GEOPOLITICS THE BASICS Geopolitics examines the political,
environmental, social, environmental and economic interactions
within and between countries. Also describes how nations exert
their influence over their own people and over other nations in
order to achieve greater international power In Essence:
Geopolitics is a term used to refer to great power rivalries and
the geographical dimensions of global political power Simon Dalby
Ottawa University
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A DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE The geopolitical landscape is in a state of
constant change Several factors play a role in determining how
these changes take place including: Communication technologies High
tech weapons Surveillance techniques International trade agreements
Emergence of new political and economic strucutres (ie. European
Union) Resource development Globalization
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CONFLICT Often shifts in the geopolitical landscape are
accompanied by conflict within or between states It is common for
these events to make the news headlines Although all too common the
the causes, effects and solutions for each conflict can be very
complex Conflict Fishing. In pairs use the Ipads or your own
computer to find a recent geopolitical conflict event (in last
year) in a news article and briefly outline the following: Why this
event supports the definition of Geopolitics Who is involved Where
the event occurred What caused the event How you think the
situation could be solved/mediated
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STATE, NATION OR NATION-STATE?? State: A political entity,
institutional structure or organization. Must be Sovereign (have
ability to make own decisions ) Other attributes can include: A
defined territory of land A permanent resident population An
organized economy An interconnected system of financial and
infrastructure services (banks, transportation, communication,
power services) A form of government recognized by the
international community There are currently 206 declared states
around the world
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STATE, NATION OR NATION-STATE?? Nation: The word nation is
derived from the latin word natio meaning of birth Traditionally
Nation was used to characterize people who shared a common
geographic origin In todays more modern, complex society is most
accurately defined as: A large group of people who are aware of,
and share, one or more cultural feature such as; language,
ethnicity, historical experience, identification with a homeland,
customs, values, and religion. Nations my not be confined to
political boundaries Members of the nation view themselves as
belonging to a distinct group regardless of location Can be thought
of as a imagined political community as it exists in the minds of
its members. Examples include: Kurds, Tibet, Tamils
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STATE, NATION OR NATION-STATE?? Nation - State: Essentially
when you are able to wrap a state around a nation. Often misused as
a synonym for country There are over 1400 nationalities in the
world and only 206 states Can Canada be considered a true
nation-state? Several nation stated where created during the break
up of the USSR examples include:
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TYPES OF BOUNDARIES Negotiated Boundaries ie. Nunavut Disputed
Boundaries ie. Israel and Palestine or North Korea/South Korea
Evolving Boundaries many boundaries are becoming more permeable
information and transactions flow across boarders via communication
technologies. The function of boundaries may change as the
expansion of political and economic blocs shift us closer to the
notion of a borderless world Traditionally states grew larger and
more influential by attaining more land area Colonialism. In todays
society the trend is in for more smaller independent states rather
than fewer large ones
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TYPES OF CONFLICT Interstate War When two sovereign states
declare war on each other. Ie. Germany declares war on France in
WWII Civil War - A civil war is, simply put, a war between citizens
of the same country. Be it a division that falls along political,
racial, gender, geographic region, or any other lines, if it is
involves citizens of the same country who are at war with each
other it is classified as a civil war. Civil Wars generally are
fought for political independence (or dominance) of each side -
they may or may not result in a splitting of the original country,
but those wars where secession is a stated goal of one side (not
just an outcome) are generally always considered a Civil War. Ie
American Civil War (South wanted independence from the UnionThey
Lost)
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TYPES OF CONFLICT Revolutionary War - A revolution is a war
fought to overthrow or rid yourself of a government in order to
establish a new one. The old government may be indigenous, or may
be external (i.e. colonial). In general, the main point of a
revolution is to completely overthrow the existing government and
replace it with a native government, NOT to split the country.
Revolutions can be civil wars, but civil wars do not have to be
revolutions. Ie. Syria Ethnic War - is a conflict between ethnic
groups often as a result of ethnic nationalism and ethnic hatred.
