Health Human Rights and Intervention Revision Flashcards
(144 cards)
1
Q
What was the Soviet Union?
A
A single party state governed by the communist party
union of 15 subnational republics
It controlled ‘satellite countries’ in Eastern Europe, such as East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria. All these nations had communist governments
2
Q
What happened to the satellite countries in the late 1980’s?
A
they began to shake off Soviet control
change began in Poland and spread to Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia
3
Q
What happened to the Berlin Wall in 1989?
A
It was pulled down - it had previously separated communist East Berlin from capitalist West Berlin
The peace treaty that had ended the second world war saw the whole of Germany divided into two
The fall of the Berlin Wall paved the way for Germanys reunification
4
Q
What happened in December 1991?
A
The world watched as the Soviet Union disintegrated into fifteen separate countries
The collapse was hailed by the West as a victory for freedom and democracy, and as proof of the superiority of capitalism over communism
Three of the republics - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - quickly aligned themselves with the West
5
Q
The change from former Soviet to the borders on maps of today is unusual, what was the remarkable feature of this political rupture?
A
It was achieved without any significant military intervention or bloodshed
Its outcome was that some ten states in Eastern Europe achieve independence and became democracies and market economies
6
Q
What is all that is left of the Soviet Union?
A
The Russian Federation
it has moved towards capitalism but retains a one party government
7
Q
Who does political power lie with now in Russia?
A
Power rests largely with one man, Vladmir Putin, who has held power since 2000, alternately serving as president and prime minister
8
Q
Where are China ranked in the world according to the size of its GDP in 1976?
A
124th in the World
9
Q
Where was China ranked economically in 2019?
A
2nd largest economy - US 13.6 trillion dollars
10
Q
China’s population now compared to 1976?
A
Expanded by just over half since 1976, from 0.9 - 1.4 billion
11
Q
Where are China in GDP rankings today?
A
Climbed up rankings from 160th to 66th place due to per capita GDP being modest
Today’s figure is US 10,200 per capita
12
Q
What does per capita mean?
A
‘Per person’
13
Q
Is China still communist?
A
Yes - but is now gradually involved in the capitalist global economy which is a major factor in its economic progress
14
Q
What tensions does China becoming involved in the capitalist global economy create?
A
political tension due to the population becoming increasingly aware of a very different (much freer) world outside their boundaries
15
Q
How has China’s economic success been at the suffering of human rights?
A
Massive environmental pollution, largely thanks to its expanding manufacturing industries, and the persistent abuse of human rights
16
Q
What happened in 2015 in China?
A
‘Economic Miracle’ showed the first signs of slowing down
By this time many Chinese people had come to enjoy consumerism
This economic downturn could lead to widespread protests thus sharpening the focus on human rights
17
Q
When was the Ebola outbreak in West Africa first reported?
A
March 2014 and rapidly became the idealised occurance of the disease since its discovery
In 2014-15 the epidemic that swept across the region killed five times more than all other known Ebola outbreaks combined
18
Q
When was Ebola discovered?
A
1976
19
Q
Eighteen months on from the first confirmed case, recorded on 23 march 2014 what happened?
A
12,000 people had been reported as having died from the disease in six countries - Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Mali and the USA (One aid worker)
20
Q
Where were the bulk of deaths from Ebola?
A
Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea
21
Q
When was the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) set up?
A
6 months after the first confirmed case - with the spread of the disease reportedly out of control
22
Q
What was the UNMEER’s purpose?
A
To lead and coordinate the international responses of NGOs such as MSF
Other tasks included:
- informing everyone about the disease
- locating and monitoring everyone had had come into contact with an Ebola patient
- overseeing the safe burial of Ebola victims
- establishing and equipping treatment centres for the safe treatment of the sick
- organising the transport of medical supplies and personnel
- accessing adequate food supplies in a situation of decreasing food production, rising food prices and closed national borders
23
Q
What happened to Ebola cases as a result of the help from UNMEER and NGO’s?
A
There was a sharp fall in the number of new cases of Ebola during the first half of 2015
However, the decline had stalled not stopped
24
Q
What factors allowed the virus to spread?
