Download Supranationalism, Devolution, and the New

Name: KEY________________________________________
Unit
14
Supranationalism, Devolution,
and the New World Order
Period: ________
Date: _________
Political Change
Fill in the blanks to complete the definition or sentence. Note: All of the following information in addition to your
reading is important, not just the blanks you fill in.
Multinationalism on the Map
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SUPRANATIONALISM - a venture involving three or more states for: political
(UN), economic (EU), military (NATO), and/or cultural (African Union)
objectives.
• LEAGUE OF NATIONS - born of a worldwide desire to prevent future aggression
in 1919; collapsed in the chaos of the beginning of World War II; spawned other
organizations such as the Permanent Court of International Justice which would
become the INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE.
• UNITED NATIONS - at the end of World War II to foster international security
and cooperation; 191 member states today.
• Functions of the UN = the imposition of international SANCTIONS (e.g., postGulf War) and mobilization of PEACEKEEPING operations; one of the most
difficult challenges was in former YOGOSLAVIA - the DAYTON ACCORDS
revised a new map of Bosnia (between Muslims, Serbs & Croats).
• The UN has many SUBSIDIARIES, such as the Security Council, the World
Health Organization, even the UNREPRESENTED NATIONS AND PEOPLES ORGANIZATION (UNPO); 51
members today.
The UN is not a world GOVERNMENT, for example, it has no standing army but relies on its members.
The Law of the Sea
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The Law of the Sea began with the TRUMAN PROCLAMATION
(1945) – the U.S. claimed natural resources up to continental shelf.
Later, in 1946, ARGENTINA claimed the water above
UNCLOS III - the UN Convention on Law of Sea was signed by
157 states (not US) in 1982; it established territorial sea up to 12
nautical miles from the coastline; a country’s EEZ (Exclusive
Economic Zone) extends up to 200 nautical miles from the
coastline (countries have rights to any natural resources up to
continental shelf)
The MEDIAN-LINE Principle is necessary when a country’s
territorial sea or EEZ conflicts with another; a boundary is
established midway between two states’ coasts
One example is in the SOUTH CHINA SEA - an area of major
disputes; SPRATLY Islands (rich in oil, claimed by six states);
this, however, is the exception, not the rule.
Regional Multinational Unions
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BENELUX – established no tariffs, quotas, or licenses b/w Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg; joined EEC later.
The EU EUROPEAN UNION) developed out of the EEC (European Economic Community) in 1992; 12/15 members
have adopted the EURO as their uniform monetary unit; the EU is far from a United States of EUROPE – there are
issues with the balance of power (e.g. GERMANY has the largest economy & also exceeds their limits on deficit
spending), new APPLICANTS are also pending (e.g. Turkey – Muslim, weaker economy),…
The main motives for supranational cooperation are ECONOMIC (e.g., OPEC – ORGANIZATION OF PETROLEUM
EXPORTING COUNTRIES); may also be defensive (NATO – NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION),
cultural (AU – AFRICAN UNION), political (EU, UN),…
EUROREGIONS - formal supranationalist entities designed to promote cooperation and reduce inequalities across
international boundaries; commonly found in EASTERN Europe after the fall of communism.
Devolutionary Forces in the World
• DEVOLUTION occurs when regions within a state gain
political strength and growing autonomy at the expense of
the central government; these regions may even break
away from the state altogether.
• ETHNONATIONALISM is the love for your nation:
• CANADA – French-speaking Quebec poses a constant
threat to stability.
• SPAIN – Basque, Catalonia: both areas have their own
parliaments, but divisive pressures still exist.
• BELGIUM – Flemish (Dutch) region in the north vs.
Walloons (French) in the south.
• YUGOSLAVIA – six “republics” were established
after the Dayton Accords (1995); split Bosnia between
a Serb “Republic” & a Muslim-Croat “Federation”.
• One of the most powerful devolutionary forces deals with
ECONOMIC concerns; some examples include:
• SPAIN – Catalonia (industrially strong region);
• BRAZIL – South (claim a misuse of taxes) vs. north;
• ITALY – Northern regions (industrially strong) vs.
more agrarian south.
• Another major devolutionary force is inherently SPATIAL - distance, remoteness & peripheral location are all allies of
devolution
• FRANCE – Corsica (island in the Mediterranean) = greatest devolutionary threat (for “the” model nation-state).
• GATEWAY STATES - political entities situated in border zones between geopolitical power cores; absorb &
assimilate diverse cultures and traditions - emerge as new entities (HAWAII, although unlikely, is a candidate).
After the Cold War
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NEW WORLD ORDER - after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the BIPOLAR world, there was
optimistic talk of a world in which the balance of mutual opposition and nuclear terror between two superpowers would
no longer determine the destinies of the states.
COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES - USSR split into 15 republics; cultural regions along the postSoviet periphery = “NEAR ABROAD”” (expected to rely more heavily on Russia than has actually occurred).
Russia still has DEVOLUTIONARY problems today (e.g. Chechnya); a diverse country with many nationalities
The NEW WORLD ORDER was expected to be the international situation after the collapse of the USSR, where a
balance of NUCLEAR terror between two superpowers would no longer determine the destiny of the states of the world
(US is only superpower in the world today)
Current Trends
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GLOBALIZATION = expansion of economic, political & cultural activities to a global scale, the importance of states’
traditional positions have been REDUCED by networks of interaction.
The political system of DEMOCRACY has affected virtually all regions; with little progress in North Africa &
Southwest Asia (e.g. ONE-party democracy).
Growing influence of RELIGION – fundamentalism vs. secularism (Islamic vs. Judeo-Christian “worlds”)
Antiquated BOUNDARY framework – a 21st c. world with 19th c. borders (most devolving movements occur in the
periphery of states, and in regions with differing nationalities)
Rise of TERRORISM – superpowers supplied allies with weapons during Cold War; increasing threat of nations with
nukes, chemical & biological weapons, suicide missions = potential to unite or divide world
SHATTERBELT - region of the world in which there are problems with a large number of smaller nations leading to
"state problems“. Stable if there is a strong government.
We live in a MULTIPOLAR world today; 4 major cores exist: UNITED STATES, EUROPE, JAPAN and RUSSIA
(CHINA IS RISING) – the future is uncertain (peace or conflict?).
- Identify TWO other current trends in the world today (on your own): MATERIALISM, TECHNOLOGY, …