They are of interest because of the apparent prevalence since the
Cold War and because they frequently result in war crimes such as
genocide. Ie Rwanda
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GLOBAL CONFLICT TRENDS Growing concerns that long standing
disputes or rivalries may escalate the conflict into serious
fighting Growing toward separatism, as distinct ethnic groups
continue to fight for independence Rebel groups have increased
control over lucrative resources such as diamonds (Sierra Lione),
oil (Iraq), metals (Congo) and drugs (Mexico, Colombia) which are
used to pay for weapons Regional warfare tends to continue or even
escalate without resolution (Israel)
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CONFLICT LOCATIONS Major wars, 1,000+ deaths per year Minor
skirmishes and conflicts, fewer than 1000 deaths per year
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CRACKS IN THE GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE Economics Global Power
Shifts Terrorism Ethnopolitical Movements Resource Demands and
Environmental Constraints
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HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER A LOOK AT THE UNITED NATIONS Following
World War 11 in 1945 the United Nations was created Its mandate was
to promote world peace and ultimately prevent the onset of another
World War Today the United Nations provides a forum for all nations
to discuss and debates issues impacting Earths global community The
UN headquarters is in New York City Each of the 192 members in the
General Assembly has the ability to vote for or against any mandate
proposed to the UN One Nation, One Vote! THE UN Explained
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UN STRUCTURE
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PECHA KUCHA PRACTICE In pairs put together a 5 slide Pecha
Kucha presentation to outline on of the following components of the
United Nations General Assembly Secretariat Security Council
International Criminal Court Economic and Social Council World
Health Organization (WHO) UNICEF UNESCO Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO)
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PREVENTING CONFLICT Intervention: the act of interfering or
mediating, especially by one state in the affairs of another. Two
main forms: Military and Humanitarian Military : a single of
multiple group of nations threatening to use military force or
coercsion to alter an existing conflict where political or civil
rights are being violated. Humanitarian: can be used with military
intervention. Intended to protect civilians from human rights
violations
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TYPICAL HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION International government
organizations NATO 1949 collective security alliance of western
states UN 1945 Humanitarian Non governmental organizations
International committee of the red cross Amnesty international
Medecins sans frontiers (doctors without borders)
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INTERNATIONAL LAW UN Charter law article 2(4) prohibits the
threat or use of force against another state How does one justify
their role in intervention in a conflict?
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CONTROVERSY In the 2000s, Western powers undertook military
interventions in three countries: Afghanistan in 2001 Iraq in 2003
Libya in 2011 In all three cases, military interference was
executed in a form not authorized by the UN Security Council.
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CONTROVERSY In Afghanistan, U.S. and NATO operations took the
shape of self-defense, albeit under the guise of protecting Afghan
civilians from the Taliban (certainly an oppressive and. The Iraqi
mission was carried out in the name of the search for weapons of
mass destruction. Allegedly, Saddam Hussein had gone to elaborate
lengths to build and keep weapons of mass destruction. His goal is
to dominate, intimidate and attack It was only later that President
George W. Bush augmented the anti-Saddam campaign with a
humanitarian component.
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PREVENTION RATHER THAN INTERVENTION IDEAS AND IMPLEMENTATION
FROM TORONTO Military intervention is invasive, expensive,
potentially violent and in most cases a last step to intervene in a
conflict that has escalated beyond a regional capacity to mediate
between involved groups. In recent years more focus (especially by
NGOs) has been put into how to diffuse conflict in sensitive areas
before the situation requires military intervention One NGO that is
actively doing this is the Toronto based Sentinel Project for
Genocide Prevention
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THE SENTINEL PROJECT The Sentinel Project aims to prevent
genocide before it happens Uses technology to acquire and analyze
data about the factors that contribute to the development of the
preconditions (cultural, social, political) present prior to
genocide events Mandate: The Sentinel Project is a group of
volunteers working on identifying communities vulnerable to
genocide and developing creative ways to counter specific threats.
Our work combines genocide research, information technology and
risk management into a single framework.
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INDICATORS/STAGES OF GENOCIDE Genocide is a process that
develops in eight stages that are predictable but not inexorable.
At each stage, preventive measures can stop it. The process is not
linear. Logically, later stages must be preceded by earlier stages.
But all stages continue to operate throughout the process
Classification Symbolization Dehumanization Organization
Polarization Preparation Extermination Denial
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CLASSIFICATION All cultures have categories to distinguish
people into us and them by ethnicity, race, religion, or
nationality: German and Jew, Hutu and Tutsi. Bipolar societies that
lack mixed categories, such as Rwanda and Burundi, are the most
likely to have genocide The main preventive measure at this early
stage is to develop universalistic institutions that transcend
ethnic or racial divisions, that actively promote tolerance and
understanding, and that promote classifications that transcend the
divisions.
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SYMBOLIZATION: We name people Jews or Gypsies, or distinguish
them by colors or dress; and apply the symbols to members of
groups. Classification and symbolization are universally human and
do not necessarily result in genocide unless they lead to the next
stage, dehumanization. When combined with hatred, symbols may be
forced upon unwilling members of pariah groups: the yellow star for
Jews under Nazi rule, the blue scarf for people from the Eastern
Zone in Khmer Rouge Cambodia. To combat symbolization, hate symbols
can be legally forbidden (swastikas) as can hate speech. Group
marking like gang clothing or tribal scarring can be outlawed, as
well.
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DEHUMANIZATION: One group denies the humanity of the other
group. Members of it are equated with animals, vermin, insects or
diseases. Dehumanization overcomes the normal human revulsion
against murder. At this stage, hate propaganda in print and on hate
radios is used to vilify the victim group. In combating this
dehumanization, incitement to genocide should not be confused with
protected speech. Genocidal societies lack constitutional
protection for countervailing speech, and should be treated
differently than democracies. Local and international leaders
should condemn the use of hate speech and make it culturally
unacceptable.