A
- Fear of reporting to authorise that a family member or friend might have contracted or died from Ebola
- Fatigue with the 24/7 task of carefully following the necessary stringent precautions
- Denial by a hardcore of the population who were strongly resistant to the idea that they needed to change their behaviour
25
When did the region declare they were Ebola free?
January 2016
26
Was UNMEER a success?
it is the first ever mission deployed by the UN to tackle a huge health security challenge
it since has been admitted that its creation came rather late in the day, however, and that action needs to be taken much sooner in any similar future emergencies
27
How are vaccines finally formed?
It is clear that such outbreaks will continue until ways are found to totally eradicate the disease
It will involve the commitment and co-operation of governments as well as the efforts of medical research scientists to come up with with a vaccine
it bodes well if this cooperation continues and possibly expands into a much broader concern about other aspects of human development
28
What are the human costs of military intervention?
Damage to Humans (Social Costs)
Interventions can negatively impact people’s lives, health, and livelihoods.
• Displacement – Large-scale conservation projects or infrastructure developments (e.g., hydroelectric dams) can force communities to relocate.
• Example: The Three Gorges Dam (China) displaced over 1.3 million people.
• Job Losses – Shifting to sustainable practices can harm industries reliant on traditional methods.
• Example: The decline of the coal industry in the UK led to unemployment in mining towns.
• Health Impacts – Some interventions may introduce new health risks.
• Example: Afforestation in dry areas can increase mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.
29
What are the economic costs of military intervention?
Damage to Humans (Social Costs)
Interventions can negatively impact people’s lives, health, and livelihoods.
• Displacement – Large-scale conservation projects or infrastructure developments (e.g., hydroelectric dams) can force communities to relocate.
• Example: The Three Gorges Dam (China) displaced over 1.3 million people.
• Job Losses – Shifting to sustainable practices can harm industries reliant on traditional methods.
• Example: The decline of the coal industry in the UK led to unemployment in mining towns.
• Health Impacts – Some interventions may introduce new health risks.
• Example: Afforestation in dry areas can increase mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.
30
What are the environmental costs of military intervention?
Damage to the Environment (Environmental Costs)
Even environmentally focused interventions can sometimes cause unintended harm.
• Biodiversity Loss – Large-scale renewable energy projects can disrupt ecosystems.
• Example: Palm oil plantations for biofuel production have led to deforestation and loss of orangutan habitats in Indonesia.
• Pollution and Waste – New technologies, like electric vehicles, require materials that contribute to pollution.
• Example: Lithium mining for EV batteries depletes water sources and contaminates soil.
• Carbon Emissions from Infrastructure – Building renewable energy systems requires resource extraction and transportation, which still produce emissions.
• Example: Concrete production for wind turbine bases contributes to CO₂ emissions.
31
What is the average life expectancy now?
Over 65, with exceptions in some African countries - closely linked to economic development
32
Which factors (social) might lead to variations in health and life expectancy in the developing world?
Food, safe water, sanitation, healthcare
33
Which factors might lead to variations in health and life expectancy in the developed world?
Lifestyle risks and most recent research into modern-day living risks... smoking, alcohol, obesity etc
34
Which factors might lead to variations in health and life expectancy within countries?
Ethnicity, healthcare (postcode lottery), poverty and deprivation, socio-economic group
35
What is social progress?
The idea that societies can and do improve their structures – from meeting basic needs such as access to clean safe drinking water to improving education and employment opportunities.
Input can come from government intervention, social enterprise and activism
The political ideals of a government as well as demographics may determine spending.. Generally, places with greater democracy will spend more on social spending.
36
How is human developed closely linked to economic development?
Spending on services such as healthcare and education is usually up to the government of a country.
Different governments have different attitudes to spending on ‘social progress’.
37
What is the UN, how many member states is it made up of and what year were the MDG's agreed and what were their aims?
The United Nations is an international organisation founded in 1945.
Currently made up of 193 Member States, the UN and its work are guided by the purposes and principles contained in its founding Charter.
In 2000, 8 MDGs (Millennium development goals) were agreed – these were to help fight poverty and a range of issues preventing the improvements needed with relation to human development..
Ultimately, aim to reduce the development gap.
38
What do the Sustainable Development Goals focus on?
1. Sustainable development
2. Democracy and peace-keeping
3. Climate/disaster resilience.
39
What are Human rights?
