International Organizations

International organizations and treaties

Hurd, Ian. International organizations, politics, law , practice

1st ppp- Wednesday, January 17th

2nd ppp- Wednesday, January 31st

Final exam -→ Feb 1st last day

International organization – have a limited power

Supra national organization-not above other organizations, national sovereignty, lack of power, if they were supra they would have all power. Who’s responsibility is ?- individual states- their decision whether organization does something or not. State limits power

Theory – helps make decision making – how state acts

Tensions b/w sates and international org :  comply or not, financial aspects, money situation(complex)

How can Impact of IOs be assessed? In the light of the global village we live in, many actors that facilitate or make job more difficult(church, media, terrorist groups)-non-state actors- very important agencies for positive or negative change- have an impact on what IOs can do or not do

What is the true significance of a state’s consent as bound by an international treaty?

Capacity of nation state to comply with what they sign also has to do with reputation, credibility.

IOs- need to deal with State sovereignty- how to make states comply if they already have their own agenda, goals--- limited by this reality

-some states have mad rational decisions- deal international flows- only way I can do that is by joining force with other states. ( all central America together- nafta, cafta)

→ reduce sovereignty- no longer only your priorities but other countries too now- give and take

→ negotiations--- joining give credibility

History

• Prior to the 1800s there were not many
• Still important historical precursors
• Ex: defensive leagues set up among various small city- states in china, Greece and Europe.
• But, its really the rise of the modern state system( centralized decision making process)  along with technology that facilitates enhanced diplomatic networks , as well as organizations
• With rise of technology and transportation- possibility of organizations

→ Earliest modern precedents to today’s IOs:

The congress of Vienna: reaction to an overreaction of power, after Napoleonic wars. Come together to stop napoleon and to reestablish order and stability forum for international collaboration on Europe security and commerce

-restrict wars of aggression by France, they wanted to maintain balance of power

-create uncertainty that rulers would not be inclined to risk the use of aggressive force.- thinks things further, more prudent

Concert of Europe: the balance of power that existed in Europe from the fall of napoleon to the outbreak of WWI. This was a result of a custom, following the era of napoleon and French revolution. They would come together and decide by mutual agreement. Whenever some problem arose that threatened peace b/w European nations, allowed Europe to grow economically.

→ established to primarily prevent one nation from taking a major action in international affairs without consulting other nations first.

Created in response to the French revolution and napoleons’ rule.

Goal- maintain European peace, prevent further French aggression and uphold balance of power unto Russia’s military might, which posed a possible military threat.

League of nations:

President Woodrow Wilson considered its architect, established after WWI, having universal membership, predeceasing UN. UN embraces most of leagues principles and structures.

-outbreak of WWII ended league of nations . legacy lives  . didn’t invite Germany to participate – big mistake

→ post WWII era- massive proliferation of IGOs and other IOs

From the league of nations to UN:

Creation of UN system in 1945. Founder- victorious allies of WWII- met in San  Francisco , founded multipurpose IGO first envisioned by the league of nations

UN designed to be center of multilateral diplomacy in postwar word politics. Aiming at restoring peace and maintain security , establish friendly relations among nations , address economic , social , cultural and humanitarian problems , and to promote respect for universal human rights

Membership – 193 countries

Headquarters -New York

Six official languages

Un system structured around five principle organs

International org: Different types

2 types:

intergovernmental org: set up by states through multilateral agreements

NGOs – Non-governmental organizations

• Set up by non-states or by non-state actors
• Business or commercial activity as well as illegal activities are not recognized as NGOs

→IGOs are formal institutions comprised primarily of sovereign states( referred to as member states) or Other intergovernmental org

→They can be multi or general purpose organizations, taking up any international issues, such as UN

They can also have a narrow  mandate focusing on a specific economic , political , social or military issue, examples: ILO, WHO

Membership can be open to all actors or limited by some objective criteria ( ex. EU, NATO , conditionality)

NGOs

Formal entities, self- governing , private

Work independently of GOvts

Many NGOs have consultative states with the UN:

More than 3,00

Must have established headquarters

Must have democratic constitution

Non-profit

Not established by Govt

Many have specific philanthropic or humanitarian purposes