Key Concepts in International Relations and Global Governance

Largest EU Enlargement: The 2004 Expansion

The largest enlargement of the European Union was the 2004 expansion. The countries that joined the organization were:

• Malta
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Poland
• Czech Republic
• Hungary
• Slovenia
• Slovakia

China's Role in Global Politics: The 1971 Shift

The year 1971 represented a new beginning for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in global politics because the PRC took the permanent seat of Taiwan (Republic of China) in the UN Security Council (UNSC), thereby acquiring Veto power.

Defining the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is an important forum for security dialogue in Asia. ASEAN stands for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The ARF draws together 27 members that have a bearing on the security of the Asia-Pacific region.

Key Failures of the League of Nations

The League of Nations faced several critical failures that undermined its effectiveness:

• Failure to prevent the outbreak of World War II.
• Inability to respond effectively to the economic depression of the 1930s.
• Failure to act when Japan invaded Manchuria (1931).
• The Council’s delayed response to Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia (1935).
• Failure to intervene in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939).
• Failure to oppose Hitler’s remilitarization of the Rhineland and his subsequent occupation of Austria and Czechoslovakia (1936–1938).

Hans Morgenthau: Father of Political Realism

The quote, “Politics is governed by objective laws that have their roots in human nature,” is attributed to Hans Morgenthau. He was one of the leading twentieth-century figures in the study of International Relations (IR) and made landmark contributions to IR theory and international law. He is widely considered one of the principal founders of Classical Realism.

The 1945 San Francisco Conference Outcome

The primary outcome of the San Francisco Conference (held from April 25 to June 26, 1945) was the ratification of the UN Charter.

UN Charter Chapter VII: Scope of Action

Chapter VII of the UN Charter outlines the provisions for “Action with respect to threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, and acts of aggression.”

Chapter VII Invocation During the Cold War Era

Chapter VII of the UN Security Council was invoked during two major conflicts spanning the Cold War era:

• The Korean War (1950–1953)
• The First Gulf War (1990–1991)

Classification of International Courts and Tribunals

International courts and tribunals can be classified into several categories, each with a distinct scope and jurisdiction:

• Universal Scope: Courts covering global jurisdiction. Example: International Court of Justice (ICJ).
• Specialized Tribunals: Focus on specific areas like human rights. Examples: African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights; Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
• Ad Hoc Criminal Tribunals: Established for specific conflicts or situations. Example: International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
• Regional Courts: Courts operating within defined geographical regions. Examples: African Court of Justice; Economic Community of West African States Court of Justice.
• Private International Arbitration: Mechanisms for resolving disputes outside state courts. Example: London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).