Human rights –moral principals that underlie standards of human behaviour.
39
What does the term Egalitarian mean?
Egalitarian – belief that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities
40
What does Land Reform mean?
redistribution of property and land as a result of government-led or government-backed actions.
41
What does the term Maternal Morality mean?
The death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of the pregnancy.
42
What does the term democracy mean?
A system of government in which power is held by regularly elected representatives or directly by the people.
43
What are the Fundamental Freedoms and where do they originate from?
Fundamental freedoms - originate from a speech made by US President Roosevelt in 1941. He referred to four freedoms:
Freedom of speech
Freedom of worship
Freedom from fear
Freedom from want
44
What is the UDHR?
The UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out 30 universal rights. There is a huge range of rights from freedom of speech to education and justice.
The UDHR is not a treaty or law but a declaration. It is not legally binding and there are no signatories. SOme see this as a flaw.. But the understanding is that human beings are inherently entitled to have fundamental rights regardless of nation, locations, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status.
The rights are egalitarian, meaning they are the same for everyone.
The UDHR has been translated into over 500 languages
45
When was the UDHR adopted?
Adopted in Paris by the UN in December 1948 by 48 votes in favour, 8 abstentions and Honduras and Yemen both member of the UN failed to either vote/abstain.
46
What is one way of measuring freedom?
Freedom ratings
47
What does the organisation Transparency aim to do?
Transparency aims to rid the world of corruption by working with governments, businesses and citizens.
Corruption is often difficult to measure – it is often very well concealed.
48
What are different forms of corruption?
Political corruption is not just about election rigging.
It can take the form of any or all (!) of the following:
Allowing private interests to dictate political decision-making
Basing decision on benefits for those who fund the political parties
Diverting funds such as foreign aid into politician's pockets
49
What is an example of corruption?
Zimbabwe under the leader Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe had times of great wealth and influence.
However during the 80's and 90's the stories of corruption and Human Rights violations were rife.
Land reform – in the case of Zimbabwe; redistributing land from white colonials to black Zimbabweans – much of the 'better' land went to Mugabe supporters and the process was found to be corrupt.
50
How do human rights vary between countries?
Discrimination remains, often based on Gender and ethnicity and can result in lack of access to resources/health/education.
Rwanda – some tension still exists between tribes.. During 1990s, hundreds of thousands of Rwandans killed in acts of genocide. (links to superpowers/colonialism)
Americas – indigenous communities facing discrimination in many countries around the world with around 46 million indigenous people in the Americas. Particularly interesting – threat to natural resources as well as lack of education, healthcare, justice and the associated implications.
Afghanistan – Women in Afghanistan were first given the vote in 1919 (one yr after the UK). Since the 1980s and 90s and under the Taliban rule, rights for women have gradually been withdrawn and the Taliban version of Islamic Law has been enforced. Rights for women was cited as a justification for US invasion following the 9/11 attacks.
Bolivia – economic marginalisation for indigenous people as well as gender inequality, high rates of maternal mortality
Australia – Immigration policy has been discriminatory in the past but is much improved, although still heavily regulated. However, still concerns over refugees, rights of disabled people and treatment of indigenous Aborigines.
Amnesty International – aims to work towards freedom, justice, truth and dignity
51
How have Haiti been affected by ethnicity based inequality?
Indigenous people were commonly omitted from decision-making which led to poor governance.
This left newly formed governments open to opportunists taking political control = violence and conflict.
The borders created by indigenous people and traditional ethnic groups were very different from the borders created by colonial leaders, in many cases this has led to further disagreements about land and country borders.
52
Compare China and India in terms of economic growth and human rights
Economic Growth:
China's GDP = $14.1bn, per capita = $10,100
India's GDP = $2.9bn, per capita = $2,200
Human Rights:
China = Authoritarian government, many human rights abuses
India = Democracy, broadly starting to respect human rights
53
Why is inequality worse in some countries than others?
Inequality differs across countries due to a complex interplay of historical, political, economic, and social factors.
These factors include:
colonialism's legacy,
trade imbalances,
access to resources,
political systems,
taxation policies,
the strength of trade unions.
Additionally, factors like globalization, technological advancements, and the impact of pandemics can exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ones
54
Why is Bolivia a mixed success in terms of development progress?
