Global Governance: political and economic

• What is the main evaluation question regarding the UN's effectiveness?

  Is the UN still effective and relevant?
• What challenges does the UN face in achieving its goals?

  Challenges of state sovereignty
• How many peacekeeping missions has the UNSC authorized since its founding?

  More than 70
• What actions has the UNSC taken despite P5 vetos?

  Agreed economic sanctions on Iran
• What significant impact has the UN made on poverty reduction?

  Extreme poverty has been reduced by half
• What inhibits the UN's ability to maintain international peace and security?

  P5's veto power
• When were the MDGs created?

  In 2000
• In which conflicts has the UN been powerless to intervene?

  Syria and Ukraine
• How has the UN's achievement in reducing poverty been described?

  Inconsistent, especially in sub-Saharan Africa
• What limits the UN's ability to protect international law?

  States not signing human rights laws
• What is the most powerful organ of the UN?

  Security Council (UNSC)
• How many permanent members are in the UNSC?

  Five
• Which countries are permanent members of the UNSC?

  United States, France, United Kingdom
• What is the role of the non-permanent members of the UNSC?

  They are elected every two years
• What does the UN Charter state about the UNSC's powers?

  It can impose sanctions or military actions
• What does the P5's right to veto mean?

  It can prevent actions even if others agree
• What is the role of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)?

  Coordinates UN development projects
• How many member states does ECOSOC have?

  54 member states
• What is the focus of the MDGs and SDGs?

  Reducing global poverty
• What is the role of the UNGA?

  Promotes unity for discussion on issues
• When does the UNGA meet to discuss issues?

  Every September
• What was the purpose of NATO's founding in 1949?

  Defensive alliance against the Soviet Union
• What does Article 5 of the NATO treaty state?

  An attack on one is an attack on all
• How did NATO act during the Cold War?

  As a deterrent to the Soviet Union
• What happened to NATO after the Cold War ended?

  NATO expanded its membership
• What was a consequence of NATO's expansion?

  Ignored Soviet security concerns
• How did NATO respond to the ethnic conflicts in the Balkans?

  Encouraged peace and stability
• Who claimed NATO expansion would inflame Russian nationalism?

  George Kennan
• What is NATO's role in relation to the USA and European allies?

  Ensures USA commitment to Europe
• What does NATO's expansion create according to critics?

  Tensions instead of reducing them
• What does Russia's annexation of Crimea demonstrate?

  Russia's predatory nature
• Why are the Baltic states particularly vulnerable?

  They border Russia and have ethnic Russians
• How did NATO's operations in the Balkans affect Russian relations?

  Increased Russian hostility
• What challenges did NATO face in Afghanistan?

  Out-of-area operations were too ambitious
• What did NATO do in Libya in 2011?

  Overthrew the Gaddafi regime
• What is the significance of NATO exercises like Cold Response?

  Deters Russian confrontation with the West
• What criticism does NATO face regarding its focus?

  Too narrowly focused on member interests
• What does NATO membership provide to vulnerable states?

  Protection under Article 5
• What claim does Russia make about ethnic Russians in the Baltic states?

  They are treated as 'second class citizens'
• Why is a vigilant NATO presence needed in Europe?

  To provide security guarantees for states