![]() In the context of global poverty, the logic flows that developed states have an obligation to help poor states because they can, with minimal effort. This stems from what Peter Singer (1972) calls the ‘rescue case’, noting there is an obligation for someone to assist an infant drowning in a shallow pond if the child can be saved with minimal effort or inconvenience. ![]() After all, it can be said that those with the power and ability to assist have a moral and ethical obligation to try and solve problems like poverty. Poverty matters as a subject for reflection in IR on many levels, one of which is a prominent set of ideas around global justice that considers what states owe each other in the process of international cooperation. As we start our scan of key global issues, it is appropriate to open this second section of the book by addressing an issue of this magnitude. ![]() One of today’s most pressing international problems is what to do about poverty and the approximately one billion people living in such a condition. In relation to poverty, globalisation raises the question of the obligation the wealthy owe to the poor and vulnerable. Here, sovereignty means that a state does not only maintain rights, it also meets its responsibilities. With respect to the emergence of human rights thinking, the premise goes that in the context of a common set of universal rights based on the individual, the sovereignty of the state can be challenged if a government does not respect or maintain these rights. But, sovereignty as an absolute concept that reinforces separation between states has been tempered through the many processes of globalisation, including economic agreements and the establishment of international organisations, as well as with the emergence of human rights thinking as captured through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Traditional approaches to IR are premised on the notion of state sovereignty. They are two dimensions in our world that are interrelated because they affect each other and influence both the willingness and capacity of states to ensure a stable global system. Poverty and wealth are often found side by side. This is an excerpt from International Relations – an E-IR Foundations beginner’s textbook. ![]()
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