Week 12: Global governance for a global era? Flashcards
What concerns were raised by the Labour and environmental groups during the Battle in Seattle in 1999 regarding the WTO?
The concerns revolved around the fear of state sovereignty being impeded by the WTO. There was a request for a “Social clause” in the WTO to preserve national sovereignty from the effects of globalization.
How does the Social Clause propose to address issues related to labor and environmental standards in the WTO?
The Social Clause suggests implementing a set of core standards, and if these standards are not met, governments could raise tariffs. However, there is a concern that this could lead to sovereignty crushing, as wealthier countries might use the clause to impose their standards on poorer nations.
What is the Economic Integration Trilemma, and how does it relate to the WTO?
The Economic Integration Trilemma refers to the challenge of balancing proper public economic management, greater economic integration, and national sovereignty. In the context of the WTO, the trilemma suggests that national sovereignty over domestic policy should be respected until it threatens market access commitments, and retaliation should be limited to enforcing market-access commitments.
According to Robert O. Keohane, what are the six specific criteria for evaluating the legitimacy of global governance institutions?
- Minimal Moral acceptability
- Inclusiveness
- Epistemic Quality
- Accountability
- Compatibility
- Comparative Benefit
These criteria are derived from liberal democratic principles.
How does the WTO fare in terms of legitimacy, according to Keohane’s evaluation criteria?
Keohane suggests that the WTO has flaws in inclusivity but performs well in epistemic quality and accountability. It enhances democracy and demonstrates a comparative benefit. Despite some shortcomings, the WTO comfortably passes the legitimacy threshold.
What argument does Vinod K. Aggarwal and Simon J. Evenett present in their article regarding WTO rules and industrial policy during the global economic crisis?
They argue that while some analysts claim WTO rules unduly constrain governments in promoting economic development, evidence from the global economic crisis suggests that the tensions between industrial policy and compliance with WTO rules may not be as severe as argued.
How do governments, according to Aggarwal and Evenett, engage in industrial policies despite potential conflicts with WTO rules?
Governments find ways to engage in industrial policies even when there are incentives or rules discouraging protectionism. The study cites examples from the wind energy sector and crisis-era industrial policies in Brazil, suggesting that industrial policy is still prevalent.
In “Economic Integration and Global Governance,” why does Miles Kahler argue that economic models predicting increased supranationalism in global governance are flawed?
Kahler argues that economic models predicting increased supranationalism are flawed because globalization has resulted in varied approaches. While trade has embraced supranational global governance, the monetary and financial regimes have declined in supranationalism. Additionally, a complete failure to delegate is observed in the rules governing foreign direct investment.
What are the two alternative modes of global governance discussed by Kahler?
- Hierarchies: Authority shifted from subordinate states to a dominant state.
- Networks: Enduring or repeated interactions among multiple actors characterized by reciprocity, lacking a legitimate organizational authority
How does Kahler explain the missing supranationalism in global governance?
Kahler explains the missing supranationalism by suggesting that hierarchies and networks serve as functional substitutes for supranational delegation. These substitutes are observed in different global governance regimes, depending on the issues and interests involved.
