CUET UG Political Science: International Relations - Globalisation and Regionalism, WTO, ASEAN, SAARC, EU

Must?Know (15–20 detailed bullets)

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on 1 January 1995, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The WTO operates on the principle of trade without discrimination, embodied in the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause under Article I of GATT.
• The Doha Round of WTO negotiations was launched in 2001 with a focus on reducing agricultural subsidies and improving market access for developing countries.
• The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is a key WTO agreement that sets minimum standards for IP protection, including patents of 20 years.
• The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO, meeting at least once every two years; the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) was held in Geneva in June 2022.
• The European Union (EU) was formally established by the Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on European Union) in 1993, evolving from the European Economic Community (EEC).
• The Euro (€) is the official currency of 20 of the 27 EU member states, collectively known as the Eurozone.
• The European Commission proposes legislation, while the European Parliament (directly elected) and the Council of the EU approve it—this is the ordinary legislative procedure.
• The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985, allows passport-free movement across 27 European countries, including non-EU members like Norway and Switzerland.
• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was founded on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by five countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
• The ASEAN Charter, which gave ASEAN legal personality, came into force on 15 December 2008.
• ASEAN promotes regional peace and stability through the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), signed in 1976.
• SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) was established on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka, with its secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• SAARC has eight member states: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan.
• SAARC summits are held annually, but the 19th summit (2016) was cancelled due to India’s withdrawal following a terrorist attack in Uri.
• The South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) was signed in 2004 and came into effect on 1 January 2006 to promote regional economic integration.
• Globalisation refers to the growing interdependence of countries due to increased flow of goods, services, capital, and information, accelerated by technological advances.
• Regionalism involves cooperation among neighbouring countries to enhance economic, political, and security interests, e.g., EU and ASEAN.
• The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) accounts for a significant portion of its budget and aims to support farmers and ensure food security.
• The WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism is a rules-based system; its Appellate Body became non-functional in December 2019 due to lack of judges.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate — requires understanding of institutional structures, dates, and regional agreements, but facts are directly from NCERT and frequently tested.

Common CUET Traps

• Trap: Confusing the founding year of ASEAN (1967) with the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter (2008).
  Avoid: Remember ASEAN was founded in 1967; the Charter gave it legal status in 2008.

• Trap: Assuming SAARC has achieved significant economic integration like the EU.
  Avoid: SAARC’s progress is limited due to political tensions; SAFTA remains underimplemented.

• Trap: Believing the Euro is used by all EU members.
  Avoid: Only 20 of 27 EU countries use the Euro; Denmark, Sweden, Poland, etc., retain their own currencies.

Practice MCQs

1. Question: When was the World Trade Organization (WTO) officially established?
   A. 1948
   B. 1993
   C. 1995
   D. 2001
   Answer: C
   Explanation: The WTO was established on 1 January 1995, replacing GATT.
   Why others fail: 1948 is the year GATT was signed, a common confusion.

2. Question: Which treaty formally established the European Union?
   A. Treaty of Rome
   B. Maastricht Treaty
   C. Treaty of Lisbon
   D. Schengen Agreement
   Answer: B
   Explanation: The Maastricht Treaty (1993) created the EU from the earlier EEC.
   Why others fail: The Treaty of Rome (1957) established the EEC, not the EU.

3. Question: How many member states are in the Eurozone as of 2023?
   A. 18
   B. 19
   C. 20
   D. 22
   Answer: C
   Explanation: 20 out of 27 EU countries use the Euro as their currency.
   Why others fail: Some students recall outdated figures like 19, but Croatia joined in 2023.

4. Question: Which of the following is NOT a member of SAARC?
   A. Myanmar
   B. Bhutan
   C. Maldives
   D. Afghanistan
   Answer: A
   Explanation: Myanmar is not a SAARC member; it is part of ASEAN.
   Why others fail: Confusion between SAARC and ASEAN memberships due to regional proximity.

5. Question: The Appellate Body of the WTO became non-functional in December 2019 because:
   A. Members agreed to replace it with a new system
   B. The USA blocked the appointment of new judges
   C. It was dissolved by the General Council
   D. Funding was withdrawn by developing countries
   Answer: B
   Explanation: The USA vetoed new appointments, leading to insufficient judges to hear cases.
   Why others fail: Option A seems plausible due to ongoing reform talks, but the actual cause was US blocking.

Last?Minute Revision (15–20 one?liners)

• WTO established on 1 January 1995 — not 1994 (Uruguay Round concluded then).
• ASEAN founded 8 August 1967 — Bangkok, by 5 original members.
• SAARC established 8 December 1985 — Dhaka, 8 members.
• Maastricht Treaty = 1993 — created the EU.
• Eurozone has 20 countries — not all EU members.
• SAFTA came into effect 1 January 2006 — not at SAARC’s founding.
• TRIPS mandates 20-year patent protection — key for pharmaceuticals.
• MFN principle under GATT Article I — no discrimination among trading partners.
• Schengen Agreement 1985 — allows borderless travel in 27 countries.
• ASEAN Charter effective 15 December 2008 — gave legal status.
• 19th SAARC summit cancelled in 2016 — due to India’s withdrawal post-Uri attack.
• Doha Round launched 2001 — focused on developing countries’ concerns.
• WTO dispute settlement Appellate Body non-functional since Dec 2019 — US blocked appointments.
• EU has 27 members — UK left in 2020 (Brexit).
• European Commission proposes laws — Parliament and Council approve.
• CAP = Common Agricultural Policy — major part of EU budget.
• TAC = Treaty of Amity and Cooperation — ASEAN’s peace framework, 1976.
• Globalisation = increased interconnectedness through trade, tech, culture.
• Regionalism = cooperation among geographically proximate states (e.g., EU, ASEAN).
• Verify from NCERT: exact number of WTO members as of 2024.