Global Governance Flashcards

Question

UNEQUAL POWER RELATIONS: Political Power Inequality

Answer 1

UN Security Council (UNSC): The five permanent members (USA, UK, France, China, Russia) have veto power, limiting global democracy. Example: Lack of action against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine due to veto power. Neocolonialism: Former colonial powers still influence African economies through debt and resource extraction.

Answer 2

Climate Change Responsibility Imbalance: Rich countries produce the most emissions but poorer countries suffer most. Example: Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (e.g., Tuvalu) face rising sea levels despite contributing little to global emissions. Resource Exploitation: Rich nations control key resources like oil in the Middle East and minerals in Africa, limiting local benefits.

Answer 3

The EU and USA control banana imports, imposing tariffs that make it harder for Latin American and African farmers to compete. TNCs (e.g., Chiquita, Dole) dominate, taking most profits, while farmers in Ecuador and Cameroon receive low wages. Fairtrade initiatives attempt to create a fairer system, but only a small % of banana sales are Fairtrade-certified.

Answer 4

Many Indian workers migrate to the UAE for construction jobs. They send remittances home, helping India’s economy. However, they face poor working conditions, long hours, and low wages, showing the exploitation of migrant labour.

Answer 5

Aims: Reduce global emissions to limit warming to 1.5°C. Issues: Some countries (e.g., USA under Trump) withdrew, delaying progress. Developing nations demand financial support from rich countries to help transition to greener energy.

Answer 6

Trade has expanded due to globalisation, reduced transport costs, and free trade agreements. Developing countries now play a bigger role, shifting from raw material exports to manufacturing (e.g., China, Vietnam). Trade in services (finance, IT, tourism) is growing, led by developed economies like the UK and USA.

Answer 7

Top exporters: China, USA, Germany, Japan. Top importers: USA, EU, China. Manufacturing hubs: China, Mexico, Vietnam. Commodity exports dominate many developing nations (e.g., oil in the Middle East, cocoa in Ghana).

Answer 8

Trade Agreements & Blocs: EU, USMCA (NAFTA), ASEAN. WTO (World Trade Organization): Reduces trade barriers but favors developed nations. Tariffs & Protectionism: USA-China trade war (2018), EU subsidies for agriculture. Digital Trade Growth: Rise of e-commerce (e.g., Amazon, Alibaba).

Answer 9

Free Trade: No tariffs, encourages economic growth. EU Single Market, WTO rules. Protectionism: Tariffs, quotas, subsidies to protect domestic industries. USA tariffs on Chinese goods, EU farm subsidies.

Answer 10

EU (European Union): Free trade among 27 nations, common external tariffs. USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, formerly NAFTA): Boosts North American trade. ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations): Increases trade in Asia.

Answer 11

Fairtrade ensures better wages and conditions for farmers (e.g., bananas, coffee). However, Fairtrade remains a small fraction of global trade due to higher costs.

Answer 12

Tariffs & Quotas: Developing nations face higher taxes on exports to developed markets. Non-Tariff Barriers: Strict regulations (e.g., EU food safety laws) make trade harder for poorer nations. Lack of Infrastructure: Poor roads, ports, and internet limit global trade participation. Trade Dependency: Many developing nations rely on a few exports (e.g., oil in Nigeria, cocoa in Ghana).

Answer 13

WTO allows developing nations preferential access to help them integrate into trade. Criticism: SDTs don’t solve structural inequalities (e.g., lack of industry & infrastructure).

Answer 14

Control 80% of global trade through supply chains & outsourcing. Manufacturing shifts to low-cost economies (e.g., Apple making iPhones in China). TNCs dominate key industries: Agriculture: Dole, Chiquita (bananas). Tech: Apple, Samsung. Retail: Amazon, Walmart.

Answer 15

Pros: Job creation & investment, Technology transfer, Boosts economies, Expands markets for goods Cons: Low wages & poor working conditions, Profits return to home countries, Environmental damage, Exploits cheap labor

Answer 16

5th most traded agricultural product. Major producers: Ecuador, Philippines, Costa Rica, Colombia. Major consumers: EU, USA, Russia. Controlled by TNCs: Dole, Chiquita, Del Monte.

Answer 17

Low wages & worker exploitation: In Ecuador and Cameroon, workers earn less than $1 per hour. Environmental damage: High pesticide use and deforestation for plantations. Trade Wars: EU vs USA Banana Dispute (1993-2009): EU favored Caribbean producers with low tariffs. USA, backing Latin American banana TNCs, took it to the WTO. WTO ruled in favor of the USA; the EU had to reduce tariffs.

