CHAPTER 8-PART II: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY State Cooperation and Terrorism

Supranationalism  Supranationalism is political, economic, and/or cultural cooperation among national states to promote common objectives  Examples:  European Union  United Nations  NAFTA  African Union (AU)  Organization of American States (OAS)  Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)  South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)  Arab League

Political and Military Cooperation  The United Nations was created to prevent the likelihood of a third World War  It was created at the end of WWII by the Allies  In 1945 there were 45 members, by 2011 there were 193 (South Sudan was the last to be added)  The UN replaced the failed League of Nations that was created after WWI

The United Nations  The UN has had three major expansionary periods  countries were added –mostly European countries that had been liberated from Nazi Germany  new members added –mostly former British and French colonies in Africa  countries were added—mostly from the breakup of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia

continued  UN members can vote to send a peacekeeping force into unstable areas  Member countries send troops to make up the force  China, Russia, France, the UK, and the US (permanent members of the UN Security Council) have the power to veto a peacekeeping force Happened often during the Cold War

Era of Two Superpowers and Regional Military Alliances  In addition to the UN, many states also joined regional military alliances after WWII  During the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union were the World’s two superpowers  Before this time, there were usually multiple powerful states, none of which could dominate on their own, so major states joined together for temporary alliances  Balance of power- condition of roughly equal strength between opposing countries or alliances of countries

continued  After WWII, the US and Soviet Union were the only powers left that were not battered to the point of losing there power status  During the Cold War, the world was split into allies of the US and allies of the Soviet Union  Both superpowers created military bases in ally countries around the world  Therefore, they could maintain strength in regions not near their own territory

Military Cooperation in Europe  2 military alliances were formed in Europe after WWII –NATO and the Warsaw Pact  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was a military pact between the US, Canada, and 14 democratic European States  The Warsaw Pact was a military agreement among 7 Communist countries in Eastern Europe  After the Cold War, the Warsaw Pact disbanded and most of its former members joined NATO  Which offers its members a sense of security against Russian threats in the future

Other Regional Organizations  The Organization of American States (OAS) includes all 35 states in the W. Hemisphere  Cuba has been suspended since 1962  Promotes social, cultural, political, and economic links b/w member states  The African Union (AU) was created in 2001 and has 53 members  Tries to promote economic integration in Africa

Economic Cooperation  The need for a bipolar balance of power ended when the Soviet Union disbanded in 1992  We are now back to having more than 2 major powers—like before WWII, but with 2 diff. 1. Economic power becoming more important than military power—allows Japan and Germany to be considered powers 2. The leading power is not a single state, but an economic union in Europe led by Germany

European Union  Predecessor was established in 1958 with 6 members  Originally designed to help Europe’s WWII scars heal  Expanded to 12 countries in the 1980’s and now has 27 members with 2 more wanting to join (Croatia and Turkey)  Wants to promote development through economic cooperation  Removes barriers to free trade– goods and services and people can travel throughout the Union without stopping  Created a common currency (the Euro)  Has become the World’s wealthiest market

NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement.  The participants are the United States of America, Canada and Mexico.  NAFTA was implemented on January 1, 1994 and its main objective was to achieve open borders among the three countries for trade in both goods and services by January 1,  In theory, NAFTA should benefit all three countries because it will lead to international specialization, increase in trade and economic growth.

Terrorism  Def- the systematic use of violence by a group to intimidate a population or coerce a gov. into granting its demands  Terrorism attacks usually target ordinary people rather than military or political leaders

Al-Qaeda  Terror network founded by Osama bin Laden  Justifies attacks based on their interpretation of Islam  Believed to be living in Afghanistan since 1994  Issued a declaration of war against the US because of its support for Saudi Arabia and Israel  Al-Qaeda means “the foundation”  Created around 1990 to unite jihad fighters around the world—est. 20,000 members in 34 countries

continued  Network consists of a large number of autonomous cells who have little contact with other cells and other members of their own  Not all Muslims agree with the terror tactics of Al- Qaeda  Americans and Europeans have the challenge of distinguishing b/w peaceful Muslims and the handful of terrorists out of the 1.3 billion Muslims in the World

16 Children as fighters & victims Child enlisted to fight in Afghanistan Catholics run for cover in Northern Ireland

State Support of Terrorism  Several Middle Eastern states have provided support for terrorists—3 types 1. Providing sanctuary 2. Supplying weapons, money, and intelligence 3. Planning attacks using terrorists  Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran have all been accused by the US of supporting terrorism

Libya  bombing of a night club popular with US service men in Berlin  Bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988  Bombing of UTA flight 772 over Niger in 1989  After 8 years of UN trade sanctions, Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi turned over flight 103 suspects and agreed to compensate survivors of the victims

Afghanistan  After civil war began in 1973, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979 after fundamentalist Muslims rebelled against pro-Soviet govt. Soviet govt. in Afghanistan collapsed in 1992  Taliban (strict Islamic Fundamentalists) in control by 1995  Sheltered Osama bin Laden and other terrorists after the attack on the World Trade Center in NY  U.S. invaded in 2001 and Taliban was expelled but when the U.S. goes to Iraq in 2003, the Taliban resumed control

Iraq  1981-Israel destroyed a Baghdad nuclear reactor  1988-Hussein killed 5000 Iraqi Kurds by gas  1990-Iraq invaded Kuwait b/c Hussein claimed Kuwait was part of Iraq  1991-Gulf War  US claimed Iraq was supporting terrorism and creating weapons of mass destruction  U.S. invaded in 2003 and deposed longtime ruler Saddam Hussein while most of the world disapproved

Iran  Hostility with the US began in 1979 when a revolution removed pro-US leader from office and placed the Ayatollah Khomeini as ruler  In Nov. of 1979, 62 Americans at the US embassy were kidnapped and held hostage until Jan. of 1981  US has accused Iran of harboring terrorists and of trying to develop nuclear weapons

Pakistan  Pakistan has a mountainous region on the border with Afghanistan  It has been known to harbor terrorists (like Osama Bin Laden)

23 Facing new weapons of terror  Anthrax  Bubonic plague?  Smallpox?  Threats to major bridges?  Threats to nuclear power plants?  Threats to food supply?  Threats of “suitcase” atomic weapons?