PO102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Sadako Ogata, Kofi Annan, Global Affairs Canada
● UN General Assembly: “International Community has failed Syrians” - President of Iran
● “Canada and international community call on Iran to improve its human rights record” -
Global Affairs Canada
● Obama says international community needs to do more to combat threat of ISIS
● Obama: “what’s happening in Syria is heartbreaking and outrageous, and what you’ve
seen is the international community mobilize against the Assad regime”
Is there an international community, in terms of:
● Values / Interests / Political will
The “International Community”
● Does it exist?
● Who is part of it?
● Who isn’t?
● Whose values does it reflect?
● How does it work?
Does it exist?
● #1: Yes, according to Kofi Annan → he says we are bound by a sense of vulnerability eg
global warming
○ The International Criminal Court → institutions will prosecute criminals who
commit crimes against humanity, international community backs this (proof of
international community)
○ Mexicans collecting aid for Haiti (proof of intl comm)
○ Aid and trade (wealthy countries opening borders to trade shows international
community putting its weight behind goal of development in countries)
○ Peace operations (when countries are faced with civil war, international
community working in the sector of security)
● #2 Yes, United Nations = International Community
○ Their goals are wishes of international community
○ Argue that UN is space where debate takes place
● #3 Maybe, it depends… Sadako Ogata, UNHCR (1991-2000)
○ Said it was hard to pry funds from member governments, which showed her
there was no international community
○ Sometimes if there was terrible disaster, the international community would act
(but only in particular moments)
○ Exists, but as potential source of power to promote a common cause and
common action
○ Basically a virtual community (so controlled/impacted by how bad humanitarian
disaster is - determines whether we act or not)
● #4 Yes: West equals International Community?
○ Term: International Community (IC)
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Document Summary
Un general assembly: international community has failed syrians - president of iran. Canada and international community call on iran to improve its human rights record - Obama says international community needs to do more to combat threat of isis. Obama: what"s happening in syria is heartbreaking and outrageous, and what you"ve seen is the international community mobilize against the assad regime . Is there an international community, in terms of: #1: yes, according to kofi annan he says we are bound by a sense of vulnerability eg global warming. The international criminal court institutions will prosecute criminals who commit crimes against humanity, international community backs this (proof of international community) Mexicans collecting aid for haiti (proof of intl comm) Aid and trade (wealthy countries opening borders to trade shows international community putting its weight behind goal of development in countries) Peace operations (when countries are faced with civil war, international community working in the sector of security)
