International Relations & Global Economy: An Overview
The European Union and Spain
Establishment and Evolution of the EU
The EU was established in 1993 by the Treaty of Maastricht, following a white paper outlining its timeline. Key milestones include the 1951 Treaty of Paris, the 1957 Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community, the expansion from six to nine members in 1973, the inclusion of Spain and Portugal in 1986 with the Single European Act, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, German reunification in 1990, and the introduction of the euro for financial transactions in 1999.
The EU operates through a hybrid system of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. Decisions are made through negotiations between member states in certain areas, while independent supranational institutions are responsible in others, without requiring unanimity between member states.
Governance in Spain
Executive power in Spain resides with the Council of Ministers, headed by the President of the Government (Prime Minister), nominated by the King. After nomination, the candidate must secure a majority vote in the lower house. The President can also appoint various Vice Presidents.
Spain’s legislative power lies with the directly elected General Courts, a bicameral legislature. This structure leads to slight over-representation for smaller provinces.
Judicial power is exercised by professional judges and magistrates, with different courts specializing in various legal matters.
Spain is a democracy organized as a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy.
Global Inequalities and Economic Dynamics
North-South Divide
A significant gap exists between industrialized and developing nations. Three states—the US, Japan, and Germany—account for approximately 50% of global production, highlighting unequal production capacity.
Consumption capacity is also unequal, with developed societies placing disproportionate importance on consumer goods. This disparity extends to energy and food consumption, with higher per capita rates in developed countries.
Globalization and its Impacts
Evaluation 1: Interconnectedness and Power Shifts
Diverse countries, cultures, and religious areas are interconnected through substantial economic, cultural, and political relationships. Since the collapse of the communist bloc in 1991, the international power system has shifted from bipolar to multipolar, with various centers of influence and decision-making.
While the United States maintains indisputable leadership, most nations hold limited weight in global decisions. Few countries, such as Cuba, Iran, and North Korea, have resisted full integration into this system.
Globalization impacts cultural and consumption customs across societies. Access to, dissemination of, and exchange of information have expanded significantly.
The need to address global challenges has led to the creation of various international institutions and organizations.
The North-South Conflict
This conflict highlights the development-environmental challenge of achieving sustainable development. New dominance relationships emerge among countries, with economic, commercial, and technical mechanisms empowering a small number of developed nations.
Evaluation 2: Economic Globalization
Task 2: Trends and Organizations
Economic relations have been globalizing since the late 18th century, accelerating after 1945. Four main trends characterize the current economic system: growth of international trade, globalization of production, booming financial flows, and international integration of all parts of the world.
The global economy has benefited from reduced transport costs and the telecommunications revolution, enabling rapid interconnection between distant locations.
International organizations serve as forums for discussion and agreement on economic topics. Key examples include the International Monetary Fund (1944), World Bank (1944), World Trade Organization (1994), and the G-8, comprising the eight largest economies.
Regional economic organizations also exist, such as the European Union, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), and the Union of Arab Maghreb.
Task 5: Historical Processes and Resource Distribution
A gradual process of colonization occurred in the 19th century, with metropolises importing raw materials to Europe and the United States.
Wealthy countries are typically located in temperate zones, although human groups have transformed hostile environments.
Natural resource abundance is not essential for development. A gap exists between population and resources, with inhabitants of poorer countries lacking adequate resources for a decent life and even basic subsistence.
The global core consists of countries exporting industrial goods and advanced technology, while the periphery comprises countries specializing in raw material production and export.