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Discover the significance of buffer states and supranationalism in international relations. Learn about their roles in reducing conflict, promoting cooperation, and challenging traditional notions of state sovereignty. Explore the increase in terrorism and its impact on global security.
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Topics that seem unrelated, but will make sense when we are done!
States and their Locations • Buffer States and Zones • A buffer state is an independent country located between two larger countries that are in conflict • Russia and China have warred over boundaries for centuries, but Mongolia, a buffer, has helped reduce direct confrontation between the two states • Satellite States • Countries controlled by another, more powerful state • During the Cold War, the Soviet Union worked to dominate the Eastern European buffer zone and install Communist satellite states there • Called the “Iron Curtain” • Shatterbelts • State or group of states that exists within a sphere of competition between larger states and is often culturally, economically, and politically fragmented and splintered • Eastern Europe • Existed as a sphere of competition between U.S.S.R. and western powers
When States Change • Centrifugal • Divide and tear apart a state’s people and regions • Can lead to Balkanization • Broke apart Soviet Union • Examples • Separatism in a region • Internal boundary conflicts • Deep religious divisions • Centripetal • Unify a state’s people and regions • Examples • Unifying symbols • Pledge of allegiance • Strong identity based on language, religion, or other cultural traits. • Devolution • Definition • Process of transferring some power from the central government to regional governments • Often refers to the transfer of power that occurs when a state breaks up • States facing centrifugal forces are often forced to transfer to regional governments to reduce tensions • Scotland • Pushed for more autonomy in 1990s • England devolved more power to Scotland • Given own representative parliament
Suprationalism • Why Do States Cooperate with Each Other? • Future of world’s sovereign states challenged by globalization • States are willingly transferring authority to regional organizations • Established primarily through economic cooperation
Supranationalism • Definition • Growing trend to organize political and economic affairs at the international level rather than national level • Refer to entities in which three or more countries form an alliance for cultural, economic, or military reasons. • Created so that states can collectively reach a common goal they may not be able to reach independently • Issues • If a country threatens other states, supranational organizations may impose sanctions • Punishments in the form of economic and/or diplomatic limits • Example: Iraq • Growth of Supranational alliances challenges conceptions of state sovereignty • Often must give up some powers • Example: European Union • Countries were reluctant to give up their currencies and covert to the Euro
Political and Military Cooperation • International and regional organizations were established primarily to prevent a third world war in the twentieth century and protect countries from a foreign attack • Some examples: • United Nations • Warsaw Pact • NATO • ASEAN • European Union • African Union
Supranationalism Activity • Each group will be assigned a Supranational group and will create a small poster • Groups: • OPEC -EU • NATO -WHO • UN -IMF • AU -OAS • The poster will include: • Mission of the organization – what do you provide? • When established and why • How do countries join? How many countries belong? • What are the benefits of belonging to the group? • What countries lead this organization?
Terrorism by individuals or organizations • Terrorism is the systematic use of violence by a group in order to intimidate a population or coerce a government into granting its demands • Terrorists attempt to achieve their objectives through organized acts that spread fear and anxiety throughout the population • Terrorists consider violence necessary as a means of bringing widespread publicity to goals
Terrorism by Individuals and Organizations • Term terror first used during French Revolution 1793 • Today Terrorism used to describe actions of groups operating outside government • Distinguishing terrorism from other acts of violence sometimes difficult – why?
