【Civics】International Society and Us: Learning How the World Works!
Hello everyone! Today, we are starting a new unit on "International Society." You might be thinking, "The world seems so far away—does it really have anything to do with me?" In reality, everything in our daily lives—the food we eat, the smartphones we use, and our peaceful daily routines—is all connected to the rest of the world.
In this chapter, we’ll use relatable examples to have fun learning about the rules that govern the world and the challenges we face today!
1. The Protagonists of International Society: "Sovereign States"
There are over 190 countries in the world, and we call these "sovereign states." It’s easy to think of a country as a "house."
The Three Elements of a Sovereign State
To be recognized as a country, it must have these three things:
① Territory (The house's plot): This includes not just the land, but the surrounding sea (territorial waters) and the sky above (territorial airspace).
② People (The residents): The citizens who live within that country.
③ Sovereignty (The right to make house rules): The right to make your own decisions without interference from other countries.
International Law: Rules of the World
To help these "houses" (countries) get along and prevent trouble, there are common global rules. These are called international law.
・Treaties: These are "promises" (contracts) between countries.
・International Customary Law: Long-standing traditions that have evolved into rules.
【Key Point】
For an island nation like Japan, protecting our territorial waters (12 nautical miles from the coast) and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (200 nautical miles from the coast) is vital for securing fish and natural resources!
【Common Mistake】
Don't confuse "territorial waters" with the "Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)." The EEZ is a zone where a country has "rights to fisheries and resources," but other nations' ships are not prohibited from simply passing through.
2. The Structure of the United Nations (UN)
The world's largest "meeting place" is the United Nations (UN), established in 1945. Its headquarters is in New York, USA.
Major Organizations
① General Assembly
This is like a "world-class homeroom meeting" where all member states participate (each country gets one vote).
② Security Council
The most powerful organization, tasked with maintaining world peace and security.
・Permanent Members (5 nations): USA, UK, France, Russia, and China.
・Non-permanent Members (10 nations): Chosen by election, with a 2-year term.
This is Important! The "Veto Power"
The 5 permanent members hold veto power. Even if every other country in the world agrees, if just one of these five nations says "No!", the decision will not pass.
(Think of it like deciding on a class trip destination: if one of five specific people says no, the whole trip is canceled. It's a pretty strict rule, right?)
【Memory Trick: The P5 Permanent Members】
Remember them like a chant: "US, UK, France, Russia, China" (in Japanese: Bei, Ei, Futsu, Ro, Chu)!
【Did You Know?】
The UN has many specialized agencies, such as UNESCO, which handles education and culture, and UNICEF, which provides support for children.
3. Regional Cooperation and Integration
Since it's difficult for the whole world to act as one, there is a movement to "start by cooperating with our neighbors!"
Key Groups
・EU (European Union): An organization where European countries aim to unite through economics and politics. Many use the common currency, the Euro.
・ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations): A cooperative organization for Southeast Asian countries.
・APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation): A group including Japan, the US, China, and other countries surrounding the Pacific Ocean.
【It might feel difficult at first, but you’ll be fine!】
It’s confusing with so many abbreviations, right? Just start by matching Europe with EU and Southeast Asia with ASEAN!
4. Global Challenges and Japan's Role
There are more and more problems that one country cannot solve alone. These are called "global challenges."
Major Challenges
・Global Environmental Issues: Such as global warming and marine plastic waste.
・Poverty and Inequality: Hunger and education issues in developing countries.
・Conflicts and Terrorism: Disputes occurring in various parts of the world.
Japan's Efforts
Based on the principle of pacifism (Article 9 of the Constitution), Japan focuses on non-military contributions.
・ODA (Official Development Assistance): Providing funds and technology to help developing countries build roads, bridges, schools, and more.
・PKO (UN Peacekeeping Operations): Dispatching Self-Defense Forces to conflict regions to help maintain peace.
・NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations): International cooperation led by private organizations (volunteers, etc.) rather than the government. Doctors Without Borders is a famous example.
【Key Point】
You may have heard of the "SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)"—these are goals set by the UN to work together to solve these problems by 2030.
★ Final Summary Check! ★
1. The three elements of a country are Territory, People, and Sovereignty.
2. The UN Security Council has 5 permanent members who hold powerful veto power.
3. The European integration organization is the EU, and their common currency is the Euro.
4. Japan contributes internationally through ODA, PKO, and private NGOs.
Great work! International society is a topic that appears in the news all the time. Keep an eye out for those "Aha!" moments when you recognize these terms in real life. I'm rooting for you!