President Morales = Indigenous himself
He is focusing on improving economic stability for the marginalised indigenous people
However, this is at the extent of neglecting female human rights
55
Outline the impacts of Australias' immigration policy
Post Second World War = 'white only' policy to stop Chinese miners and Pacific Island labourers
Whilst still carefully controlled to this day, it has become a multicultural area with a rich mix of ethnic groups
However there are three areas for concern:
1. Treatment of asylum seekers and refugees
2. Protecting the rights of disabled people
3. Treatment of the Aboriginal people
56
What are the SDG's and what are their aims?
SDGs - the UN Sustainable Development Goals were launched in 2015 - based on the successes of the millennium developments goals - with an aim to achieve the following by 2030:
- End poverty
- Protect the planet
- Ensure prosperity for all
E.g
The aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been subjected to lover living standards, discrimination and a poorer quality of life than Australia’s non-indigenous population. Weren’t considered Australian citizens before 1967 - before these changes they could not vote or gain political representation. Their children were removed by the authorities to be raised in ‘civilised’ white-run institutions. Suffered from health issues, education issues, and gender and political equality.
57
What are geopolitical interventions?
Geopolitical interventions are sometimes a way for one country to exercise power over another.
It can be a way to effect change outside of its National borders.
A situation where more powerful countries (superpowers) seek to gain control by assisting a less-powerful country.
58
What are possible reasons for intervention?
1. Offering development aid
2. Protecting human rights
3. Encouraging education/healthcare improvements
4. Strengthening security and political stability
5. Promoting international trade/protecting trade routes
6. Accessing resources
7. Encouraging inward investment
8. Military support
9. Increasing influence regionally or globally
59
Who can geopolitical intervention be made by?
Governments
IGOs – International Government Organisation EG: the World Bank, WTO, IMF, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and OECD (Organisation for Economic and Cooperation and Development)
NGOs – Non-Governmental Organisations EG: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch/ Oxfam, MSF
60
What can motives and interventions be delivered through?
Development Aid
Economic support
Military power
61
What is Bilateral Aid?
Aid delivered on a one-to-one basis between a donor and recipient country
62
What is Multilateral Aid?
Aid provided by multiple donor countries or international organizations to support development in recipient countries
International aid organization such as The World Bank or a NGO can make decisions about how to distribute aid.
63
What is ODA?
Official Development Assistance (ODA) - a term used by the OECD to measure aid
64
What is the OECD?
OECD The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
65
What are the top three countries receiving country-specific development aid from the UK?
Ukraine, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
66
What are examples of Development Aid?
Types = Bilateral/multilateral
Development aid often focuses on improving these rights with specifically targeted projects through:
- Most commonly financial aid
- 72% of Official development assistance is in the form of bilateral aid
- Mostly loans/borrowing
- Can be technical assistance = EG knowledge/skills/education.
- Useful ‘bottom up’ strategy
Examples include:
charitable gifts, loans, and projects focused on areas like infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
The UK announced a £100 million 3 year package of ODA in 2022
Designed to support the most vulnerable parts of the Ukrainian economy and reduce Ukraine’s reliance on gas imports
67
What are examples of Economic Support?
- Trade can help LICs get on the ‘ladder’..
- Positive trade deals = good EG: ASEAN regional agreement encourages free trade.
- Doha Development Agenda – definition and description on next slide.
- Investment – EG – providing primary resources to loan country or facilitating private investment.
68
What are forms of direct and indirect Military Intervention?
Can take many different forms:
- Training = indirect
- Equipment = indirect
- Sending troops
- Or full on military occupation = direct
EXAMPLE = The U.S. announced several rounds of military aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in 2022
One aid package, was worth $775 million
69
What is the DDA and what was it set up for?
The Doha Development Agreement (DDA) is a set of trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) aimed at creating more freedom on global trade, this includes lowering tariffs on goods and reducing agricultural subsidies, with special considerations given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs);
Essentially, it's a trade agreement designed to prioritise the development needs of poorer nations while still promoting overall trade liberalisation.
Example: Under the DDA, a developed country might agree to significantly lower tariffs on agricultural products like cotton exported by a developing country like Mali, while also providing technical assistance to help Mali improve its cotton production and market access, thus aiding their economic development
70
What is rendition?
