2. What role do treaties play?

Activity 1 - What are treaties?

Activity Tasks

Define - What are treaties? Why do states sign them? Discuss with a partner and come up with a definition of your own. Then check against the definition in Slides 3 and 4 of the Lesson Presentation. Were you correct?
List - Make a list of as many international treaties as you can recall. What was the purpose of each one? Share your list with the class.
Search - What is the oldest known international treaty in the world? Quickly research this on the internet. What was it? Who signed it? What was the purpose of the treaty?
Discuss - How are treaties formed? Make notes on the process of treaty creation and the format of treaties from Slides 6-7 of the Lesson Presentation. Then explore treaty format by examining the UN Charter here.
Rank - Examine Slides 8-9 of the Lesson Presentation. In your opinion, what are the main reasons for why states choose to obey treaties? Rank the five causes in order of importance, then share your ideas with the class.
Argue - Review the three theoretical perspectives on treaties from Slide 10 of the Lesson Presentation. Which perspective best explains the role treaties play in global politics? Write a paragraph explaining your opinion.

Activity Tasks

Select - Get into groups or work as a class. Using this worksheet, each group should investigate a different international treaty. Choose between: NPT; START; UN Charter; Paris Agreement; Treaty of Lisbon; UNCLOS
Research - Using the internet, research and try to answer in as much factual detail the following questions for your treaty:
1. When was the treaty signed?
2. Where was the treaty signed?
3. What are its aims and objectives?
4. Who are its signatories?
5. What are its key terms and provisions?
6. What are its successes?
7. What have been its challenges?
Share - Share your findings with the class. You may like to create a simple visual or verbal presentation.
Evaluate - Having heard about the six treaties, which treaty has led to more interdependence in the world between states? Make the case for your treaty.

Activity Tasks

Watch - Watch this YouTube video introducing the case study about China’s and the UNCLOS. What is the disagreement about between China and the UNCLOS treaty?
Groups - Divide into groups or pairs. Each grouping should choose one of the following sources to investigate:
Mind Map - Using Padlet or a similar software, create a class mind-map exploring the China/UNCLOS conflict as a case study of treaty compliance in practice. Add details from each of the sources to build up your notes.
Review - Using your finished mind-map, review these questions:
1. What were the main aims of the UNCLOS treaty?
2. What are Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and what does the treaty state about them?
3. Why was China threatening to withdraw from the UNCLOS treaty?
4. Has China complied with the rules of the UNCLOS treaty?
5. How have other states reacted to China’s position on the South China Seas?
6. Has China complied with the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling from 2016?
7. Why do you think China hasn’t yet withdrawn from the UNCLOS treaty?