Chapter 7
International Organization:
The Alternative Structure
The Nature and Development
of International Organization
Types of International Organizations
Function
General
Specialized
Geographical
Global
Regional
Intergovernmental or nongovernmental organizations
The Roots of International
Organization
Belief in a community of humankind
Developmental stages
League of Nations
United Nations
Big-power peacekeeping
UN Security Council
Functional cooperation
Wide range of specialized agencies: Central Commission for
the Navigation of the Rhine (1815) is the oldest
The Expansion of IGOs
Quantitative expansion and expansion
of roles during this century
Reasons for expansion
Increased international contact
Increased interdependence
Expansion of transnational problems
Failure of state-centered system to provide
security
Effort of small states to gain strength through
joint action
Successful role models
Existing and Possible Roles
of International
Organizations
Interactive arena, where nations
pursue self-interest
Disadvantages of using IGO as an interactive arena
IGO becomes focus of struggle and not forum for
cooperation
Reduced support for IGOs if they do not promote
national interest, goals
Advantages of use of IGO as an interactive arena
Intergovernmentalism
Using IGO makes it politically easier to take action
Creator and center of cooperation
Cooperation on specific issues, often nonpolitical
Seek to build trust and solve social and economic
issues that transcend national borders
International regimes: Groups of IGOs, NGOs, norms
of behavior, and treaties dealing with a common
international issue
Create settings for interaction and cooperation
Independent international actor
Permanent administrative IGO staff
increases its authority and role
Role of mediation and conciliation
Organizational independence
Supranational organization
Regional IGOs: Focus on the
European Union
The Origins and Evolution of the
European Union
Economic integration:
A Common Market
European Economic Community (EEC)
European Atomic Energy Community
(EURATOM)
European Community (EC)
Political integration and expansion
of membership
The European Union (EU)
Maastricht Treaty
Monetary integration
Common foreign and defense policy
Coordination of policy on social issues such as
crime, terrorism, and immigration
Treaty of Amsterdam: further political and
economic integration
The Government of Europe:
A Prototype
Political leadership
Council of Ministers (Council of the European Union):
Weighted votes, sets policy
Bureaucracy
European Commission: Implements policy
President of the Commission
Legislative branch
European Parliament
Judicial branch
Courts of Justice, First Instance, Auditors
European Ombudsman
The Future of the European Union
Duality about further integration; several determining
factors
Popular support for EU integration
The EU Economy
Satisfaction with EU institutions
Political identity
Perceptions of Germany
Expanded membership
Global IGOs: Focus on the
United Nations
IGO organization and related
issues: General membership
Controversy over admitting new
members
Representative bodies
Usually some plenary representative
body (UN General Assembly)
Limited membership council
(UN Security Council)
Advantages
Disadvantages
Voting formulas
Majority vote: 1 state, 1 vote
Weighted voting by population or
wealth
Negative voting
Unanimity requirement
Veto power
Political leadership
Secretariat: Political selection
considerations
Role: Activism versus restraint
Bureaucracy
Size
Restraints on selection of Secretariat
staff
Dominant powers make appointments
Geographic and gender composition of
staff
IGO Financing and Related
Issues
The UN budget: elements
Core budget
Peacekeeping budget
Voluntary contributions budget
Dependent on assessment with little
power to raise support
Budget crunch
Growing cost of operations
Size of bureaucracy
Unwillingness of member-countries to
pay dues
U.S. debt cleared by Congress only recently
Criticism of assessment scheme: 8
countries pay 76 percent of costs
IGO Activities and Related Issues
Promoting international peace
and security
Creating norms against violence
Providing a debate alternative
Diplomatic intervention
Inquiry
Good offices
Mediation
Arbitration
Adjudication
Sanctions
Diplomatic
Economic
Peacekeeping
Neutral buffers
Military intervention
Arms control and disarmament
Social, economic, environmental,
and other roles
Economic development
Human rights
The environment
International law and norms
The quality of human existence
Independence
Evaluating IGOs and Their
Future
Standards
Ultimate goals
Progress
What is possible
Whether alternatives exist