Answer 18

Ensures fair wages & sustainable farming. Only 7% of bananas are Fairtrade-certified due to higher costs.

Answer 19

Design: USA (California). Manufacturing: China (Foxconn), India (recent expansion). Raw Materials: Cobalt from DR Congo (for batteries). Silicon from Japan & USA (for chips). Sales: USA, Europe, China are key markets.

Answer 20

Investment & Jobs: Factories in China & India create jobs, but with low wages. High-value jobs (design & software) stay in the USA. Trade Agreements Help Apple: China’s low tariffs encourage production there. USMCA (formerly NAFTA) reduces costs for Apple in North America.

Answer 21

Worker Exploitation: Foxconn factories in China have faced suicides, long hours, and poor wages. Environmental Damage: E-waste problem from discarded Apple products. Tax Avoidance: Apple shifts profits to tax havens (e.g., Ireland) to avoid taxes.

Answer 22

The global commons are areas and resources that lie outside the political reach of any one nation-state and are available for collective use. They are governed by international agreements and principles of sustainable development to ensure they remain accessible for future generations.

Answer 23

Provide essential ecosystem services, e.g., climate regulation, oxygen production, and biodiversity. Enable global trade, research, and communication, especially the oceans and outer space. Play a crucial role in climate systems, affecting weather patterns and carbon cycles. Support biodiversity by maintaining habitats for a variety of species.

Answer 24

Overexploitation – Unsustainable fishing, deforestation, and pollution from human activity. Climate Change – Global warming, melting ice caps in Antarctica, and rising sea levels. Pollution – Marine plastic pollution, space debris, and atmospheric CO₂ emissions. Resource Extraction – Deep-sea mining, unsustainable tourism, and illegal fishing. Geopolitical Tensions – Competition for control of Arctic resources, militarisation of space, and conflicts over fishing rights.

Answer 25

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – Regulates marine resource use and protects biodiversity. Paris Agreement (2015) – Aims to limit global warming and protect the atmosphere. Antarctic Treaty System (1959) – Ensures Antarctica remains a demilitarised and protected scientific reserve. Outer Space Treaty (1967) – Prevents the militarisation and national appropriation of space. Montreal Protocol (1987) – Successfully phased out ozone-depleting substances.

Answer 26

United Nations (UN) – Leads efforts to coordinate policies and enforce agreements. International Maritime Organization (IMO) – Regulates shipping to prevent pollution. International Whaling Commission (IWC) – Oversees the protection of whale species. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – Provides scientific research and policy recommendations on climate change.

Answer 27

Greenpeace – Campaigns against ocean pollution and climate change. WWF (World Wildlife Fund) – Works on conservation efforts for global biodiversity.

Answer 28

The global commons are vital for planetary health and human survival, but they face increasing threats from human activity. Effective governance through international treaties, cooperation, and sustainable management strategies is crucial to ensuring their long-term protection.

Answer 29

Location & Size: Southernmost continent; covers about 14 million km². Almost entirely covered by ice sheets up to 4 km thick. Physical Features: Contains prominent features such as the Transantarctic Mountains, extensive ice shelves (e.g., Ross and Filchner-Ronne), and hidden subglacial lakes like Lake Vostok. Climate & Ecosystems: Characterized by an extreme polar climate with very low temperatures and dry conditions (polar desert). Supports unique marine and terrestrial ecosystems including penguins, seals, and krill, which form the base of the food web in the Southern Ocean.

Answer 30

Climate Change: Warming temperatures lead to ice melt, thinning ice shelves, and contribute to global sea-level rise. Overfishing & Marine Exploitation: Unsustainable fishing practices in surrounding waters threaten key species (e.g., krill and toothfish), impacting the entire ecosystem. Tourism & Human Impact: Increasing numbers of visitors can disturb wildlife and risk introducing pollutants or invasive species. Potential Resource Exploitation: Although currently banned, future pressures for mining or fossil fuel extraction pose risks. Biological Invasions: Accidental introduction of non-native species could disrupt the delicate ecological balance.

Answer 31

Antarctic Treaty System (ATS): Established in 1959, it designates Antarctica as a zone for peaceful scientific research, banning military activities, nuclear tests, and mineral mining. Madrid Protocol (Environmental Protocol, 1991): Strengthens environmental protection measures, ensuring that Antarctica remains a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources): Manages and conserves marine living resources in the Southern Ocean. Consensus Decision-Making: Governance is based on collective, consensus-driven decisions among consultative parties, ensuring that multiple national interests are balanced.

