FACTS AND CASE STUDIES
Event Summary
US- China Trade Trump imposed $250bn in
War (2017-2019) tariffs and China responded
with $110bn in tariffs on US
goods
China Belt and Economic investment in
Road Initiative foreign infrastructure
East Timor (1999- Indonesia annexation which
2001) led to a successful
independence referendum
where pro Indonesian
militias reacted violently
Bosnia and Kosovo NATO intervention to
(1992-95) rebuild the country (with
UN’s legitimacy) led to
restoration of peace and
stability in Kosovo.
However, UN failed to
prevent the Srebrenica
genocide
Ivory Coast (2011) President Gbagbo refused
to admit defeat in election
and pushed country
towards civil war. UNSC
mandated destruction of
Gbagbo’s military and
France (former colony) led
interventions to overthrow
his loyalists.
Somalia (1992-93) Bush deployed US troops for
humanitarian intervention
which led to struggle to
distinguish rival clans,
militias and civilians and
Somalia lacked legitimate
gov for negotiations. US
withdrew forces in 1994 and
Explanation Topic
Failure of WTO Economic Global
Decreasing US Hegemony as gov
tariffs out of fear of China’s Hegemony
power
G7 counter-initiative Hegemony
China hegemony and a form
of debt-trap diplomacy to
leverage greater political
influence
Australia led UN forces Success of UN
(mandated by Clinton) to
disarm militants and allow
peace to be restored and led
to a stable transition to
democracy and
independence
When Serb forces left NATO success
Kosovo, this mandate Intervention
carried on carrying out long
term nation building in
Kosovo
Gbagbo was arrested and UNSC Success
legitimate government Interventions
reinstated and led to
stability.
Intervention had legitimacy
from UNSC and France’s
geopolitical positioning
allowed for easier
intervention
Shows that lack of chance of US failures
success, public support and 90s interventions
commitment to nation Human rights
building are vital in Failed State
intervention Unsuccessful
interventions
 Somalia remains a failed
state
Afghanistan US deployed troops after
(2001-21) 9/11 to eradicate Taliban
rule and was successful until
lack of support led to
removal of forces under
Trump and Biden in which
Taliban regained control.
The UN also led
underfunded missions here
which resulted in their
peacekeeping failures
Libya (2011) Civil war against president
Gaffadi broke out and NATO
successfully helped to
eradicate Gaffadi’s military
resources (he was going to
attack civilians) and then
NATO withdrew after this
success. Due to tensions
and lack of historical liberal
democracy, chaos ensued
and gov broke down and
now a failed state. The
UNSC also established no fly
zones to protect the civilian
population
ICC and Trump ICC investigated US war
(2020) crimes in Afghanistan but
Trump didn’t recognize their
jurisdiction but Afghanistan
argued they had jurisdiction
as they were a member and
resulted in trump placing
sanctions on ICC
Rwanda UN It convicted 61 people for
tribunal the genocide
Shows lack of commitment US failure
can ruin a successful UN Failure
intervention and lack of Unsuccessful
popularity and cultural interventions
understanding
Shows lack of NATO NATO failures
commitment as they Human Rights
believed it to be “one of Political
their greatest successes” Unsuccessful
after removing Gaffadi’s interventions
military power but clan UNSC Success
rivalries and lack of cultural
understanding and
commitment led to further
chaos in the country
Shows limited impact of ICC ICC Failures
and global governance Realism
institutions
It also established rape as a UN tribunals
form of genocide and the Human Rights
media can be guilty of
encouraging genocide as a
crime
Convicted the first person
for the crime of genocide
Convicted the PM to life
imprisonment
But criticized for only
prosecuting Hutus
Rwanda Genocide The USA (as member of
(1994) UNSC) weren’t committed
to intervention due to
backlash from US troop’s
deaths from Somalia in 1993
Cambodia UN Secured 3 convictions of
tribunal government officials
Sierra Leone UN Sentenced former president
tribunal to 50 years
Kuwait UNSC The UNSC authorized
(1991) military intervention in
Kuwait to expel Iraqi forces
and lead to liberation of
Kuwait
Iran Sanctions UNSC imposed sanctions on
(2006-15) Iraq which led to
negotiation of them
abandoning their nuclear
weapons program
Syria (2011) UNSC member Russia
prevented action in Syrian
civil war against Assad as
they were allies
Democratic The UN peacekeeping
Republic of the missions lacked a clear
Congo (2019) mandate and support from
public and have increased
internal divisions in which
the government has now
called for dismissal of UN
troops by end of 2024
USA Cuban Annually a resolution is
embargo passed withing the UNGA
with great support about
ending the US embargo in