Terrorism against Americans • 1988: Pan Am Flight 103 • Lockerbie, Scotland • Killed 259 aboard, plus 11 on the ground • 1993: World Trade Center • Car bomb • Damaged building • Killed 6, injured 1,000 • 1995: Oklahoma City • Car bomb • Killed 168 people in Federal Building • 1996: Saudi Arabia • Truck bomb killed 19 US Soldiers, injured more than 100 • Targeted American apartment complex • 1998: US Embassies • Both Kenya and Tanzania • Bombed • Killed 190, wounded 5,000 • 2000: USS Cole • Bombed while in Yemen • Killed 17 US Servicemen • Others • Ted Kaczynski – the Unabomber • Killed 3 people, injuring 23 others
September 11, 2001 • WTC and Pentagon attacked • Over 3,000 died • 93 on American Airlines Flight 11 • 65 on United Airlines Flight 175 • 2,605 at the WTC • 64 on American Airlines Flight 77 • 125 at the Pentagon • 44 on United Airlines Flight 93
Al-Qaeda • Responsible for most attacks in 1990s, as well as Sept.11 • Founded by Osama bin Laden • Saudi billionaire • Moved to Afghanistan in 1980’s to support fight against Soviet Union • Called the fight a jihad • Recruited Muslim militants • Returned to Saudi Arabia after war ended, but was expelled • Moved to Sudan but was expelled for attacks against American in 1994 • Issued a declaration of war against US in 1996 because of US support of Israel and supporting Saudi Arabian monarchy • Issued a fatwa (religious decree) arguing the Muslims had a duty to wage a Holy War against the U.S.
Al-Qaeda • Means “foundation” • Created in 1990 to unite jihad fighters • Membership around 20,000 • Located in 34 countries • Several “cells” • Most live in ordinary society, called sleepers • Implicated in several bombings • Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Britain, Egypt, Jordan • Not a single unified organization • Number unknown • Use religion to justify attacks
Al-Qaeda cells • Cells • Spain • Kenya • Jemmah Isamiyah • Southeast Asia • Concentrated in Indonesia • Several bombings • Oct 12, 2002- killed 202 • Aug 5, 2003- killed 12 • Sept 9, 2004- killed 11 • Oct 1, 2005- killed 23
State Support for Terrorism • Several Middle East states have supported terrorism in recent years by: • Provide sanctuary for terrorists wanted by other countries • Supply weapons, money, and intelligence to other terrorists • Plan attacks using terrorists • Libya • Accused of sponsoring terrorists in 1986 bombing of Germany nightclub • US relations poor with Libya since 1981 • U.S. responded with air strikes in Tripoli and Benghazi • Libyan agents planted bombs on Pan Am Flight 170 in 1988 as well as on UTA Flight 772 • UN Sanctions followed • Libya “renounced” terrorism in 2003
Afghanistan • Civil war began in 1973 when king was overthrown • 5 years later a bloody coup was led by Soviet Union • Sent in 115,000 troops into Afghanistan in 1979 to quell the Muslim fundamentalists rebellion • Soviet Union withdrew in 1989 and the Soviet-backed government fell by 1992 • Taliban gained control over most of the country • 6 years of Taliban rule came to an end in 2001 following US invasion • Went after terrorists • Taliban harbored bin Laden • Removal of Taliban unleashed new struggle for control of Afghanistan • Taliban were able to regroup
Iraq • Saddam became president in 1979 • Iran-Iraq war 1980, ended in stalemate in 1988 • 1988 Hussein gassed Iraqi Kurds • 1990 Hussein invaded Kuwait • Led to Operation Desert Storm (U.S. led) • Allowed to stay in power as long as he disabled weapons program • U.S. linked Saddam to Al-Qaeda • U.S. invaded in 2003 • Changed to a focus on a new regime change after no WMDs found • Iraq is divided into 150 tribes • Most Iraqis have loyalty to tribes not government • Ethnic groups split into regions • Sunni vs Shiite war
Iran • Hostile with U.S. since 1979 revolution • The pro-US shah was overthrown • Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed Iran an Islamic Republic • Rewrote constitution of Iran • Today US worried about: • Iran harboring and aiding terrorists • Building nuclear weapons
Pakistan • Created after Partition in 1947 • War of Terror has spilled into Pakistan • Pakistan is multi-ethnic state • Overwhelmingly Muslim • Taliban controls border with Afghanistan • Rugged, mountainous area • Hid bin Laden in Pakistan