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Legal Chunks
Discuss the concept of World Order?
World Order relates to the activities and relationships between the world’s nation states, and other
significant non-state actors, that takes place with a legal, political and economic framework. The aim of
these international activities is the promotion of peace and stability in the world. Term coined at end of
the Cold War.
Outline the evolving nature of World Order?
World Order is constantly evolving and must continue to do so as new challenges to resolve conflict and
maintain peace arise challenges include ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, civil war in Sudan.
Evolution of world order is also due to constantly emerging ethics, morality and values held by nation-
states and citizens. World order founded upon through multilateralism and state sovereignty,
interdependence and globalisation. Treaty of Westphalia 1648 ended period of religious war in Europe
and first multilateral cooperation – developed nation state protection and established state sovereignty.
Increasing awareness by political leaders in 19th century that the destructive power of new weaponry
combined with introduction of mass conscription and imperial rivalry could lead to war, which increased
importance of multilateral cooperation.
Describe the need for World Order?
International anarchy without order, bodies and laws that govern relations between states. Global
destruction may eventuate due to world conflict. Global issues such as warming may not be adequately
addressed. High level of interdependence resulted from globalisation increases the need for world order.
International conflict usually has a ripple effect e.g. lack of action in Syria caused Muslim rebel group ISIS
to perform crime against humanity against Shiite Muslims. Terrorist attack within country’s borders, mass
atrocities (genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing), etc. have immediate flow-on effect to the rest of the
world. Recognising threat posed by interdependence, states make efforts towards cooperation leading to
international law growing exponentially with higher degree of compliance – sign treaties due to mutual
benefit.
Explain the implications of the nature of conflict on achieving World Order?
Conflict poses destabilising effect and threat to world order where warfare has evolved due to advances in
technology combined with changing approaches to strategies – biological weapons trigger global
pandemic.
Interstate conflict refers to conflict between separate countries.
Conventional war: use of large, organised military forces such as Iran/Iraq Wars – become more deadly
through technology. Often fight in units with extensive amounts of equipment – need for world order
prevalent through advancements in technology causing new weapons such as bombs, landmines, etc,
Often expensive due to weaponry and expense of maintaining professional soldiers
Nuclear war: Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Aug. 1945 – use of atomic or hydrogen bombs
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 1968 prevents countries from acquiring of building nuclear weapons
from countries with such weapons including Pakistan, Russia and China – North Korea suspected of
building nuclear weapons in violation however difficult to investigate due to closed and separatist state
– closely governed and controlled by the UN and international organisations including NNPT 1968
Cyber-warfare: terrorists, criminals and states affecting Internet, defence systems, telecommunications
infrastructure, stock market, transportation systems may launch cyber-attack – difficult to determine
origin of crime however may be combated through INTERPOL
Cold War: 1947-1991 rivalry between world superpowers communist USSR and capitalist US in military,
economic, political and strategic matter, paralysed the UN Security Council and reduced the effectiveness
of the UN in dealing with world order issues
Intrastate conflict refers to conflict within states
UN Charter focused on interstate, yet today intrastate conflict is now prominent, requiring different
approaches such as peacekeeping
Civil war: basic definition of intrastate conflict - conflict between two or more sides within a country, for
example Sudan which resulted in the establishment of a new nation state, South Sudan – approximately
120 civil wars in the last 20 years, recent examples include Russia and Syria - governed by large body of
international law including humanitarian law governing conduct of warfare
Guerrilla war: requires little training and unsophisticated weapons such as farming tools – use of hit-and-
run tactics and element of surprise – harass enemy, hide, retreat and repeat pattern until enemy is worn
down e.g. the Vietcong against the logically superior US forces in the Vietnam War (54-75).
Wars waged by governments against their own people: dictatorial regimes often engage in systematic
campaigns of genocide, mass murder, and elimination of classes – James Huntley referred to this as
‘democide’ – when nation-state wages war on own people
Terrorism: deliberate actions intended to cause death or physical injury to civilians and to cause terror,
with the intent of coercing a government or other body to meet certain demands. May be due to religious,
