P,S,IR & OVERLAP ROLE OF NON-STATE
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, Development,
HR, Power, Interdependence ACTORS- SHELL (MNC) ARTICLES
MNCs such as Shell tend to create a binding A key issue to explore with MNCs such as Shell is
interdependence meaning states struggle to responsibility. MNCs are only responsible to their
refuse the demands of MNCs (thus impacting on shareholders NOT the people of the countries they
state sov). MNCs can just pick up and leave- are operating in. This is part of the development
impacting a state’s economy. This links to their syllabus that looks at how NGOs and IGOs can
lobbying power, which they can use to sway hold MNCs accountable and regulate them. A
government decisions in their favour. This can good example of how MNCs have been recently
undermine the ability of states to govern in the challenged is obviously Shell with the Nigerian
best interests of their citizens, as they may feel Ogali community taking them to the Court of
pressured to prioritise the needs of corporations Appeal and now the UK High Court covering issues
over those of their constituents. about human rights and the environment.
Since 2011 Shell has (self) reported 1010 oil spills There is also a problem of oil theft and armed
totalling 17.5 million litres (approx 7 Olympic conflict over oil AND clean water in the Niger
swimming pools) but this is estimated to be Delta. Shell has cited this as a challenge when
MUCH HIGHER. This pollutes local drinking water, trying to clean up spills/ prevent them.
fishing waters etc…
,P,S,IR & OVERLAP ROLE OF NON-STATE
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, HR, Power,
legitimacy, balance of power ACTORS- Meta (MNC) ARTICLES
“Our investigations have made it clear that Platforms such as facebook legitimise
Facebook’s dangerous algorithms, which are authoritarian regimes in a whistleblower report
hard-wired to drive “engagement” and Facebook has been accused of giving the
corporate profits at all costs, actively fanned Chinese Communist Party access to Chinese
the flames of hate and contributed to mass user information in exchange for establishing
violence as well as the forced displacement of operations there. Even more directly, Facebook
over half the Rohingya population of Myanmar has been said to help the CCP develop their
into neighbouring Bangladesh- Amnesty. Meta surveillance tools and remove certain profiles of
contributed to severe human rights abuses in Chinese dissidents from facebook- HR.BAD
2017 by promoting anti-Rohingya content on its COOPERATION.
platforms. Facebook has been viewed by many as a key
The key issues and questions to consider with player in Trump's election in 2016 after
regard to MNCs and particularly media MNCs is Facebook employees were said to have been
who are they working for? Whose interests are specifically assigned to the Trump campaign,
they dedicated to? Often times this is profit teaching them how to use Facebook and Meta
driven such as Meta’s operations in China. platforms in the best way possible- targeting
groups of voters etc…
,P,S,IR & OVERLAP ROLE OF NON-STATE ACTORS-
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, HR, Power, ARTICLES
legitimacy, environment, Tesla (and ‘X’) (MNCs)
sustainability
Like with Meta and Mark Zuckerberg, ‘X’ and Elon
One positive, it could be argued, are MNCs’ Musk (especially since his growth as a political
contributions to innovative, new technology such figure alongside Trump) have shifted the balance
as electric vehicles (EVs) like Tesla- helping to of power. These men have more power than most
combat climate change and increase world leaders that were democratically elected,
sustainability. what does this say about democracy?
One of the key things Musk has done with ‘X’ is
loosen its content moderation policies in the This influence, as previously mentioned with Meta,
name of free speech and fight against goes further than the US with ‘X’ even having
censorship. This has allowed the spread of influence in the Voice Referendum (whether to
rampant hate speech, misinformation, establish an Indigenous Voice in Parliament).
disinformation and conspiracy theories. Musk Polling conducted 12 months before the
also has a clear political ideology that he is able referendum showed majority public support for
to spread further than most news outlets with the proposed constitutional change. But ultimately
over 150 million followers on X- he is able to the polls flipped and 60.06% of Australians voted
control the narrative and overwhelm the info “no”. X played a key role here with its “Vote no”
space and manage attentions. campaign.
