Chapter 10 Globalizing Issues

New concerns at international level Involves multiple actors -- states, IGOs, NGOs, MNCs, transnational movements, individuals, etc. Issues interlinked across local, state, and international levels Accelerated by changes in communications and technology Health, environment, human rights

Health and Disease Ancient international problem: bubonic plague, smallpox, measles, malaria, etc. Economic and social globalization has increased vulnerability of individuals and communities to disease through migration, refugees, transport, trade, etc., resulting in spread of AIDS, dengue fever, SARS, Avian flu, etc. HIV/AIDS –Multidimensional problem: health/humanitarian; economic; social; political; security –Response by states, IGOs, NGOs, MNCs, private foundations, individuals, epistemic communities of experts

Health and Theory One of the first areas of international cooperation Functionalist issue: high levels of agreement on need to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to rely on technical experts Differences emerge over how best to address issue –Liberals: international responsibility, cooperation among actors at all levels –Realists: state responsibility, especially significant when it impacts state security –Radicals: health problems illustrate inequities, economic differences between rich and poor individuals and states

Environment: Global Commons Interconnectedness of population, natural resources, energy, pollution Collective goods = public goods available to all regardless of individual contribution (e.g., air, oceans, etc.) but that no one owns or is individually responsible for –Political challenge: achieving shared benefits by overcoming conflicting interests (Hardin’s tragedy of the commons) –Collective goods theory explains why there are environmental problems and how to address them Sustainability = economic development that reconciles current economic growth and environmental protection with needs of future generations Emerging international law/principles/norms: no-significant harm, good-neighbor principle; (soft law) polluter-pays, precautionary principle, preventive-action; (principles) sustainable development, intergenerational equity

Politics of Population Historic fear of Malthusian dilemma (population increase outstrips food supply); mitigated by: –Technological changes have led to higher rates of food production –Demographic transition = increasing levels of economic development lead to falling death rates, followed by falling birth rates Nevertheless, population growth rates have increased dramatically (see Figure 10.1, 297), but: –Population increase not uniformly distributed (developing world higher rates than developed; demographic divide between North and South) –Greater demand for scarce natural resources –Ethical dilemmas What can/should be done? Regulations, coercive measures?

Natural Resources/Pollution Natural resources –Increasing demand and declining resources Oil demand increasing and made more volatile by political conditions Water fights for human use and agriculture Pollution –Externalities: costly unintended consequences –Can be managed through international cooperation –Example: ozone depletion due to use of CFCs Montreal Protocol (1987) and London Agreement (1990); states agree to phase out use of chemicals; developed states agree to pay costs of compliance –Global climate change Kyoto Protocol (1997): aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Environment and Theory Realists –Traditional emphasis on state security; requires strong population, self-sufficient food supply, dependable supply of energy, sovereignty –Making cost of natural resources or pollution abatement too high diminishes independence; environmental issues understood in light of state, power, sovereignty, balance of power Liberals –Broadened view of security and of an interdependent system; many actors at all levels need to address challenges Radicals –Concerned with economic costs of environmental problem; widens gap between rich and poor; costs borne disproportionately by South and poor in North Constructivists –Emphasis on how elites define problem and how ideas change over time

Human Rights First-generation rights: –political/civil rights; rights that states cannot take away (free speech, assembly) Second-generation rights –economic/social rights; rights that states should provide (health care, jobs) Third-generation rights –rights for specific groups, minorities, women, children (environment, peace, human security, democracy) International human rights regime –Regime = agreed-upon rules, norms, procedures that emerge from high levels of cooperation; states develop principles and procedures as to how certain problems should be addressed; principles become rules (explicit in law; implicit in practices, expectations) –Web of IGOs and NGOs involved in setting human rights standards (UN), monitoring standards (UN, NGOs), promoting education about human rights, enforcing standards (States, UN through embargos, sanctions, armed force)

Globalizing Issues: Effects, Theory Bargaining more complex, more policy trade-offs Conflict may increase Traditional notion of state sovereignty challenged Study of IR: core theoretical assumptions questioned; theories need modification –Realists: more nuanced; state security still key in globalization –Liberals: globalizing issues compatible with liberal views of human security, multiple actors –Radicals: globalizing issues confirm primacy of economic issues and international stratification –Constructivists: changing discourse; material factors and ideas shape debate Global Governance = in absence of unifying political authority, various structures and processes through which actors coordinate interests and needs; for Liberals, globalization pushes global civil society toward global governance; for Realists, global governance impossible; for Radicals, not desirable because of hegemonic domination (radical)