Global balance of power

1914 to Present

1. Global balance of power
   1. Reduction of European influence
      1. 1940s to 1970s – mass wave of decolonization
         1. Europe deprived of its empires
      2. Nations become free
   2. The League of Nations
      1. Hurt by American Congress refusal to ratify
      2. Well-meaning, but impotent to enforce plans
      3. Accomplished a great deal of humanitarian work
      4. Attempts to maintain peace and don’t fight wars
         1. Countries sign Treaty of Locarno and Kellogg-Briand Pact – outlaw war
      5. Original charter
         1. collective security for member nations
         2. disarmament
         3. arbitration of international disputes
   3. The United Nations
      1. Responsibility for settling postwar problems
      2. Led by five Allied victors – US, USSR, Great Britain, France, Republic of China
         1. Permanent members of Security Council
         2. All most vote “yes” for substantive measures
      3. Established relief agencies and peacekeeping missions
      4. US took on many of the costs – leading superpower/wealthiest nation
      5. Structure of UN
         1. Security Council – New York – keeping peace
         2. International Court of Justice – Hague – Netherlands
         3. Secretariat – administration – New York
         4. General Assembly – debate – New York
         5. Economic Social Council
            1. UNESCO – science/culture, UNICEP, children
            2. ILO – labor issues, WHO – global health, UNHCR – refugees
      6. Nations join voluntarily
         1. Cannot pass laws, but raise issues and suggest resolutions
      7. UN responses to military aggression
         1. Diplomatic protest and pressure
         2. Economic sanctions
         3. Collective military action by member states
      8. Declaration of Universal Human Rights – basic human rights of all people
   4. The Non-Aligned Nations
      1. Nonaligned movement – 110 nations – 1961
         1. Mostly developing nations seek to cooperate on political, economic, culture
   5. Post Cold War
      1. One superpower – United States
      2. Alliances and coalitions constantly shifting
      3. China increasing in power
      4. New kind of war – terrorism against citizens of enemy nations
         1. Islamic fundamentalism led to September 11, WTC bombing