International Responses Flashcards
Define: ISOLATIONISM. Give an example.
Isolationism is a policy of staying completely out of world affairs. An isolationist country does not participate in international social, economic, political and military affairs. An example, Japan had followed an isolationist policy until 1854.
Complete isolationism is rare. However, an “isolationist” country follows this policy in one area but not in others. For example, Switzerland makes a point of staying out of other countries’ disputes. But it does maintain diplomatic ties with other countries and is a member of the UN. Switzerland has also made environmental and economic agreements with other countries.
Define: SUPRANATIONALISM. Give an example.
Supranationalism is a policy by which countries agree to abide by the decisions of an international organization made up of independent appointed officials or representatives elected by member countries. The European Union is often considered an example of a supranational organization.
Understand: Unilateral vs Bilateral vs Multilateral Response
Unilateralism is a policy of a country’s acting on its own without agreements with, or support from, other countries. For example, during the Cold War between the US and the USSR. They both started to build, store and stockpile more nuclear weapons. People feared that the two countries wold end up in a “hot” war. Austria decided unilaterally not to use nuclear power or to create nuclear weapons.
Bilateralism is an agreement between two countries to work toward resolving issues that concern both countries. For example, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is between Canada and US to protect the air space of North America.
Multilateralism is a policy that involves several countries in working together to meet challenges and solve problems. The UN is a multilateral in nature.
Types of foreign aid and purpose of each.
Countries promote internationalism by delivering foreign aid. Every year, developed countries give billions of dollars to developing countries for humanitarian and other purposes. This money provides medical supplies, food, clothing, building supplies, and expertise.
Types of foreign aid:
- Bilateral Development Assistance - aid given to governments or organizations like the Peace Corps to assist in long-term projects to promote democracy, economic growth, stability and development.
- Humanitarian Assistance - aid given to government or organizations to assist in short-term projects such as food crisis, natural disasters, or other humanitarian emergencies.
- Military Assistance - aid is given to ally countries in training and equipment
- Multilateral Assistance - many countries pool resources together and given to organizations such as UNICEF
Define: ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. What are the pros and cons?
Economic sanctions are actions of cutting off trade with a country in an effort to force it to follow a particular course of action.
Economic sanctions are controversial. Some worry that they are ineffective, while others point to instances where they have been too effective and hurt innocent people.
Immigrants vs Emigrants
To “emigrate” means to leave one’s country to go live another.
To “immigrate” means to come to a country of which one is not a native.
The difference between an immigrant and an emigrant relates to the point of view of which country is the origin and which country is the destination.
For example, Syrian refugees move to Canada
- Canadians would call the Syrian’s “immigrants” because they have ARRIVED into Canada.
- Syrians would call themselves “emigrants” because they have LEFT Syria to move to Canada.
