Standard Grade
Modern Studies
International Relations: Aid & Alliances
Syllabus Area 4 – Aid and Alliances
Topic
Core Content
4.1 Aid
Issues facing developing countries
Types of aid
Reasons for giving aid
4.2 Alliances
Factors taken in to consideration
EU
NATO
UN
4.1 Aid
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Poverty
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Conflict
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Lack of democracy / Dictatorship
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Debt
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Population growth
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Poor health care
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Lack of infrastructure (schools, houses, hospitals, roads)
What are the needs of developing countries?
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Controlled population growth
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Improved agriculture and food production
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Better education and health care
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Cancellation of debt
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Better terms of trade (fair trade)
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Economic development
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Stable democracies
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Effective peace keeping
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What issue may face a developing country?
What types of aid are there?
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Food
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Cash
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Military
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Personnel (doctors / teacher / engineers)
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Machinery
How is aid defined?
•
Bi lateral : aid given from one country to another (UK to Tanzania)
•
Multi Lateral : aid given from a group of countries to a country (EU to Ghana)
•
Boomerang aid is the phrase often used to describe bi lateral aid as it can often be
‘tied’ meaning that cash may be given to a country but on the condition that it is
used to buy machinery from the country that has given the money in the first place
•
Aid can also be given by charities and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Why might countries choose to give aid?
•
Social reasons (feels a responsibility)
•
Economic reasons (help boost trade or gain something in return like access to
•
Political reasons (gain power and influence)
What factors are taken into consideration?
•
Is aid needed?
•
Have we got the aid to give?
•
Is the country a democracy?
•
Will this particular form of aid actually help?
•
Will the aid get to the people it is intended for?
•
Is the country an ally?
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cheaper exports of tea or cotton)
4.2 Alliances
Why do countries form alliances?
•
Economic reasons
•
Political reasons
•
Military reasons
What is the EU?
An alliance of 27 European countries formed after the Second World War to maintain
peace and economic stability across Europe
Why do countries wish to join the EU?
•
Better trade links
•
Freedom to travel, live and work in other EU countries
•
Protection of rights
•
Financial support
•
Protection
Would enlargement be a good thing for the EU?
NO
Expansion of trade markets
Less money to go around existing members
Cheaper workforce
Flood of migrant workers
Access to for new members to EU financial
Security issues
support
Opportunity to improve standards of living
Increased tensions
for new members
Institutions of the EU?
European Parliament (MEPs)
European Commission
Council of Ministers
European Court of Justice
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Yes
What about the Euro?
20 countries currently use the European Single Currency or Euro
Yes to the Euro
Make people feel more European
No to the Euro
Loss of British control over money
Make trade and travel far easier within the No longer have British currency – important
EU
Make the EU trading block even more
to Nations sense of identity
Confusion for public
powerful;
Is proving to be a stable and strong currency Concerns over if it is even a stable currency
•
Common Agricultural Fund (CAP)
•
European Social Fund
•
European Regional Development Fund
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What other areas of the EU should I be understanding?
What is NATO?
NATO is the North Atlantic Treaties Organisation. It is a military alliance formed after
the end of the Second World War as a counter to the threat of Communism in Europe. It
now has 26 members from both Europe and North America
It is an organization based on collective security through both political and military means.
NATO has had troops in Bosnia, Kosovo and NATO troops are currently trying to bring
peace and stability in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq.
Why do countries want to join NATO?
•
Collective and shared defense
•
Security
•
Co operation
Should NATO be kept?
No
Has helped to keep peace in Europe for 50
Cold War is over
yrs
Conflicts can still happen and communism
Cost
could still re emerge
NATO now has a new role in the War on
EU and UN do the job of NATO
Terror
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Yes
United Nations (UN)
The UN is an international organization of approximately 190 members. It was formed
after the Second World War to promote peace and protect human rights. All member
states are invited to discussions in the General Assembly. However, it also has a Security
Council which makes many of the major decisions on behalf of the UN. The Security
Council has 5 permanent members (USA, France, China, Russia and the UK) and 10 non
permanent or rotating members. Each permanent member has a veto over any decisions the
Security Council makes.
What is the role of the UN?
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Peacekeeping
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Humanitarian assistance
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Promoting and protecting human rights
•
Conflict resolution
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UNICEF
•
WHO
•
FAO
•
UNESCO
•
ILO
What problems face the UN in 2009?
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New dimension to global security created by international terrorism
•
Cost of peacekeeping especially given how many member states are in debt to the
UN (for example the USA)
•
Criticism of the abuse of the UN by the USA
•
Issues with rebellion. Countries may follow the example of the USA and UK and
ignore the UN
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Poor reputation of peace keeping actions (Rwanda / Somalia and now Darfur)
•
Criticism that the permanent Security Council discriminates against many parts of
the world most noticeably Africa and South America – no representation
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What are the key agencies of the UN?
Additional notes
These notes are really to provide the structure for your revision and must be supported
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with your own notes and up to date examples
Remember the Grade 1s, 2s and 3s go to candidates who have done more than memorise
simple lists. You must understand what you are writing about and the PEEL structure helps
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you to demonstrate this understanding to the marker