4.2.1-CLÁUSULAS ABUSIVAS.

example of an international cartel, even though the diamond trade is more successfully controlled. A cartel is a national or international organisation of producers who act in concert to fix prices, limit supply, divide markets, or set quotas. OPEC was formed at a conference held in Baghdad in September 1960. There were five original members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Between 1960 and 1975 the organisation expanded to 13 members with the addition of Qatar, Indonesia, Libya, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Nigeria, Ecuador, and Gabon. Currently, OPEC consists of 11 member states (Ecuador dropped out in 1992 and Gabon withdrew in 1995), of which Saudi Arabia is the most powerful. OPEC was set up to help unify and coordinate Members’

petroleum policies and to safeguard their interests.

During the 1960s, OPEC was unable to sustain the high oil prices of the 1950s. In the early 1970s, however, the situation changed. In 1969 the American-backed Libyan government was overthrown by a military regime led by Colonel Gadaffi. He stopped the high production of Libyan oil. Moreover, Libya stopped trading with the major oil companies. Other countries followed the Libyan example. More importantly, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War finally led to an agreement among OPEC member states to reduce oil exports to countries that supported Israel. OPEC began to lose control of the price of oil in the late 1970s. For instance, responding to the oil shocks of the era, states began to conserve energy and use it more efficiently and also rely upon alternative energy sources.

None the less, the future is not entirely bleak for OPEC given the growth of China and the United States.

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

Identify the factors that led to the rise of OPEC’s profile?

4.0 CONCLUSION

Almost every country in the world today calls itself a nation even if it is not so in reality;

and within such nations such as Nigeria one sees ethnic groups calling themselves nations thus practicing nationalism. Newly Industrialising Countries (NIC) is another popular term in international relations as the ranks of countries within this group grows.

Since the beginning of the modern state, the world has undergone different orders usually with the major powers dictating the nature of the order. Although in the 1960s and 70s

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the newly independent states of Africa and Asia successfully pushed for the institution of a new world order.

5.0 SUMMARY

In this unit our discussions have focused on N-Concepts like; nationalism, non-intervention, Newly Industrialising Countries (NICs), Non-Governmental-Organisation (NGOs), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). On O concepts our discussions have centred on OPEC and OECD.

6.0 TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENT

Critically assess the threat of nuclear proliferation to global security?

Critically evaluate the relevance of OPEC to its member countries?

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Adelman, M. (1995) The Genie out of the Bottle: World Oil since 1970. Cambridge, MA:

MIT Press.

Axtmann, R. (1997) Liberal Democracy into the Twenty-First Century: Globalization, Integration and the Nation-State. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Blair, D. (1993) Trade Negotiations in the OECD. London: Kegan Paul International.

Chafetz, G., Spritas, M., and Frankel, B. (eds) (1999) Origins of National Interests.

London: Frank Cass.

Drollas, L. and Greenman, J. (1989) Oil: The Devil’s Gold. London: Duckworth. Drury, S. (1992/93) ‘The end of History and the new world order’, International Journal 48: 80–

99.

Evans, G. and Newnham, J. (1998) The Penguin Dictionary of International Relations.

London: Clays Ltd, St Ives plc.

Finnemore, M. (1996) National Interests in International Society. Ithaca, NY, Cornell:

University Press.

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Garran, R. (1998) Tigers Tamed: The End of the Asian Miracle. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Gellner, E. (1983) Nations and Nationalism. Oxford: Blackwell.

Griffiths, M. and O’Callaghan, T. (2002) International Relations: The Key Concepts.

London: Routledge. www.csspoint.yolasite.com

Heller, F. (1992) NATO: The Founding of the Atlantic Alliance and the Integration of Europe. New York: St Martin’s Press.

Hobsbawm, E. (1991) Nations and Nationalism since 1780: Programme, Myth, Reality.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Howlett, D. (1999) ‘Nuclear proliferation’, in Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds.) The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Krasner (1978) Defending the National Interest. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Lawrence, R. (1996) Single World, Divided Nations? International Trade and the OECD Labor Markets. Washington, DC: Brookings.

Mearsheimer, J.J (2002), Tragedy of Great Power Politics. New York: W.W. Norton.

Ronit, K. and Schneider, V. (2000) Private Organisations in Global Politics. London:

Routledge.

132 UNIT 3: P & Q CONCEPTS

CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Objectives

3.0 Main Content 3.1. Pax Britannica 3.2. Peace

3.3. Peace-Building 3.4. Peace-Keeping 3.5. Pluralism

3.6. Polarity 3.7. Power

3.8. Prestige 3.9. Proliferation

3.10. Prisoner’s Dilemma 3.11. Quasi-States

4.0 Conclusion 5.0 Summary

6.0 Tutor Marked Assignment 7.0 References/Further Readings 1.0. INTRODUCTION

In this unit we shall explore P-Concepts which has the distinction of consisting of a major international relations concepts-power, preventive diplomacy and perception. The aforementioned concepts are indeed ones that any student of international relations will continually encounter in his academic career. Given that most of the concepts are theoretical/philosophical in outlook attempt have been made to simplify the discussions.

In this unit we have one important entry- the quasi-state. We will examine its causes and prevalence especially in the African continent. The failed state or quasi-state concept has become a widely used synonym for describing a state quite unable to disperse the responsibilities of statehood of which a majority are in Africa. The recent upsurge of failed states has guaranteed the concept wide currency in international usage.

133 2. OBJECTIVES

At the end of this unit, you should be able to:

(i) Enunciate on the nature of the concepts

(ii) Outline the challenges and obstacles to a successful nuclear disarmament in the contemporary world.

3.0 MAIN CONTENT