Answer 32

Advocacy & Awareness: Organizations such as Greenpeace, WWF, and the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) advocate for stronger environmental protections and raise public awareness about Antarctica’s vulnerabilities. Monitoring & Research: NGOs play a key role in monitoring compliance with treaties, conducting independent research, and providing data on climate change impacts and ecosystem health. Policy Influence: They influence policy-making by lobbying for more rigorous environmental safeguards and ensuring that scientific insights guide governance decisions.

Answer 33

Preservation of a Global Commons: The international legal framework has successfully maintained Antarctica as a unique, demilitarized, and environmentally protected area, setting a global precedent. Environmental Protection: Global governance has helped curb activities that could irreversibly damage Antarctica, such as mining and military exploitation. Challenges in Decision-Making: The consensus approach, while promoting cooperation, can lead to slow responses, making it challenging to address rapid environmental changes or emerging threats. Model of International Cooperation: Antarctica serves as a powerful example of how multiple nations can work together to manage and protect a shared resource, reinforcing the importance of global governance in addressing transboundary environmental issues.

Answer 34

Economic Growth & Development – Increased trade, investment, and access to global markets have boosted economic growth, particularly in emerging economies such as China and India. Job Creation – Transnational corporations (TNCs) bring employment opportunities to developing countries, often in sectors such as manufacturing and services. Technological & Knowledge Transfer – Investment by foreign companies leads to skill development, improved infrastructure, and the spread of new technologies.

Answer 35

Exploitation of Labour – Many workers in developing countries face poor working conditions, low wages, and exploitation in factories (e.g., sweatshops in Bangladesh’s garment industry). Global Inequality – Globalisation has widened the gap between rich and poor, both within and between nations. The Global North benefits more than the Global South due to unequal trade agreements and economic dependencies. Dependency on TNCs – Many developing countries rely on TNC investment, making their economies vulnerable to changes in corporate strategies (e.g., factory closures when TNCs relocate to cheaper locations).

Answer 36

Cultural Exchange & Diversity – The spread of ideas, music, fashion, and cuisine has enriched cultures worldwide (e.g., K-pop’s global rise or the influence of Hollywood movies). Improved Access to Education & Healthcare – Global cooperation has increased access to education and medical advances, improving literacy rates and life expectancy. Rising Middle Class in Emerging Economies – Economic growth in countries like China and India has lifted millions out of poverty, creating a larger middle class.

Answer 37

Cultural Homogenisation – The dominance of Western culture (especially through media and consumer brands like McDonald’s and Netflix) threatens local traditions and identities. Exploitation of Migrant Labour – Workers, particularly from poorer nations, often face discrimination, poor wages, and unsafe working conditions in wealthier countries. Health Issues – The spread of Western fast-food culture has led to rising obesity rates in countries traditionally unaffected by such issues.

Answer 38

Greater International Cooperation – Organisations like the UN, WTO, and EU have facilitated diplomatic relations, trade agreements, and peacekeeping missions. Spread of Democracy & Human Rights – Increased global communication and activism have promoted democratic movements and awareness of human rights issues (e.g., Arab Spring protests in the 2010s).

Answer 39

Loss of Sovereignty – National governments have less control over their economies due to the influence of TNCs, international organisations, and global financial markets. Rise of Populism & Nationalism – Many countries have seen political backlash against globalisation, with movements advocating for protectionism, anti-immigration policies, and trade restrictions (e.g., Brexit, Trump’s “America First” policies).

Answer 40

International Environmental Agreements – Global governance has led to coordinated efforts to tackle climate change, such as the Paris Agreement (2015). Technology for Sustainability – The global sharing of green technologies, such as renewable energy and electric vehicles, is helping reduce carbon footprints.

Answer 41

Increased Carbon Emissions – More trade, industrialisation, and transportation have led to higher emissions, worsening global climate change. Deforestation & Biodiversity Loss – Expansion of agriculture and infrastructure, driven by global demand (e.g., palm oil plantations in Indonesia), has led to widespread deforestation. Waste & Pollution – The rise of consumer culture and fast fashion has led to more waste and plastic pollution, especially in developing countries where waste disposal systems are inadequate.

Answer 42

World-Systems Theory (Wallerstein) – Argues that globalisation reinforces a three-tier global structure (Core, Semi-Periphery, and Periphery), where wealthier nations exploit poorer ones. Dependency Theory – Suggests that developing countries remain dependent on developed countries for capital and investment, preventing genuine economic development. Neoliberal Critique – Critics argue that globalisation has prioritised corporate profits over social welfare, leading to job insecurity, privatisation, and reduced public services.

Global Governance Flashcards

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