Cuba however this is then
voted against by the USA
(and Israel) and the
embargo continues
Shows a lack of willingness UNSC failures
can impede success of an USA
intervention
Criticized for $200m cost for UN tribunals
only 3 convictions and Human Rights
questions of legitimacy as
current PM was a part of
investigated military
Prosecuted the head of state UN tribunals
showing governments aren't Human Rights
above the law and
established child soldiers
and forced marriage as
crimes against humanity
Later this resolution was UNSC success
used to justify 2003 Iraq Hard power
invasion and a rare time
which UNSC sanctioned
military action
Shows the power of UNSC to UNSC Success
condemn nations in violation Hard power
of international law using
hard power
Shows selfish interests of UNSC Failures
UNSC members preventing
humanitarian intervention
Failed mandate and support UN Failures
can impact success of Intervention
intervention Failures
Shows how UNGA UNGA failures
resolutions aren’t binding, UNSC problems
and that soft power is not
effective
USA and The US withdrew from
Nicaragua (1984) compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
after being found guilty of
illegally overthrowing the
Nicaraguan government
South Africa and The ICJ ruled that Israel
Israel (2024) should do all in their power
to prevent a genocide but
didn’t rule for a ceasefire
Russia/Ukraine The ICJ demanded for Russia
and ICJ to stop its invasion of
Ukraine but was ignored
due to its lack of
enforcement powers
Belgium and ICJ Demanded that Senegal
(2009) begin trial of their former
president for crimes against
humanity
Ivory Coast and The ICC founder former
ICC president Gbagbo not guilty
for crimes against humanity
as dropped due to
insufficient evidence
Asian Financial The IMF issued “bail out
Crisis (1997) and funds” to stabilize countries
Eurozone Crisis of worst affected currencies
(2009)
Doha Round USA, EU and Japan failed to
(2001) open their markets to
agricultural products from
the EDW, so the trade
negotiations failed
Shrimp and Sea WTO negotiated a trade
turtle case (1994) agreement that condemned
the USA’s new shrimp
catching laws which led to
them rejecting many south-
east Asian shrimps
Treaty of Rome Established the principle of
(1957) “ever closer union” and
Shows how countries favor ICJ Failures
their own realist interest and
reject political global
governance
Lacks jurisdiction over ICJ failure
Hamas to call for a ceasefire
as
Shows a failure of ICJ ICJ Failure
Belgium won and Senegal ICJ success
put Habré on trial
Can show a weakness of the ICC
court’s reputation for failing success/failure
to prosecute a high-profile
case with mass atrocities.
However can show its
independence and how it’s
not got a neocolonial bias of
prosecuting african leaders
Showing a strength of IMF IMF Success
from preventing a global
financial crisis. Also the
implementation of
neoliberal economic policies
led to the economic
stabilization of these states
WTO failed to successfully WTO failure
integrate EDW into global
trade due to lack of
consensus
First WTO dispute resolved WTO success
under new trade dispute act
and prevented a trade war
but highlights a failure to
protect the environment
Shows how EU from the EU
start aimed to challenge
 committed to removal of
tariffs on goods and ECJ
Maastricht Treaty Renamed to the EU,
(1992) established common EU
citizenship and plans for
monetary union (EMU). Also
recognized the principle of
subsidiarity where EU only
makes decisions if they are
not better taken by states
Organization Positives
Rio COP (1992) It recognized climate change as
a global problem 172 states
attended giving it high
legitimacy
UNFCCC was established which
created annual COPs
NGOs were present showing
their importance
Kyoto (1997) Created binding carbon
reduction targets for 37
developed states and EU
Agreed that by 2012 they
would cut emissions by at least
5% compared to 1990.
Cap and trade program
encouraged investment in
green technology
Copenhagen Informed by IPCC that deep
(2009) cuts needed
Recognized EDW’s blame from
industrialization
State’s responsible for 80% of
emissions agreed to commit to
reducing emissions
Green climate fund set up in
which developed states
pledged $100b in aid by 2020
to EDW
Paris (2015) Established temperature rise in
21st century should not be
more than 1.5 degrees
sovereignty and deepen
European integration
Established greater EU
integration whilst also
safeguarding the sovereign
independence of states over
issues
Negatives Topic
Didn’t create any legally Environmental
enforceable targets success/failures
Placed blame on developed
states that made them less
willing to cooperate
Failure to share the blame for
improving the climate
Focus on developed world so Environmental