,P,S,IR & OVERLAP ROLE OF NON-STATE ACTORS-
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, HR, Power, ARTICLES
legitimacy, environment, Shell in the Niger Delta
sustainability
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, Development,
HR, Power, Interdependence ACTORS- SHELL (MNC) ARTICLES
MNCs such as Shell tend to create a binding A key issue to explore with MNCs such as Shell is
interdependence meaning states struggle to responsibility. MNCs are only responsible to their
refuse the demands of MNCs (thus impacting on shareholders NOT the people of the countries they
state sov). MNCs can just pick up and leave- are operating in. This is part of the development
impacting a state’s economy. This links to their syllabus that looks at how NGOs and IGOs can
lobbying power, which they can use to sway hold MNCs accountable and regulate them. A
government decisions in their favour. This can good example of how MNCs have been recently
undermine the ability of states to govern in the challenged is obviously Shell with the Nigerian
best interests of their citizens, as they may feel Ogali community taking them to the Court of
pressured to prioritise the needs of corporations Appeal and now the UK High Court covering issues
over those of their constituents. about human rights and the environment.
Since 2011 Shell has (self) reported 1010 oil spills There is also a problem of oil theft and armed
totalling 17.5 million litres (approx 7 Olympic conflict over oil AND clean water in the Niger
swimming pools) but this is estimated to be Delta. Shell has cited this as a challenge when
MUCH HIGHER. This pollutes local drinking water, trying to clean up spills/ prevent them.
fishing waters etc…
,P,S,IR & OVERLAP ROLE OF NON-STATE
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, HR, Power,
legitimacy, balance of power ACTORS- Meta (MNC) ARTICLES
“Our investigations have made it clear that Platforms such as facebook legitimise
Facebook’s dangerous algorithms, which are authoritarian regimes in a whistleblower report
hard-wired to drive “engagement” and Facebook has been accused of giving the
corporate profits at all costs, actively fanned Chinese Communist Party access to Chinese
the flames of hate and contributed to mass user information in exchange for establishing
violence as well as the forced displacement of operations there. Even more directly, Facebook
over half the Rohingya population of Myanmar has been said to help the CCP develop their
into neighbouring Bangladesh- Amnesty. Meta surveillance tools and remove certain profiles of
contributed to severe human rights abuses in Chinese dissidents from facebook- HR.BAD
2017 by promoting anti-Rohingya content on its COOPERATION.
platforms. Facebook has been viewed by many as a key
The key issues and questions to consider with player in Trump's election in 2016 after
regard to MNCs and particularly media MNCs is Facebook employees were said to have been
who are they working for? Whose interests are specifically assigned to the Trump campaign,
they dedicated to? Often times this is profit teaching them how to use Facebook and Meta
driven such as Meta’s operations in China. platforms in the best way possible- targeting
groups of voters etc…
,P,S,IR & OVERLAP ROLE OF NON-STATE ACTORS-
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, HR, Power, ARTICLES
legitimacy, environment, Tesla (and ‘X’) (MNCs)
sustainability
Like with Meta and Mark Zuckerberg, ‘X’ and Elon
One positive, it could be argued, are MNCs’ Musk (especially since his growth as a political
contributions to innovative, new technology such figure alongside Trump) have shifted the balance
as electric vehicles (EVs) like Tesla- helping to of power. These men have more power than most
combat climate change and increase world leaders that were democratically elected,
sustainability. what does this say about democracy?
One of the key things Musk has done with ‘X’ is
loosen its content moderation policies in the This influence, as previously mentioned with Meta,
name of free speech and fight against goes further than the US with ‘X’ even having
censorship. This has allowed the spread of influence in the Voice Referendum (whether to
rampant hate speech, misinformation, establish an Indigenous Voice in Parliament).
disinformation and conspiracy theories. Musk Polling conducted 12 months before the
also has a clear political ideology that he is able referendum showed majority public support for
to spread further than most news outlets with the proposed constitutional change. But ultimately
over 150 million followers on X- he is able to the polls flipped and 60.06% of Australians voted
control the narrative and overwhelm the info “no”. X played a key role here with its “Vote no”
space and manage attentions. campaign.
,P,S,IR & OVERLAP ROLE OF NON-STATE ACTORS-
ESSAY Qs
Links to: Sov, HR, Power, ARTICLES
legitimacy, environment, Shell in the Niger Delta
sustainability
