and groups not associated or affiliated with national governments. They are not sovereign states but play significant roles in global politics.
These can be seen as NGOs, intergovernmental organisations, businesses and TNCs, diasporas, think tanks, quasi states, movements, mercenary armies, social media platforms, etc.
Explain the historical context of NSAs in international relations, up to the present day
NSAs used to have a crucial role historically, in the 17th and 18th centuries often behaving as de facto states in colonial enterprise (East India Companies). In the 19th Century, this collapsed as diplomacy was professionalised, yet post-1945 NSAs were of renewed importance as intl norms and standards were driven by intl organisations.
How can Constructivism act to explain the role of NSAs in FP?
Constructivism places an emphasis on ideas, norms, context and identity. It shows how narratives and support for causes can be constructed by NSAs, how agendas can be framed by context and how shifting social constructions can influence NSAs and see NSAs influencing state responses in FP.
Why does Realism not lend itself to explaining the role of NSAs in FP?
Realism sees states as unitary actors, and as being the main drivers of FP. This does not lend itself to explaining how NSAs influence FP.
How can complex interdependence theory (Nye and Keohane) explain the role of NSAs in FP?
Complex interdependence theory insists that states and NSAs are increasingly interconnected in the modern day. NSAs play an increasingly important role. Multiple overlapping connections and styles of governance occur as a result (economic, social, environmental, political). This interconnectedness has meant that the chance of conflict is decreased.
How did NSAs drive change in the international sphere to deliver a ban on landmines?
The Ottawa Treaty of 1997, known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, saw NSAs such as the Intl Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Red Cross driving efforts. Collaborations between experts, NGOs, experts and sympathetic states saw intl norms altered to create a moral aversion to land mine use given the dangers they pose.
How does 9/11 and the GWoT demonstrate the role of NSAs in FP?
Al-Qaeda as a terrorist NSA reshaped the US’s FP through its terrorist attacks in 2001. Founded in the 1980s by bin Laden, the decided to move their focus from the ‘near enemy’ (governments supported by the West) to the ‘far enemy’ (US) in the hope that they would end support for govts around the Middle East. These attacks gave rise to the GWoT.
What arguments are there in favour of NSA influence over FPA being positive?
NSAs increase the accountability of states, promote significant issues, respond to transnational issues and mobilise opinion to create international pressures.
What arguments are there for NSA influence over FP being negative?
NSAs are not democratically accountable, they can undermine state sovereignty, can fragment policies and create conflicting agendas and can be elitist, pursuing own interests against the interests of the collective good of a population.
What does Chong (2002) mean by the post-international coming in to challenge state-based FP?
The post-international involves the range of actors involved in FP broadening to include anyone with an interest in and ability to demonstrate distinct preferences. This means that NSAs are able to challenge policies decided by sovereign states.
Why is much of the analysis of armed NSAs still seen through the prism of states?
Armed NSAs are still analysed in a state-centric fashion as often these groups have the support of sovereign states. This means that the work of NSAs to coordinate, negotiate and accept this support has been under-theorised.
How do armed NSAs conduct diplomacy?
Armed NSAs conduct REBEL DIPLOMACY, whereby they pursue non-violent tactics and strategies. This often involves communication and negotiation with foreign governments.
How do NSAs work to change the framing of issues to influence state FP?
NSAs act to frame issues in particular ways… they can securitise or construct uncertainty in order to force action. Frames identify a problem and determine how it should be resolved!
How have the MATTIN group worked to shift the EU’s relations with Israel through prolonged action?
The MATTIN Group, a small human rights organisation dedicated to ensuring compliance with international law in armed conflicts, has driven the EU to show greater consistency in its compliance with domestic law and its relations with Israel. It has forced the EU to change agreements with Israel. Prolonged advocacy and work to identify this produced this outcome.s
How are NSAs directly involved in FP making processes today?
NSAs are directly involved in FP processes today as they are frequently consulted on decisions and inside processes of governance, working alongside the state to pursue objectives. This is often as an elite project rather than opening governance to trade unions and civil society, yet demonstrates that NSAs are often implicated in decisions.
Can NSAs conduct diplomacy?
NSAs can conduct diplomacy, as they represent positions and negotiate with political actors. Some of these are developing their own diplomatic activities, as well as encouraging states to encourage NSAs in their diplomatic efforts.
What are the three ways through which NSAs can operate to achieve their aims? Give examples of groups that operate in each way
NSAs can operate through violence (UDF, IRA, ISIS, Tamil Tigers, Al-Qaeda); they can operate through conventional or asymmetrical power (NATO) or can operate through diplomacy (UN, World Bank, EU, Oxfam)
