International AffairsNDIM Year 3May 2005
Answer any four questions.
The allocation of marks is given in brackets after each question.
Question 1
Critically examine the contribution of realism and liberalism to our understanding of international relations. (25 marks)
Question 2
Compare and contrast any two international organizations under the following headings:
Evolution and development of these organizations
Function and powers
Is cooperation based on ‘supranationalism’ and /or ‘intergovernmentalism’
Challenges for the 21st century
(25 marks)
Question 3
(a) Outline and explain the positive and negative aspects of nationalism(10 marks)
(b) Analyse the impact of nationalism on world politics in the last decade(15 marks)
Question 4
(a) Outline the key instruments available to protect and promote human rights around the world (10 marks)
(b) “Since the atrocity in New York in 2001 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is now defunct”. Discuss. (15 marks)
Question 5
Critically examine one of the following institutions of the European Union:
The European Parliament, or The Council of Ministers, or The Commission
Use the following headings to guide your answer:
Powers and influence in the decision-making process of the EU
Change and reform in the last decade
Challenges in an EU of twenty-five member states
(25 marks)
Question 6
Outline and explain the problems which have restricted the UN carrying out an expanded role more successfully in the last decade
(25 marks)
Answer Sheet
International AffairsNDIM Year 3May 2005
Question 1
Critically examine the contribution of realism and liberalism to our understanding of international relations. (25 marks)
Answer should outline key attributes of both theories of IR and use case study work to illustrate their answer
Question 2
Compare and contrast any two international organizations under the following headings:
Evolution and development of these organizations
Function and powers
Is cooperation based on ‘supranationalism’ and /or ‘intergovernmentalism’
Challenges for the 21st century
Students should examine any two organizations e.g. WTO,. EU, UN, ASEAN and compare and contrast their methods of operation, the form of their co-operation and the challenges they face in the last decade
(25 marks)
Question 3
(a) Outline and explain the positive and negative aspects of nationalism(10 marks)
(b) Analyse the impact of nationalism on world politics in the last decade(15 marks)
Nationalism: moral, normative basis for the system of states; it legitimates states, promoted as part of nation-building: the justification for secession and territorial claims, but also a basis for genocide, ethnic cleansing… Nationalism is part of the increasing integration of the globe… but colonialism is almost gone so new states will find it harder to find inernational acceptance. Now almost 200 states and more will create disorder, overload and indecision; democracies don’t go to war so tend to avoid the worst consequences of nationalism; separate statehood is sen as providing the best means of negotiating a favourable position in the international market-place. The process of globalization will be accompanied by centrifugal and separating trends, the two rubbing off each other and as Halliday says, ‘nationalism is not an alternative to globalization but an intrinsic part of it.
Question 4
(a) Outline the key instruments available to protect and promote human rights around the world(10 marks)
(b) “Since the atrocity in New York in 2001 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is now defunct”. Discuss. (15 marks)
UN Human Rights Commission – setting human rights standards, holding an annual public debate on human rights violation, appointing special rapporteurs, special representatives, experts and working groups to study themes or country situations. Today 16 country and more than 20 thematice procedures are in place – Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ( ICESCR), along with the others (CEDAW, ICERD etc.) These Committees: receive and discuss country reports on the status of human ights by engaging in constructive dialogue with states parties; receive shadow reports from civil society institutions. Hear complaints ( form individuals or other states) and provide inquiry procedures for gross or systemic human rights violations. For example March 3 2005, as part of the Irish government’s implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination ( CERD) a Geneva based UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination sought information which reflected the concerns of about 40 NGOs relating to human rights in Ireland.
YearThe International Court of Justice, The International Criminal Court and the UNHCR can also be explained. Universal Declaration of Human Righs – the treatment of prisoners by the USA has raised issues in relaion to implementation of human rights students can discuss this by looking at, for example the contest between the old norm of sovereignty and the new norm of universal domestic standards, the contest between political and liberal and social and economic formulations of human rights. The fact that the international community rarely acts on human rights cases unless public opinion is engaged.
Question 5
Critically examine one of the following institutions of the European Union:
The European Parliament, or The Council of Ministers, or The Commission
Use the following headings to guide your answer:
Powers and influence in the decision-making process of the EU
Change and reform in the last decade
Challenges in an EU of twenty-five member states
(25 marks)
Question 6
Outline and explain the problems which have been in the way of the UN carrying out an expanded role more successfully in the last decade
(25 marks)
The UN: Students can give an overview of the structure: The central system: Security council, 15 members; Economic and Social Council of 54 members; The General Assembly of representatives of member states; The Secretariat of the UN under the Secretary General; The Funds and Programmes: UN Development Programme; UN Children’s Emergency Fund; UN Conference on Trade and Development; World Food Programme;
The specialized agencies: WHO, UNESCO, UNIDO, ILO, FAO
The International Crimiinal CourtICC
Discussion of the work of the UN can focus on any of the above
Students can discuss problems of the UN through reference to case-study work – role of the UN in Iraq and the speech by K Annan which referred to the UN as being at a crossroads; the increasing difficulty for states to accept that what happens in a sovereign state is of concern to the international community when violations of human rights are involved; the foreign policy of the US since 2001 in relation to preemptive strikes and how this impacts on the role of the UN.
Students can use the framework of the function of International Organisations to discuss above: articulation and aggregation of interests, Norms, Recruitment, Rule-making, Rule application, Rule adjudication – these can be referred to in the context of a discussion of the problems facing the UN.