Geopolitics, Power, and International & Conflict

1. Geopolitics, Power, and International & Conflict

2. Multiple Nation Organizations • International organizations • Coordinate activities among countries (UN) • Supranational organizations • Exercise power over countries (EU, WTO, OPEC) • Commonwealth – limited control over former colonies • Bloc • Group of countries with common policy

3. Name this country . . .

4. Richest in the world • Largest military • Center of world business and finance • Strongest education system • World center of innovation and invention • Currency the world standard of value • Highest standard of living

5. England

6. in 1900.

7. Historical Empires and Imperialism imperialism   [im-peer-ee-uh-liz-uhm] 1. the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies. colonialism  (kə-lōnē-ə-lĭz′əm) 1. The policy or practice of a wealthy or powerful nation's maintaining or extending its control over other countries, especially in establishing settlements or exploiting resources.

8. British Empire (roughly from 1570-1970) • 1900 peak with ¼ of Earth’s land surface! • The Commonwealth of Nations • 54 members – all formerly part of the British Empire • Queen Elizabeth head of state in 16 countries including • UK, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica • Northern Ireland • 26 of 32 counties independent in 1921 • Ulster remains province • Vestiges of British culture • Legal system, Anglican church, language, education, cricket, beer, many others.

9. French Empire • Vestiges of French rule • Language, wine, Roman Catholicism, Napoleonic legal system, art, cuisine.

10. New Turkish nation in 1920s with collapse of Ottoman Turkish Empire • Ethnic violence and Armenian Genocide as the empire collapses • After fall of Turkish Empire the Middle East divided between France and Britain • Israel – Jewish homeland • Arabs loyal to clans, tribes, families or Pan-Arabism • Continued border disputes • Vestiges of Ottoman rule • Turkish language, food, dress, Islam.

11. Russian Empire • Russian Empire across Asia and into N. America (1721-1917) • Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) • Communist leader • Control in 1917 • Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922) • 1990 • “Collapse of Soviet Union” - USSR subdivided into 15 union republics • 3rd most populous state, 17% of Earth’s land area • Russia = largest republic • Russian acculturation • Vestiges of Russian rule • Language, food, tendency to autocratic leaders and government control.

13. Soviet Economic Geography • Economic self-sufficiency • Collectivized agriculture • Heavy industry advances • Lagging light industry, consumer goods, high-tech products • Centralized state control • Little private property • Natural resources • “Means of production” • Environmental protection less important than industrialization

14. Breakup of Soviet Union • Gorbachev • 1985 • Glasnost • Freedom of speech and press • Perestroika • Restructuring of economy and politics • Events and policies could not be controlled • 15 new countries • Economic struggles

15. Developments in Russia • Economic challenges • Putin 2000 • Independence of Chechnya • Privatization of state-owned economy • Slow progress • Advantages • Educated workforce • Natural resources • Scientific institutes

16. Other Formerly Soviet Republics • Politically • Civil wars • Few freedoms • Economic interdependence • Dependence on other republics • Increasing poverty, instability, isolation • Ukraine • Second most powerful after Russia • Obsolete factories • Slow economic reform • Dependent on Russia for fuel and raw materials Turkmenistan’s President For Life Saparmyrat Niyazov died in 2006

17. Russia’s Autonomous Republics, 2008

18. Formerly Soviet Republics • New ties to West, Asia, Middle East • Religion and cultural ties • Joint economic ventures • Central Asian Republics • Oil • New oil markets and routes • United States’ role • Increased military presence • New issues • Water supplies • Regional environmental issues

19. United States Empire? • 1959 all territories granted statehood (Hawaii, Alaska) • Cuba • Panama • Canal surrendered in 1999 • 1989 invasion • Islands • Puerto Rico • 1952 free commonwealth • Resource poor, densely populated, low per capita income

20. Worldwide U.S. Military Operations (700+ bases in 50+ countries) U.S. Military

21. The biggest military spenders? Defence costs Jun 8th 2011, 14:00 by The Economist online ON JUNE 8th China's top military brass confirmed that the country's first aircraft carrier, a refurbishment of an old Russian carrier, will be ready shortly. Only a handful of nations operate carriers, which are costly to build and maintain. Indeed, Britain has recently decommissioned its sole carrier because of budget pressures. China's defence spending has risen by nearly 200% since 2001 to reach an estimated $119 billion in 2010—though it has remained fairly constant in terms of its share of GDP. America's own budget crisis is prompting tough discussions about its defence spending, which, at nearly $700 billion, is bigger than that of the next 17 countries combined.

22. U.S. Military Expenditures as % of World Total Source: Stockholm International Peace Institute, 2005

23. The United Nations • 1945 ~ Charter for a United Nations • 51 members • 2006 = 192 members • Legislature of world government • No enforcement power • Security Council membership reflect world power in 1945 • Peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts • International Court of Justice, The Hague • U.N. special agencies • 40

24. Erosion of State Power?: NGO’s, Supranational Organizations, & Terrorism • Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have increasing power • Organized international interest groups • Multinational corporations, charitable organizations, drug cartels, terrorists • Al Qaeda and irregular armies • Not recognized governments • Separatist movements • Borders are increasingly permeable and meaningless, especially for capital and goods! Difficult to control spread of ideas, diseases, industries, weapons, narcotics, etc. • State sovereignty and the U.N. and E.U.

25. Globalization of Justice • International War Crimes and Genocide Tribunal • U.N. created in 1998 • U.S. signed, but never ratified! • 21 justices • Began operating in 2003 • Tribunals on Yugoslavia and Rwanda • “Axis of Evil” Unilateral Declaration; U.S. as World’s Policeman? • Iran, Iraq, North Korea • Labeled by President G.W. Bush • Middle East Uprisings of 2011 • Indigenous protests • U.S. and European leaders conflicted because they were “our” dictators (Mubarak in Egypt, Ben Ali in Tunisia, etc.)

26. Human Rights • Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 • Signed by U.S. • Does not include a Right to Refuse to Kill • Rights of individuals versus the rights of the whole society? Who defines? Who decides? U.N. Human Rights Commission has no power of enforcement and its members are often themselves abusers. • Libya’s representative was elected Chairman of the U.N. Commission in 2003! The country has a record of recent torture, but then so does many other countries. • Human rights and development aid: should development aid be restricted and used as a coercive tool for promotion of human rights?