Practice of sending a foreign criminal (or terrorist) suspect to be covertly interrogated in a country where there is less concern about the human treatment of prisoners
71
What is War on Terror?
War against terrorism
Ongoing campaign by the USA and allies to counter international terrorism
Initiated by the al-Quaida attacks on the World trade Centre in 2001
72
What is Land Grabbing
Acquisition of large areas of land by domestic and TNCs, governments or individuals
Highly contentious issue in many parts of the world
73
What are the reasons for Military Intervention?
Military intervention is usually given for geopolitical or humanitarian reasons. Military aid can be highly contentious and is often controversial.
When offered as a response to defend human rights, it is possibly easier to justify.
There are a wide range of motives including:
- If the country has strategic value in terms of superpower status EG US aid to Pakistan to help dealing with its neighbour Afghanistan and the Taliban
- If it involves a strategic allegiance EG: UK aid to Kenya to help protect it against Islamic attacks from Somalia
- Access to valuable resources EG UK aid to oil-rich Saudi Arabia
74
What are some examples of Military Intervention?
Libya – Overthrow of Gaddafi in 2011. Gaddafi and his supporters were thought to be involved in terrorist activity.. Including the Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. Abuse of Human Rights within Libya... situation still rumbles on with opposing factions disputing power.
UK military aid to Saudi – Uk has sold military/defence equipment to SA (approx $10 billion), very important trading relationship with the UK. Lots of issues in recent times.. Allied partnerships with some questionable HR (EG women's rights/free speech/capital punishment) and conflict in the region – Sunni and Shia muslims conflicting views over land ownership/ commission- based arms deals within SA and the UK.
75
What is an example of Torture and Rendition?
Torture and Rendition – EG: Guantanamo Bay
The UDHR states that no one should be tortured.. Countries that use torture undermine the HR and therefore their justification for military intervention... The USA has been accused of Human Rights abuses in the renditions of suspected war criminals to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Torture and CID (Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading treatment)
76
What is an example of Military Intervention in the Middle East?
IS (Islamic State) in the Middle East.
The IS are a radical Sunni Islamist group who have roots in Al-Quaedia. At times, IS have forcibly taken control over large areas of the middle east, performed terrorist acts against the 'West' and claim all is in defense of Islam (jihad).
There have been numerous military interventions from a number of groups and nations including the Islamic Military counter terrorism Coalition and many western countries including the UK, USA, France, Canada and Denmark.
Much of the intervention has been in defence of HR violations and huge risks to large numbers of innocent civilians. Intervention continues as the situation is still unstable – with much of the activity well concealed 'underground'. Sometimes referred to as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).
77
What measures could we use for development interventions?
Life expectancy
Healthcare
Literacy rates
GDP or GNI per capita
78
What measures could we use for Human rights interventions?
Freedom of speech
Gender equality (GII)
Democratic elections
Respect for minorities
Recognition of refugee status
79
What are the differences between GDP GNP and GNI?
GNP and GDP both reflect the national output and income of an economy.
The main difference is that GNP (Gross National Product) takes into account net income receipts from abroad.
80
What facts can you give me on The Collapse of the USSR?
Until 1945 the Soviet Union was a superpower locked into a ‘cold war’ with the Western Superpowers.
FACTFILE:
- 10,000 km – massive!
- Single party state – Communist
- Made up of 15 republics
- Also had control over a number of other communist-led satellite countries EG: Poland.
- By 1980’s some of the satellite regions were moving away from Soviet control.
- Start of changes such as Czechoslovakia splitting into Czech Republic and Slovakia
- The Berlin wall (in between E and W Germany) coming down was one of the most widely known changes (9.11.1989) led to reunification following the divide after WWII
- Dec 1991 – the Soviet Union split in to 15 separate counties
81
What is an Economic miracle?
An informal term used to refer to a dramatic and fast economic development that is unexpectedly strong
82
What is Emergency aid?
Rapid assistance given by governments, IGOs and NGOs to relieve immediate distress following disaster. Water, food, shelter are top priorities
83
What is Ebola?
