INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. a) Give five ways in which international commodity agreements help

third world countries.

i) Stabilization of price – international commodity agreements help to fix the prices of Third World Primary Products on the world market, ii) Guaranteed markets – International commodity agreements provided the producer nations with guaranteed markets during the duration of the agreements, iii) Regulations of production/quotas – the international commodity agreements help to regulate the production of the commodity in quantities, iv) International commodity agreements help in promoting Third

World solidarity in international trade/unity.

v) The negotiation of international commodity agreements provides an important opportunity and forum for the producer and the consumer nations to articulate their positions, vi) The negotiation of international commodity agreements provides an important opportunity and forum for the producer and the consumer nations to articulate their positions.

vii) Improvements of quality of commodities.

b) Account for the failure of international commodity agreements.

i) Opposition from consumer nations – Many consumer nations are often opposed to international commodity agreements that guarantee high price to the primary commodity producers. So they do their best to frustrate these agreements, ii) Protectionism – Many developed countries impose protectionist measures against third world exports. This makes it very difficult for international commodity agreements to operate effectively. For example, the EEC restricts the import of may third world agricultural products in order to protect its own agricultural industry, iii) Disunity among third world countries – Third world producer nations are often disunited during negotiations and in defending the international commodity agreements. Each nation tries to maximize its benefits, but this undermines their collective interests, iv) Overproduction- Many third world nations tend to overproduce primary commodities. This undermines the effective operations of international commodity agreements,

v) The interference by non – member countries – international commodity agreements do not always include all the producer or consumer nations of the commodity in question. The non-member countries often undermine the effective operation of an international commodity agreement both directly or indirectly. vi) Competition from other alternative commodities eg. synthesis, vii) Political changes between the buyers and sellers/political differences / ideologies / coups.

2. a) State five ways in which the United Nations Organization has

attempted to promote world peace.

i) Peaceful settlements of disputes – The UNO has tried to promote world peace by encouraging the peaceful settlements of disputes in the world, ii) Application of sanctions – the UNO has attempted to promote world peace by imposing mandatory sanctions against countries that are seen as threat to world peace in an effort to bring them back into line, iii) Peacekeeping operations – The UNO has attempted to promote world peace by encouraging the development and application of international law.

1. Promoting of international law – The UNO has attempted the world peace by encouraging the development and application of international law.
2. Disarmament – The UNO has attempted to promote world peace by encouraging disarmament through its disarmament commission and numerous conferences on disarmament that is has sponsored. vi) Decolonization – The UNO has attempted to promote world peace by encouraging the process of decolonization and thus removing one of the major sources of world conflicts.

   vii) Development – The UNO has attempted to promote world peace by encouraging the social and economic development of third world countries through the work of its numerous specialized agencies

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   e.g UNDP.

3. Creation of general awareness – The UNO has promoted awareness in the world about peace.
4. Promotion of regional co-operation – The UNO has prompted regional cooperation in different areas between different countries.
5. Protection of human rights / refugees.
6. Authorizing the use of force to bring peace / threatening to use force.

b) What problems has the UNO faced in its efforts to achieve world peace?

i) Insufficient funds – The UNO lacks sufficient funds with which to carry out its work _l effectively. For example, it has often not been able to send enough peacekeeping forces due to lack of sufficient funds, ii) Veto power – of the permanent members of the Security Council.

These countries often adopt politics that promote their own narrow national interests at the expenses of the collective interests of most nations in the world as expressed in the General Assembly, iii) Ideological disputes – The work of the UNO in promoting world peace is often hampered by ideological disputes among member states. There is hardly any question of international importance that is not affected by ideological disputes.

1. The Arms race- The UNO has found it difficult to achieve world peace because of the arms race in different parts of the world. The arms race generates and sustains conflicts rather than peace.
2. National sovereignty – The member states of the UNO are sovereign

   states that jealously guard their national sovereignty.

3. Lack of machinery – The UNO does have effective power to

   enforce its decisions.

4. Regional conflicts- The UNO attempts to promote world peace has been frustrated by deep – rooted regional conflicts. For example, in the case of Iran-Iraq conflicts, viii) Voting as a block has frustrated the UNO efforts to promote peace, ix) Loyalty to other organizations – This undermines the strength and importance of the UNO.

