International Relations: Key Concepts, Charters, and Global Governance

Foundational Concepts in Political Theory and Global Affairs

Inspirations for 20th-Century Liberalism

Which authors served as an inspiration for 20th-century liberalism? The key figures include:

• John Locke
• Adam Smith
• Jeremy Bentham

Goals of the Our Global Neighborhood Report (1995)

The 1995 Our Global Neighborhood report outlines several critical areas where global citizens must cooperate:

• To maintain peace and order.
• To expand economic activity.
• To tackle pollution and halt or minimize climate change.
• To combat pandemic diseases.
• To curb the spread of weapons.
• To prevent desertification and preserve genetic and species diversity.
• To deter terrorism and ward off famine.
• To defeat economic recession.
• To share scarce resources.
• To arrest drug traffickers.

The Atlantic Charter (August 14, 1941)

The Atlantic Charter was signed by U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt (1882–1945) and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874–1965). They primarily called for self-determination.

Key Principles of the Charter

The document, which was not a treaty, stated that the two leaders “deem it right to make known certain common principles in the national policies of their respective countries on which they base their hopes for a better future for the world.”

The Atlantic Charter included eight common principles. Among them:

• The United States and Britain agreed not to seek territorial gains from the war.
• They opposed any territorial changes made against the wishes of the people concerned.
• The two countries also agreed to support the restoration of self-government to those nations who had lost it during the war.

Decision-Making in Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

Decisions made in intergovernmental organizations are typically reached in one of two ways:

• Unanimously
• By majority vote

Shared Location of Key International Agencies

What do the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Telegraph Union (ITU) have in common?

All three of these organizations are located in Geneva, Switzerland.

NATO Intervention in Kosovo (1999): Legality vs. Legitimacy

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) intervention in Kosovo in 1999 is often analyzed based on its legal status versus its perceived legitimacy.

Why the Intervention Was Considered Illegal

The action was considered illegal because it was not authorized by the UN Security Council (SC).

Why the Intervention Was Considered Legitimate

The action was considered legitimate because it was allegedly undertaken to prevent the ethnic cleansing of Kosovar Albanians in the semi-autonomous region of Serbia by Slobodan Milosević’s authoritarian regime. This was viewed by many as necessary intervention to come in help of a minority.