A highly contagious and fatal disease spread through contact with bodily fluids infected by filovirus. Symptoms include fever and internal bleeding. The 'host' is still not 100% confirmed but is believed to be bats or primate species.
84
Why do we have to check whether the data can be trusted when evaluating Military Interventions?
There is opportunity to misuse or fix data in order for any intervention to appear positive.
Conflict can have some positive results which may mean that the negatives are conveniently pushed to one side. Facts, data and outcomes could also be distorted in order to allow for a 'winning result' in the conflict.
85
Which data or information can be trusted?
Independent agencies or organisations should collect data impartially which may give a clearer picture of the real outcomes of intervention. The UN or NGO's such as MSF for example.
86
What is UN peacekeeping guided by?
UN peacekeeping is guided by three basic principals:
- Consent of all parties involved in the conflict
- Impartiality
- Non-use of force, except in self-defense
Peacekeeping ranges from smaller, regional tribal conflict (many based in African countries) to large scale, multi-nation involvement.
87
What happened in The Arab Spring of 2011?
The Arab Spring of 2011 involved a number of countries overthrowing corrupt leaders/governments in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.
Some of this unrest is due to the animosity between the Sunni and Shia Muslims.
88
What are the three options of intervention?
If intervention is often justified as humanitarian, there are three options:
1. Do nothing
2. Limited military intervention – ideally short term, to address immediate threat to life
3. Extended military intervention which included rebuilding and reconciliation
The first option is generally considered unacceptable.. The genocide in Rwanda in 1994 is one situation that is widely agreed should have had a different response.
The decision of whether to engage in Military conflict/intervention is in addition to other issues facing nations. Assisting countries address extreme poverty or improving educational provision are two other possible courses of intervention.
The final, pressing issue is environmental concerns, currently not covered under interventions – should there be a more united approach to this?
89
Why does progress towards improving human rights vary between countries?
1. wealth
2. conflict
3. governance
4. location
5. trade opportunities
6. colonial legacy
90
Why may there be some who do not benefit from development aid?
Because it does not “trickle down” to those in most need, but is siphoned off to government elites, meaning that human rights for the majority are ignored.
91
Development aid may come from who?
NGOs, bilateral arrangements or multilateral agencies like the UN, World Bank, or Global Fund who have
different priorities.
93
What is the happy planet index?
Happy Planet Index (HPI) – a composite measure of sustainable well-being
It doesn’t include economic development indicators / wealth
Scored between 0-100. The higher the number, the better the level of sustainable human development
HPI = experienced well - being x life expectancy/ecological footprint per capita
Experienced well-being – how satisfied people are with their lives (Gallup World Poll)
Life expectancy - how long people on average live for (UN)
Ecological footprint per capita – the amount of land needed to sustain the country’s resource consumption (World Wildlife Fund)
94
What is the importance of education?
Aids development
Educates people on human rights
95
What do barriers to education include?
Gender discrimination
Extremism
Cultural identity
Poverty
96
What factors inhibit life expectancy in the developing world?
Poor healthcare
Food insecurity
Poor access to clean water
97
What are the differences in life expectancy between males and females in the UK?
Current UK estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for average life expectancy are:
82.8 years for women
79.1 years for men
98
What are the differences in life expectancy between males and females in Australia?
Life expectancy in Australia is one of the highest across the world
79.7 years for men
83.1 years for women
However, there is a massive difference between the indigenous aboriginal population and the non-indigenous population
Aboriginal life expectancy for men is around
10.6 years shorter than non-indigenous men
9.5 years shorter for women
99
When did the aboriginals receive acceptance from the Australian government?
1967
100
What are the roles of the World Bank?
World bank = An international organisation which provides financial and technical advice to developing nations to aid their economic and social development
Aims to alleviate poverty by increasing economic growth
101
What are the roles of the WTO?
WTO = Currently, 164 countries have signed an agreement to ensure that producers of goods and services, along with exporters and importers, can run their business
It aims to:
- Reduce barriers to trade
- Promote free trade between countries
- Ensure that trading nations keep to the agreed international trade rules
- Enforce sanctions
The WTO has been a force for globalisation; however, this has led to environmental degradation, including:
- Rainforest clearance
- Threats to biodiversity
- Water pollution
Most WTO trade policies now try to tackle environmental problems by:
- Restricting the international movement of products or species that are potentially harmful or endangered
- Challenging trade agreements which may impact on climate change, such as forest clearance
102
What are the roles of the IMF?