3. a) State five objectives of the non-aligned movements

i) To safeguard the sovereignty of member states ii) To fight for the decolonization of third world countries iii) To work for the disarmament of super powers iv) To discourage military alliances promoted by the super powers.

1. To promote active participation in the UNO programmes / to support UNO.
2. To promote economic independence member countries vii) To promote neutrality among member countries

viii) To fight racism in the world

b) Explain the factors that undermine the activities of the movement since 1947.

1. Political instability experienced by member states has undermined their contribution to the movement, such as civil wars and military coups, which has made it difficult for the affected ^af states to participate fully.
2. Economic ties between the third world countries and their colonial masters has made it difficult for the member states to pursue an independent line, iii) Border disputes between neighbouring member countries has weakened their co-operation. For instance, border disputes between Morocco and Algeria, North and South Korea, iv) Economic backwardness of some of the member states has made it difficult for them to meet their obligations in the movement as national needs come first.

   v) Ideological differences between member states has undermined their co-operation whereas some countries are inclined towards the

West and others to the East, vi) Personality differences between leader states has undermined their efforts to discuss issues successfully, vii) Membership to other organizations such as OAU, Commonwealth and French community has made it difficult for some sates to participate actively in the affairs of the movement, viii) Break up of the Soviet Union has destabilized the movement.

1. The movement lacks a permanent institutional framework such as

   secretarial

2. Nationalism/ national interests have conflicted with other objectives of the movement.

1. Apart form China, name three permanent member states of UNO.

 i) USA / America / US ii) United

Kingdom/ Britain Not England iii)

USSR / Russia / Soviet Union iv)

France

1. a) State three member states of the commonwealth in West Africa?
   1. Nigeria
   2. Ghana iii) Sierra Leone

 iv) Gambia

b) Six ways the Commonwealth member countries have benefited from the
organization.

i) Member states have received technical know-how through the provision of experts and advisers in various fields eg. Agriculture. ii) The developing member states of the organization have acquired skilled manpower through ¹
the provision of scholarships and setting up training programmes by the developed muaber states of the organization e.g. Britain and Canada, iii) Member states have been able to interact with one another through activities such as commonwealth games and exchange progammes

/ cultural interactions, iv) Member states have conducted trade among themselves with relative ease and its has helped them to develop their economics,

v) The developed member states have provided financial aid to the developing member sates of the organization and this has promoted economic development among the latter, vi) The organization has provided a forum for member states to air their views with one voice on international issues.

1. The organization has promoted friendship and understanding among member e.g. the Commonwealth peace keeping force was sent to Zimbabwe.
2. The organization has promoted friendship and understanding among member states through conferences such as the commonwealth heads of government meeting.
3. It has enhanced the democratization process in developing member states of the organization through sending observers to monitor democratization eg. Kenya and Uganda.

1. a) Name three West African countries which are under OAU

   i) Senegal ii) Ghana

   iii) Nigeria iv)

   Mali

   v) Niger vi) Burkina Faso(Upper Volta) vii) Republic of Benin (Dahomey) viii) Ivory

 Coast / Cote D’vore ix) The

Gambia

 x) Sierra Leone xi)

Guinea xii) Liberia

b) Explain six roles which the OAU has played in Africa since its formation.

1. It has contributed to the liberation of African states from European colonial rule. For instance providing financial material support and articulating their demands in international forums,
2. It has promoted cultural interaction among member states for

   example the All African Games, iii) It has mediated in disputed among African states for example the difference between
   Morocco and Algeria over the West Sahara Republic.

3. It has promoted economic co-operations among members states for example encouraging regional economic groups such as

   Preferential Trade Area (PTA)

4. It has promoted peace among member states through dialogue. vi)

   It has provided research funds and activities in Africa.

   vii) It has promoted friendly ties among member states, for instance through meetings.

1. Name two agencies of the United Nations Organizations (UNO) which deal with the problems of health.

   i) World Health Organization (WHO) ii) United

   Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNCEF)

2. a) Why was the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS)

   formed?

   1. To promote economic co-operation among West Africa

      states e.g.

      agriculture and transport.

