Chapter 12 Internationalism and Nationalism Chapter Issue: To what extent can internationalism effectively address contemporary global issues? Related Issue #3: To what extent should internationalism be pursued? Name:
Please read the topic on page 273 about Canada having more CLEAN FRESH DRINKING WATER then any other country in the world and then examine Figure 12-1 on page 272. Discuss the following questions together as a class: What is the cartoonist s message? Should Canadians keep their water for themselves? Or should they share their water with people in other countries? Most people get their water from lakes and rivers near their homes. What makes access to clean water a global issue? How might not having access to clean water become a source of conflict within and between countries? Looking Ahead In this chapter, you will look at and examine how effectively internationalism addresses contemporary global issues. The following issues will be examined: What are some contemporary global issues? How has internationalism been used to address contemporary global issues? Is internationalism always the most effective way of addressing contemporary global issues?
What are some contemporary global issues? (pages 274-277) Today, people around the world are more closely connected than ever before. TV and the Internet mean that people everywhere can communicate almost instantly. Problems that might once have concerned only a limited number of people can quickly become global issues - social, political, economic, or environmental challenges that cut across national borders and concern many people around the world. Earthquakes, like the one in China in May of 2008, killed thousands and left millions without food or shelter. Within hours, people around the world could see the devastation through globalization. Governments, NGO s and individual people reached out to help. As we become more connected around the world, we have also become more aware of the global issues that affect us all - climate change, disease, and access to water. These issues DO concern all people on Earth. Climate Change (page 274) Ocean currents and prevailing winds carry pollution from one country into the air and water of other countries. Pollution such as green house gas emissions, carbon monoxide, nuclear and toxic waste - that originate in one country can cause major problems in another country. Questions: (from page 274) 1) What is the Kyoto Protocol? 2) Did Canada sign it? 3) What did signed countries agree to do and by when? 4) What has Canada announced concerning Kyoto? Why? 5) What is Canada s environmental placing for those nations that belong to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development?
Why is the spread of disease a global issue? The Spread of Disease - (pages 275-276) Three diseases that have had devastating consequences in the past. What role does the international community play in controlling the spread of disease? In your opinion, is this enough? Explain your position. What is avian influenza and why does it pose a risk to human health? Are the WHO s predictions of a bird flu pandemic alarmist? Why or why not?
Access to Water (page 276) 1. What percentage of the world s water is estimated in Canada? 2. What is the result for most Canadians? 3. How many people in 2006 did the UN report did not have access to clean drinking water and sanitation? 4. How many children have died? 5. What do some people argue concerning water-rich countries? 6. Did Canada agree with or oppose this resolution? Control over Water (page 277) 1. What do countries control? 2. What three items can these decisions include? 3. What is going to be expected of water rich countries in the future? 4. What does the Canadian government discourage? 5. What do environmentalists fear? Why? 6. What happened in early 2008?
7. What did Adele Hurley say concerning the issue? 8. What do supporters say? 9. What do others believe? How has internationalism been used to address contemporary global issues? (pages 278-285) Suppose some people in your school regularly left garbage and their crap just laying around everywhere in your school. This would probably be an issue that you and others would like to tackle and resolve. But what if the littering was widespread and out of control. This would mean that the littering problem would be to complex for individuals to handle on their own. This situation would need to be resolved by the larger community. Like this example, there are unfortunately many real issues that are too complex for individual or even their communities to handle. Internationalism and Poverty (page 278) In 2006, the World Bank estimated that more than a billion people - out of 6.65 billion on Earth - live in absolute poverty. Describe the characteristics of absolute poverty from page 278 below : In July of 2007, Oxfam, an international non-governmental organization, and a network of about 80 aid agencies reported that 43% of Iraqis were living in absolute poverty. Many of their basic services were in short supply. Oxfam has identified many causes of absolute poverty. Look at this list on page 278 and consider the chart on the next page in your booklet.
Poverty often causes other serious problems. When people do not have enough money to buy food, they go hungry. When they do not have enough money to buy CLEAN drinking water, they may contact diseases from drinking polluted water. If they lack food and water, their lives and the lives of their families will be in danger. In circumstances like these, people MAY even go to war to get what they need to survive. Oxfam has identified the following causes and effects of poverty: Describe each of the following in your own words. Lack of Education Lack of Access to Resources Conflict and War Trade rules Discrimination
Internationalism and Contemporary Global Issues What is the issue? How have internationalists tried to resolve the issue? How successful have international efforts been? (1 = not very successful; 5 = very successful) Poverty Hunger Disease Debt
What is the issue? How have internationalists tried to resolve the issue? How successful have international efforts been? (1 = not very successful; 5 = very successful) Climate Change Human Rights Conflict Most concerning issue to YOU!
Is Internationalism Always the Most Effective Way of Addressing Contemporary Global Issues? (pages 288-290) In 2000, the UN established eight international targets - its millennium development goals. These goals included cutting world poverty in half, providing all children with AT LEAST a primary education, and fighting diseases such as HIV/AIDS. By 2008, it looked as if none of these goals would be reached by the target date of 2015. Should this be considered a failure? What do you think? International Trade International trade and economic globalization are often held out as the solution to the world s problems. They believe that trade improves everyone s prosperity and that prosperous countries are more likely to live in peace with one another and NOT go to war. The (WTO) World Trade Organization reflects this policy as it was created to promote and regulate international trade. According to the WTO, a system of world trade promotes peace by helping people in all countries improve their economic situation, settle disputes, and reduce inequality. But this view of economic globalization has been challenged. Please answer the questions below: Questions: (from page 288) 1. What do critics argue about the problems with the WTO? 2. Who does John Madeley say international trade rules benefit? 3. What happens under economic globalization, according to Madeley? What is the result of this? 4. What is Madely s view on free trade? Explain!
Internationalism and Nation-States (page 289) 1. What are people divided over? 2. Who is Joseph Stiglitz? 3. What does Stiglitz believe? 4. What is Stiglitz especially critical of? 5. What do these institutions require instead of loans? 6. What did Stiglitz say about the IMF in 2002? 7. Look at Figure 12-17 on page 288. What message was Yuss sending about the effectiveness of the UN s millennium development goals? Decline versus Shift (page 290) 1. What did Lester Thurow write about the power of individual nation states in his book Fortune Favors the Bold: What We Must Do to Build a New and Lasting Global Prosperity? 2. What have governments come to think of themselves in the 20th century? 3. Why is this power of governments disappearing?
4. Where are governments still important? 5. What are governments considered to be now in regards to the analogy of air traffic controllers? 6. How do some people view this change? 7. What did Jessica Matthews write in an article in Foreign Affairs in 1997? 8. What does Matthews mean by civil society? 9. What does civil society do in the view of many? 10. What do these links provide? 11. National governments are not simply... 12. What powers are they sharing and with whom? 13. What began in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia? 14. What do the most powerful states find? 15. What does Norm Chomsky believe? 16. According to Chomsky, who are moral agents and what can they impose?