Along with the World Bank, its purpose was to bring financial stability to the world after WWII
Its main aim is to allow currency to be exchanged freely and easily between member countries
Countries under IMF programs are usually developing, emerging or countries that have faced financial crises e.g. Greece in 2010
It has been criticised for lending with attached conditions, including:
- How a country runs its economy
- Forced privatisation of State services
- Making payback a priority on the loan
- Putting financial concerns ahead of spending on health and education
However, since 2000, the IMF has moved its attention to the poverty reduction programme; it allows:
- National governments to develop their own poverty reduction strategies
- Donor countries to choose the nations that show they have good poverty reduction policies and a stable government
103
Who came up with the MDG's and what were their goals?
UN
The MDGs were a set of targets to help developing countries make social progress and fight poverty
The overall goal was to reduce the development gap between the developed and developing nations
104
What problems were caused by the MDG's?
The MDGs made considerable progress worldwide for all eight goals
However, the progress made was uneven across regions and countries
The MDGs often fell short for the poorest and those disadvantaged because of gender, age, disability or ethnicity
105
In what year did the SDG's replace the MDG's?
2015
106
What were the SDG's
The SDGs aim to build on the successes of the MDGs by going further to end all forms of poverty
The Goals call for action from 193 countries across the world, no matter how developed a country is
107
When was the Universal Declaration of Human Right (UDHR) created?
The UDHR, created in 1948, is a:
Statement of intent, rather than legally binding
Framework for foreign policy to explain economic and military intervention
The UDHR sets out 30 universal rights
These terms are now embedded in the UN Charter and therefore require all 193 member states to recognise and respect the 30 universal rights
108
What does the UDHR define the meanings of?
The declaration defines the meanings of two key terms:
Fundamental freedoms
Human rights
109
Despite the Declaration stating that these rights should be protected by law, not all countries agreed to it in 1948, including which?
South Africa – to protect its system of apartheid
Saudi Arabia – under Saudi law conversion to another religion is punishable by death, so Muslims don’t have the right ‘to change their religion or belief’
110
What is the ECHR?
The European Convention on Human Rights
111
When was the ECHR created and how many rights does it contain?
1953
59
112
What is the European Court of Human Rights?
An international court that interprets the ECHR
The court is responsible for monitoring respect for the human rights of approximately 700 million people across 46 member states
113
When was Russia expelled from the European Court of Human Rights?
In 2022 due to the deployment of troops in Ukraine
114
When was the UK's human rights act created?
1988
115
What is the Geneva convention?
The four Geneva Conventions are a set of international rules that try to regulate war
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Despite signing the convention some countries or militant groups have broken the conventions, in 2015, Amnesty International reported that how many countries worldwide had allegations of torture made against them?
141
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What is an example of a country that favours economic development over human rights?
Singapore:
Has one of the world’s highest GDP per capita
Is one of the most business-friendly economies in the world
However, the government limits political and civil rights (as freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly and association) through laws
It still has the death penalty and has one of the world’s highest execution rates per capita
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What is one way to measure corruption?
The GCI = Global corruption index
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What percentage of global GDP is spent corruptly?
5% of global GDP is spent corruptly - bribing officials or 'lost’ money in governments e.g building lavish homes for politicians
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Who is the most impoverished ethnic group in the USA?
Native Americans
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In Latin America what percentage of indigenous people account for the total population?
13%
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How many years has Afghanistan been involved in conflict for?
40 years
Between 1992 and 2001, the country was controlled by the Taliban
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What are trade embargo's?
A trade embargo is a ban that restricts trade with a particular country
It encourages a country to change its actions as the country will find it more difficult to sell its goods, resulting in a lower GDP
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How can a Trade Embargo's be an example of a geopolitical intervention?
They are often used in response to perceived threats to international security or for countries with a record of human rights abuses
Other trade interventions include increasing taxes and quotas on imported goods from the country
EXAMPLE = After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU imposed an arms embargo
The sanctions prohibited any involvement in the supply of arms and services to Russian military
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How can interventions be made by IGO's?
