Current International Issues

Globalization, Iran, and the Sudan

Advantage/Disadvantage of Globalization
Effects of Glob. Political Advantages Weakens power of authoritarian governments Jobs, capital, more choices for consumers exposure to other cultures Disadvantages Unwanted external influence Exploitative: only benefits a few; gap Cultural imperialism

Economic

Cultural

North vs. South

 

Resource depletion and conservation Northern nations are industrialized & affluent. Southern are poorer, more populous and less industrialized.


The North got rich exploiting natural resources of the South. Now the North seeks to restrict the Souths ability to exploit those same resources.

Further Arguments


Southern states, seeking to exploit their resources for economic development, say the North is hypocritical. One response to this dilemma used by the Nature Conservancy: to pay poor communities NOT to exploit their resources. The idea is this, that the cost of protecting the planet should not rest on poor communities, when everyone benefits.

Millennium Development Goals (2015)

       

Halving extreme poverty and hunger Achieving universal primary education and gender equity Reducing the mortality of children under 5 by 2/3 Reducing maternal mortality by Reversing the spread of HIV / AIDS Halving the proportion of people w/out access to safe drinking water Ensuring environmental sustainability Building a global partnership for development

Structural Adjustment Programs



Loans
 

Many have certain conditions attached in order to increase chances of repayment Examples include: cuts in government spending, devaluation of currency, privatization of industry Aid with restrictions on how it can be spent Creates burden on the poor, should forgive debts

 

Tied Aid


Criticisms


Disparities Between North and South

Global Priorities in Spending, 1998

      

Basic education for the world Ice cream in Europe Pet foods in Europe and the US Cigarettes in Europe Alcoholic drinks in Europe Narcotic drugs in the world Military spending in the world


6 billion 8 billion 17 billion 50 billion 105 billion 400 billion 780 billion

(2005, US spending on military = 420 billion, world 950)

World and Regional Military Spending



Region
       

2003
11.4 billion 151 billion 3.3 billion 195 billion 426 billion 21.8 billion 70 billion 879 BILLION

Africa Asia Central America Europe North America South America Middle East WORLD

Military spending vs. aid for dev.

Social Movements against Globalization and neo-liberal policies:



France, 2005-present


Mass rioting and public protest over high levels of unemployment and discrimination

Mexico, 1994-present


Zapatista uprising, the other campaign

Seattle, Washington


1999 Protests against the World Trade Organization

Current Issues
Iran: Developing Nuclear Power

Iran: Nuclear Future?



What is the present condition of nuclear development in Iran? What steps is the UN taking to address this? What are the options for the international community?

Iran


Claimed this past week that it has produced enriched uranium, for peaceful purposes
 

Now on the path towards nuclear fuel Wants to thwart its reliance on oil, not dev. weapons

Russia and China support Irans nuclear development (members of UN SC) However, Irans President Ahmadinejad has claimed that Israel must be wiped off the map

Other reasons for concern?



Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says this technology is a victory for the Islamic world In addition, he said his country is ready to share its technology with other nations First on list, Sudan


President Bashir considering a civilian nuclear program

US/Europe demand supervision



Iran has failed to meet certain obligations of reporting on nuclear activities

 

Many countries suspicious Is it really for peaceful purposes?

If Iran was to build a bomb, it might provoke another arms race (in the Middle East)


Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc

 

Terrorism UN Security Council gave Iran 30 days to freeze its program (deadline April 28) or face sanctions

IAEA


The International Atomic Energy Agency says there is no proof that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons, but there is an absence of confidence that Irans nuclear program is exclusively peaceful due to its policy of concealment


IAEA will report back to UNSC regarding Irans actions before decisions are made

Irans response:


If sanctions are imposed by the UN, it will suspend contact with the IAEA. If the country is attacked militarily, it will hide its nuclear program completely. Question:


What can the international community do to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons, or should they be allowed to have this technology?

War Games (The Atlantic Monthly)

 

Scenario analyzed 2 years ago Looked at the long-term implications of US moves and Irans countermoves What would happen if the US were to bomb Iran to try to take out its nuclear installations?

Possible Scenarios
1.

There is no possibility of an ace in the hole Iran could retaliate by using its influence on the worlds oil markets At best, slow nuclear development, but increase hatred and determination

2.

3.

Reality 2 years later



All agreed that everything is much worse now Possible Shiite alliances with Iraq US is spread thin


 

Cannot keep troops in Iraq forever, nor prisoners at Guantanamo Bay

Tensions Mounting


US says all options remain open regarding stopping Irans nuclear development. Israel says We wont accept it!

Question for discussion:



How should the international community, and in particular the United States, address what the media is now calling an international crisis ?

Genocide in the Sudan

Dilemmas regarding humanitarian intervention

SUDAN: A History of Conflict



 

Civil War following independence in 1956 Divisions between north and south Religion and ethnicity at heart of dispute, natural resources Estimated 4 million displaced Death toll = 2 million

Framing the conflict:

 

Erupted in February of 2003 Religion and Ethnicity



Sudan: largely white, Moslem (north) and African Christians and non-Moslems (south) Governing Principles: Islamic law Rebel Groups


Actors Involved


(Sudan Liberation Army, Justice and Equality Movement initiated attacks against Sudanese police)

Government Response = Janjaweed



State-sponsored terror

Janjaweed
  

Armed by the government to fight rebel groups Also targeting civilians of same ethnicity with immunity and assistance Tactics include rape, murder, looting, destruction of property, terror
 

Estimated 2 million displaced Death toll = 200,000 (CIA)

Why no humanitarian intervention?

  

No norms of humanitarian intervention in the international community UN Charter: based on the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention Article 2(4)


All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state

Problems of Sovereignty
  

Sovereignty norms prevent stronger nations from invading weaker nations However, when human rights abuses occur, states hesitant to intervene Reinforced by Article 2(7)


Nothing in the Charter can authorize the UN to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state(except the Security Council)

Genocide or not?


Security Council has primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security
  

Self-defense or SC authorization Emergence of intra-state conflict is a challenge Refugee crisis in Chad (6,000 to 10,000 die per month due to unsanitary conditions, WHO)

 

Norms of upholding human rights exist Legal obligation if genocide declared by UN Members

Problems with admitting Genocide

  

No standing army of the UN Resources and leadership Interests of Security Council members Repercussions of invading another Moslem state Genocide has been declared, though no mass mobilization of troops

Question ?


Does the international community have an obligation to intervene in humanitarian disasters regardless of state sovereignty? What are some other measures to address the genocide?

To learn more about Sudan: http://www.sd.undp.org/