EDW’s emissions that were success/failures
increasing from
industrialization were exempt
(China’s emissions increased
by 300%)
The different targets led to
Bush withdrawing due to
unfairness and 7% decrease
Didn’t establish binding targets Environmental
States required to submit success/failures
reduction targets by 2010 but
didn’t establish mechanism to
monitor if these targets were
being met and no penalties
Failed to generate enough
sense of urgency as
sovereignty allowed targets to
be ignored
IPCC said how even if all set Environmental
targets were fulfilled the success/failures
global temperature increase
 88% of global emissions ratified would still be 3 degrees
the treaty Didn’t agree to mandatory
States create own ambitious cuts
targets which are then States didn't create ambitious
monitored to encourage goals
compliance Trump withdrew and Russia
has been very limited (7.5% of
global emissions)
NAFTA Increased value of trade Led to job losses from America Regionalism
(economic) between members ($290bn- to Mexico where it is cheaper Failures
$1.1t) Renegotiated under Trump to
USMCA focusing on each
members best interests
therefore lacks a sense of
regional identity
African Union AUSC a mechanism for forces 54 members all at different Regionalism
(economic and to intervene in member states stages of development when
political) to prevent defiance of the EEC was established with 6
55 members international law developed nations
NEPAD encourages regional Tribal and ethnic differences
trade and integration that have caused conflicts
Plans for single market and (Rwanda, DRC) shows a lack of
monetary union regional identity for enhanced
cooperation
AU has tolerated HR abuses of
dictators (Libya and Sudan)
show its lack of commitment
Charter commits to defending
sovereignty and independence
of its members
Arab League Agreed to suspend Syria’s and Decisions taken by council are Regionalism
(security and Libya’s membership due to HR only binding on member states
political) violations that supported them and
22 members The council with all state’s when states don’t, they rarely
leaders meets twice a year and follow the agreements
in 2019 met with EU to discuss Failed to encourage peace as
global issues lack of consensus on response
to gulf wars
Failed to intervene in Libya
ASEAN Regional forum allows it to Commitment to eventual free Regionalism
(economic and work with China and Japan to market undermined by
political) peacefully resolve regional economic disparities
10 members disputes (Singapore and Cambodia) and
Free trade agreements political disparities
amongst its members and (communist Vietnam and
China democratic Malaysia)
The 6th largest economy in
2018
Non- Proliferation agreement
Facts and Stats:
Diplomatic influenced
decreased from allies amongst
members (Cambodia and
China vs Philippines and USA)
so a lack of response to South
China Sea
Committed to non-
interference between
members so criticized on lack
of support for Rohingya
Muslims in Myanmar
Key decision makers are heads
of state and not supranational
bodies which prevents
increased integration
Economic Globalization:
 India had the fastest growing economy in 2019 (7.3%)
 World trade increased from $8 trillion to $18.8 trillion between 2005-2013 (despite crisis 2008)
 Since 1990, 1 billion less people are living on less than $2.15 a day
 China had a 7.9% rise in GDP In 2021, however, the Gini income inequality coefficient found that
there's 38.9% of inequality in 2021.
 In India in 2019, 1% of the population earned 21% of total income compared to just 11% in
1990, the year before India began to open its market
 Vietnam’s cheap labor costs attracted TNCs like Samsung and their GDP has increased by 7%
 The World Bank found that the numbers living in extreme poverty dropped as in 1980, 36% of
the world's population and in 2019, 9.2% of the world's population.
 Poverty in Rwanda has declined from 57% in 2006 to 39% in 2020
 Vietnams low labor costs attracting new investment from TNCs like Samsung
 Dell Theory of conflict prevention: economically integrated states will not go to war with each
other

Cultural Globalization:

 10 most successful global restaurant chains and 10 most profitable films are all American
 Real Madrid & Manchester United are 2 of the most popular sports teams in the world, while
Chelsea has a strong following in Latin America

UNSC:

 Russia has used the veto 132 since cold war

USA:

 More spent on military defense than next 7 countries combined

 Structural power from largest world bank and IMF vote share and Washington Consensus
 800 military bases in 70 countries

China:

 Asian Infrastructure Bank to asset regional hegemony as a challenger to IMF

 Belt and Road Initiative
 2nd biggest economy and military spender after USA