Summary IGOs and INGOs
Lecture 1 Introduction
What is an international organization?
The traditional definition of international organizations:
"A formal, continuous structure established by agreement between members from at least 2
sovereign states with the aim of pursuing the common interest of the membership" or “a formal
institution whose members are states.”
Those organizations are called intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Ex. UN, the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), the League of Arab States (the Arab League).
IGOs can be multi- or general-purpose organizations, meaning they can take up any international
issue.
IGOs can also have narrow mandated and can only focus on specific economic or social issues.
The updated definition of international organizations:
“International Organizations are formal international social institutions characterized by behavioral
patterns based on international norms and rules, which prescribe and proscribe behavior in recurrent
situations and lead to the convergence of expectations on the international stage.” Or “Set of rules
meant to govern international behavior.”
Types of International Organizations
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
Members are sovereign states or nation states that join the organization voluntarily.
The purpose, structure and decision-making procedures are included in a charter or treaty.
Ex. UN, NATO, OSCE, EU.
International non-governmental organizations (INGOs)
Members are Non-Governmental Organizations: non-profit, private organizations that
engage in a variety of international activities.
They can be oriented towards a single issue or can have a multipurpose agenda.
NGOs define goals, provide information, give expert advice and pressure governments
through direct and indirect lobbying techniques.
Ex. Amnesty International, Greenpeace, the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Multinational corporations/transnational corporations (MNCs)/(TNCs)
For-profit firms that have subsidiaries in two or more countries.
They engage in transnational production activities that move goods and services across
national borders
They shift economic decision-making from national level (government) to international level.
In some areas of economic policy, governments have lost sovereignty;
o MNCs can evade taxation or government financial controls.
o They can limit government control over international trade.
o Their ability to move production constrains individual governments in regulation and
taxation.
Ex. Ikea, Shell, Philips, Google, Dell, etc.
1
Lecture 1 Introduction
What is an international organization?
The traditional definition of international organizations:
"A formal, continuous structure established by agreement between members from at least 2
sovereign states with the aim of pursuing the common interest of the membership" or “a formal
institution whose members are states.”
Those organizations are called intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Ex. UN, the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), the League of Arab States (the Arab League).
IGOs can be multi- or general-purpose organizations, meaning they can take up any international
issue.
IGOs can also have narrow mandated and can only focus on specific economic or social issues.
The updated definition of international organizations:
“International Organizations are formal international social institutions characterized by behavioral
patterns based on international norms and rules, which prescribe and proscribe behavior in recurrent
situations and lead to the convergence of expectations on the international stage.” Or “Set of rules
meant to govern international behavior.”
Types of International Organizations
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
Members are sovereign states or nation states that join the organization voluntarily.
The purpose, structure and decision-making procedures are included in a charter or treaty.
Ex. UN, NATO, OSCE, EU.
International non-governmental organizations (INGOs)
Members are Non-Governmental Organizations: non-profit, private organizations that
engage in a variety of international activities.
They can be oriented towards a single issue or can have a multipurpose agenda.
NGOs define goals, provide information, give expert advice and pressure governments
through direct and indirect lobbying techniques.
Ex. Amnesty International, Greenpeace, the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Multinational corporations/transnational corporations (MNCs)/(TNCs)
For-profit firms that have subsidiaries in two or more countries.
They engage in transnational production activities that move goods and services across
national borders
They shift economic decision-making from national level (government) to international level.
In some areas of economic policy, governments have lost sovereignty;
o MNCs can evade taxation or government financial controls.
o They can limit government control over international trade.
o Their ability to move production constrains individual governments in regulation and
taxation.
Ex. Ikea, Shell, Philips, Google, Dell, etc.
1