Putting conditions on aid or withholding aid
Imposing trade embargoes
Expressing disapproval of human right abuses
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How can interventions be made by NGO's
Monitoring the status of human rights globally
Campaigning for the protection of human rights
Petitioning and lobbying of authoritarian governments e.g. to free protestors imprisoned unfairly
Encouraging IGOs and governments to intervene in human rights abuses
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What is the problem with interventions where governments interfere with one another?
These interventions show a disregard for national sovereignty because one nation is interfering with the governance of another
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Human rights violations create tension politically?
Human rights violations create tension between national sovereignty and the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P) commitment, making it clear that the sovereignty of a country has limits
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Why did Haiti require development aid?
In 2010, an earthquake hit Haiti leading to over 220,000 deaths
1.5 million people became homeless, having to live in emergency camps (tent cities)
People in these tent cities suffered an outbreak of cholera, killing more than 9,000 people
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What aid did Haiti receive?
Within months, over £12 billion of aid was pledged by governments, members of the public, IGOs (the UN) and NGOs (the Red Cross and Oxfam)
The money raised was used in a number of ways e.g. to provide emergency shelters and restore access to clean water
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What is the background to Haiti?
Haiti in the Caribbean is one of the poorest countries in the world
Its HDI ranking is 163 out of 191
Haiti experiences a wide range of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes
It is known as ‘the republic of NGOs’ as it can have up to 10,000 NGOs working there at any one time
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What were the concerns over the use of the aid?
Two years after the earthquake, 500,000 people were still living in temporary shelters without electricity, plumbing or sewerage
Half of the money pledged should have been spent within 18 months (a condition), but only 40% of this had been spent
The government and NGOs were unable to co-ordinate and use the money effectively
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How can development aid have both positive and negative impacts?
Development aid can have both positive (dealing with life threatening conditions e.g. malaria) and negative impacts (dependency, corruption)
The negative impacts of aid can undermine human rights and economic development, which puts minority groups at greater risk as there are less services e.g. health, education and justice
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The UN asked developed countries to to commit what percentage of their GDP to development aid?
0.7%
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Why is aid in the form of loans not recommended now?
Of the increasing size of debts
Technical assistance and skills training are more preferable
Developing countries can become aid dependent and rely on the aid money to perform many of the basic functions of government
Aid is sometimes used by the political elite to ensure they remain in power and repress citizens (building a powerful army, buying votes)
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What are the problems with large scale economic developments?
Serious environmental impacts (water pollution, loss of farmland), causing degradation to areas inhabited by minority groups
Big development projects run by transnational corporations (TNCs) can put traditional cultures and livelihoods at risk
There is little regard for the local’s human rights to their land and culture, for instance:
- After the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta
- Land grabbing in East Africa
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How has the Niger Delta suffered damage to the environment?
About 40 million litres of oil are spilled every year across the Niger Delta
Oil spills pollute groundwater, surface water and soil
Mangrove forests and rainforests are regularly damaged
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How do minority groups in the Niger Delta suffer?
70% of people live on less than $2 per day in the Niger Delta
Local hospitals and schools are under-funded
Access to clean and safe drinking water is limited due to oil spills
Traditional livelihoods in the Delta (e.g. fishing and agriculture) are damaged by the oil spills; disrupting cultural traditions and making people poorer
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How have human rights been abused in the Niger Delta?
Conflict over the oil reserves led to human rights abuses
During the 1990s, the Nigerian military government repeatedly violated the Ogoni tribe’s human rights
It is home to more than 31 million people and 40 different ethnic groups, such as the Ogoni people, who believe the land and rivers are sacred - around 1,000 Ogonis were killed
30,000 people were made homeless as villages were burnt down
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Why are military interventions often justified?
Military interventions are often justified by nations claiming they are defending human rights
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How has a lack of military intervention impacted Zimbabwe?
Social = 43% live below National poverty line
Political = huge amounts of corruption and human rights abuses
Environmental = deforestation,
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What is an example of successful development aid?
Ebola, West Africa
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What is an example of unsuccessful development aid?
Haiti
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How can superpowers use development aid?
Secure access to resources = China aid to Africa
Formation of alliances = French aid to Turkey (military alliance)
Global sphere of influence
Win political support within IGO's