   2. Promote unity and solidarity among member states iii) Promote free movement of people among member states iv) Create a customs union in the region/improve trade

   v) Promote industrial development among member state vi) Promote cultural interaction among member state vii) Promote peace in the region viii) Promote economic independence among member states ix) Setting up a fund to finance viable economic projects

   b) Explain the factors that have undermined the activities of the OAU

   i) Existence of national interest among member states which override continental commitment, ii) Personal differences among leaders have made it difficult for some of them to come together, iii) Lack of funds to facilitate implementation of the OAU activities – as some of the member states do not remit their subscription regularly, iv) Lack of an army to enforce decisions of the organizations especially on critical and urgent issues.

   v) Interference by foreign powers / governments in some of the activities undertaken by the organization, vi) Divided loyalty- membership for other international organizations by some member states

   e.g. Commonwealth, vii) Political instability and the resulting refugee problem makes it difficult for the organization to operate effectively, viii) Attachment to former colonial masters by some member states. For instance former French colonies look to France for assistance, ix) Existence of basic problems within member states which require immediate attention e.g. famine, drought and diseases.

   1. Different political ideological among member states.
   2. Disputes among member states e.g. border disputes between Kenya and Somalia, xii) Lack of executive authority to enforce OAU decisions.

1. Give the main aim of the United Conference on Trade and Development

   (UNCTAD)

   To encourage / promote trade between the rich/developed and the developing countries.

1. Name one organization which has been formed by the organization of Africa Unity

   (OAU) member countries to promote economic co-operation among
   Southern Africa countries.

   1. Preferential Trade Area (PTA) of Eastern and Southern Africa /

   COMES

   1. Southern Africa Development Co-ordination Conference

   (SADCC) SADEC.

2. State one problem which faced the League of Nations.
   1. Inability to settle disputed between member states. ii) Lack of military strength with which to implement its objectives iii) Lack of adequate funds fit iv) Nationalist ambition of member countries / rearmament

 v) Lack of support and commitment by major powers eg. US, Italy, German and

Japan

1. Give the main reason why the League of Nations was established in 1919. To promote peace and security in the world / preventing a possible occurrence of another world war.
2. a) Why was the East African Community formed?
   1. To maintain a common market for the member states/promote balanced economic co-operation.
   2. To provide common services to the three member states, especially in

      the areas of transport ^Li and communication.

   3. To promote political cooperation between the three countries.
   4. Facilitate free movement of the people of the regions to foster greater co-operation and understanding among them.

   b) Explain 6 factors that led to the collapse of the East African

   Community

   i) Unequal distribution of services and accrued benefits from the organization by the member countries made Tanzania and Uganda resent Kenya‘s economic monopoly of the organization, ii) Ideological differences between the three countries, made them pursue different economic
   policies.

   iii) Individual differences between leaders made it more difficult for them to hold meetings that would promote dialogue and unity. iv) To coup d’etat which over threw Milton Obote undermined the unity that was desired for the survival of the organization. Nyerere refused to recognize Amin as the president of Uganda/political instability in Uganda undermined their unity.

   1. Use of different currencies by the three sates made transaction

      difficult.

   2. The fear that more Kenyans were benefiting from the community in terms of employment.
   3. Hostility towards nationals from member states.
   4. Financial constraints resulting from failure by member states to remit funds to meet the organization needs, ix) Lack of trust in manning community resources by member countries led to

      unlawful nationalization of the organization’s assets. Tanzania‘s closure of the common border with Kenya halted community

      activities.

   x) Personal ambitions of the leaders e.g. Nyerere, Kenyatta, Amin etc. xi) Too much power was placed on the authority of the community (3 Heads) lacked a defined policy / scope of co-operation (little agreement better leaders about the above).

3. Identify two factors that undermined the effectiveness of the League of

   Nations.

   1. Countries refused to take disputes to the international court of justice. ii) Germany’s aggression/Germany’s determination to strengthen its armed forces.

   iii) Harsh conditions against Germany after the defeat iv) National interest that pre-occupied individual nations.

   v) It lacked executive powers and authority to implements its resolutions vi) Refusal by the USA to join denied the organization economic strength.

   vii) Some members left the league e.g. Brazil, Japan viii) Shortage of funds to implement its function ix)

   The appeasement policy of Britain and France

   x) The covenant of League did not forbid way.

4. Identify one aim of the United Nations Conference on Trade and

   Development (UNCTAD)?

   1. To assist the marketing of primary products as well as manufactured goods from member of states/to promote trade between developing all developed countries.
   2. To stabilize commodity prices
   3. To assist in the transfer of technology from development to developing countries.

1. Give the main reason why the League of Nations was formed in 1919. To prevent the occurrences of another world war/to maintain world peace