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ORGANIZATION: Genocide is always organized, usually by the
state, often using militias to provide deniability of state
responsibility (the Janjaweed in Darfur.) Sometimes organization is
informal (Hindu mobs led by local RSS militants) or decentralized
(terrorist groups.) Special army units or militias are often
trained and armed. Plans are made for genocidal killings. To combat
this stage, membership in these militias should be outlawed. Their
leaders should be denied visas for foreign travel. The U.N. should
impose arms embargoes on governments and citizens of countries
involved in genocidal massacres, and create commissions to
investigate violations, as was done in post-genocide Rwanda.
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POLARIZATION: Extremists drive the groups apart. Hate groups
broadcast polarizing propaganda. Laws may forbid intermarriage or
social interaction. Extremist terrorism targets moderates,
intimidating and silencing the center. Moderates from the
perpetrators own group are most able to stop genocide, so are the
first to be arrested and killed. Prevention may mean security
protection for moderate leaders or assistance to human rights
groups. Assets of extremists may be seized, and visas for
international travel denied to them. Coups dtat by extremists
should be opposed by international sanctions.
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PREPARATION: Victims are identified and separated out because
of their ethnic or religious identity. Death lists are drawn up.
Members of victim groups are forced to wear identifying symbols.
Their property is expropriated. They are often segregated into
ghettoes, deported into concentration camps, or confined to a
famine-struck region and starved. At this stage, a Genocide
Emergency must be declared. If the political will of the great
powers, regional alliances, or the U.N. Security Council can be
mobilized, armed international intervention should be prepared, or
heavy assistance provided to the victim group to prepare for its
self-defense. Otherwise, at least humanitarian assistance should be
organized by the U.N. and private relief groups for the inevitable
tide of refugees to come.
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EXTERMINATION: It begins, and quickly becomes the mass killing
legally called genocide. It is extermination to the killers because
they do not believe their victims to be fully human. When it is
sponsored by the state, the armed forces often work with militias
to do the killing. Sometimes the genocide results in revenge
killings by groups against each other, creating the downward
whirlpool-like cycle of bilateral genocide (as in Burundi) For
larger interventions, a multilateral force authorized by the U.N.
should intervene. If the U.N. is paralyzed, regional alliances must
act. It is time to recognize that the international responsibility
to protect transcends the narrow interests of individual nation
states. If strong nations will not provide troops to intervene
directly, they should provide the airlift, equipment, and financial
means necessary for regional states to intervene.
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DENIAL: It is the eighth stage that always follows a genocide.
It is among the surest indicators of further genocidal massacres.
The perpetrators of genocide dig up the mass graves, burn the
bodies, try to cover up the evidence and intimidate the witnesses.
They deny that they committed any crimes, and often blame what
happened on the victims. They block investigations of the crimes,
and continue to govern until driven from power by force, when they
flee into exile. There they remain with impunity, like Pol Pot or
Idi Amin, unless they are captured and a tribunal is established to
try them. The response to denial is punishment by an international
tribunal or national courts. There the evidence can be heard, and
the perpetrators punished. Tribunals like the Yugoslav or Rwanda
Tribunals, or an international tribunal to try the Khmer Rouge in
Cambodia, or an International Criminal Court may not deter the
worst genocidal killers. But with the political will to arrest and
prosecute them, some may be brought to justice.
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THE NEWEST TOOL - HATEBASEHATEBASE Hatebase because field based
data collection is costly, time consuming and only possible in
targeted areas an internet based tracking system has been developed
that allows people from all over the world to aid in the early
identification of genocide precursors It aims to improve the tools
with which the Sentinel group is able to parse and prioritize data,
whether from the field, from mainstream media or from social
networks.
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RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT R2P The responsibility to protect
(R2P or RtoP) is a United Nations initiative established in 2005.
It consists of an emerging norm, or set of principles, based on the
idea that sovereignty is not a right, but a responsibility. R2P
focuses on preventing and halting four crimes: genocide, war
crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, which it
places under the generic umbrella term of, Mass Atrocity
Crimes.
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RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT R2P The Responsibility to Protect has
three "pillars: 1. A state has a responsibility to protect its
population from mass atrocities; 2. The international community has
a responsibility to assist the state to fulfill its primary
responsibility; 3. If the state fails to protect its citizens from
mass atrocities and peaceful measures have failed, the
international community has the responsibility to intervene through
coercive measures such as: Economic sanctions Military intervention
(last resort)
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RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT In the international community R2P is
a norm, not a law, however it is grounded in international law R2P
provides a framework for using tools that already exist, i.e.
mediation, early warning mechanisms, economic sanctioning, and
chapter VII powers, to prevent mass atrocities. Chapter VII Powers
outline the UNs mandate to determine the existence of any threat to
the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take
military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace and
security. Civil society organizations, States, regional
organizations, and international institutions all have a role to
play in the R2P process. The authority to employ the last resort
and intervene militarily rests solely with United Nations Security
Council and the General Assembly.