LECTURE 1
What are IOs?
Formal institutions whose principal members are states.
How are IGOs created?
States often create IOs to help address collective problems. Such IOs are referred to as
IGOs because governments, which represent states, voluntarily join, contribute financing,
and make decisions within the organization. Their purpose, structures, and decision-making
procedures are clearly spelled out in a charter or treaty.
What is the traditional definition of IGOs? Explain why it is outdated?
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. The
traditional definition is no longer accurate because more actors are involved besides
sovereign states.
What are 4 important aspects of IGOs?
- Formal institutions
- Continuous
- Created by sovereign states
- Goal is common interest
What is the meaning of multi- and general-purpose IGOs?
General-purpose IGOs focus on a variety of issues that affect their members (the United
Nations). Multi-purpose IGOs have more narrow mandates and thus may focus on specific
economic and social issues (ILO & WTO).
What is the updated definition of IOs?
IOs are formal international social institutions characterized by behavioural pattern based on
international norms and rules, which prescribe and proscribe behaviour in recurrent
situations and lead to the convergence of expectations on the international stage.
What are NGOs?
NGOs are non-profit and private organizations that engage in a variety of international
activities. They can be oriented towards a single issue or have a multipurpose agenda.
What are MNCs?
MNCs are for-profit economic firms that have subsidiaries in two or more countries and
engage in transnational production activities involving the movement of goods and services
across national boundaries.
What are TNCs?
TNCs are commercial enterprises that operate substantial facilities, perform businesses in
more than one country and do not consider any particular country its national home.
What is the main difference between MNCs and TNCs?
MNCs have an international identity as belonging to a particular home country where they
are headquartered, TNCs do not consider any particular country its national home.
Mention three types of IOs and give and example:
- IGOs: United Nations (UN), The North Atlantic Treaty (NATO), The EU (the European
Union), and The League of Arab States (the Arab League)
- NGOs: Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders, and the
International Committee for the Red Cross.
1
,- MNCs/TNCs: Shell, Unilever
Why is international cooperation difficult?
- Self-interest
- Trust-issues
- Short term goals
LECTURE 2
Which movements are visible from the 17th Century onwards?
- Rise of the modern state
- Technological advances in transport and communication
- Industrial revolution
- The need for cooperation
What are the three conditions for international cooperation?
- Problem condition
- Cognitive condition
- Power (hegemonic condition)
Explain the three conditions for international cooperation:
The problem condition means that complex interdependencies push states into international
cooperation. The cognitive condition is the realization that interdependencies lead to
problems which can only be solved together. The power (hegemonic) condition refers to one
or more powerful states that bear the costs of the creation of an IGO.
League of Nations example: Problem (War), Cognitive (Treaty), Power (US)
What are the 6 factors that lead to more international cooperation?
- Industrial expansion
- World economic crisis
- Development disparities
- Human rights violations
- Environmental degradation
- War and power politics
Give an example of an organization that was created to help with standardization:
Transportation:
- Rhine Navigation Act (1815)
- Today: International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
Communication:
- International Telegraph Union (1865)
- Today: International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Social regulation:
- International Office for Public Hygiene (1907)
- Today: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Intellectual property:
- Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1833)
- Today: World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
2
, Name the oldest IGO:
Rhine River Commission (1804)
What is the Concert of Europe?
The Congress of Vienna (1815-1822) was created by the European great powers to re-
establish order and stability on the continent after the Napoleonic Wars. It was a forum for
international collaboration on European security and trade, and its main idea was that there
needs to be a balance between the major powers. The Congress of Vienna is also called the
Concert of Europe. The Congress of Vienna continued until Word War 1.
- Balance of power
- Presence of threat
- No formal agreement
- Relationship between allies: Enemies
What is the League of Nations? Why did it fail?
The League of Nations was the first global IGO with universal membership (1919-1939). It
was created after World War 1 as an international peacekeeping organization. The main
aims of the organization included disarmament, preventing war through collective security,
settling disputes between countries through negotiation and diplomacy, and improving global
welfare.
However, the League of Nations failed because of lack of US participation, Germany as an
defeated country, communist Russia, self-interest, the lack of troops, the Treaty of Versailles,
ineffective sanctions, slow decision-making, the Wallstreet crash (1929), and it eventually
contributed to the outbreak of World War 2.
- Collective security
- No presence of threat
- Formal agreement
- Relationship between allies: Friends
Around which three principals was the League of Nations based?
- Collective security
- Peaceful settlement of disputes
- Foster international cooperation
What is the United Nations?
The United Nations (1945) was created at the end of World War 2 as an international
peacekeeping organization and a forum for resolving conflicts between nations.
The UN replaced the ineffective League of Nations, which had failed to prevent the outbreak
of the Second World War. The UN is an programme IGO which sets norms and rules and an
comprehensive IGO to which any state can belong.
- Collective security
- No presence of threat
- Formal agreement
- Relationship between allies: Friends
What are the 4 main purposes of the UN:
- Maintain international peace and security
- Develop friendly relations among nations
- Address economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
- Promote respect for universal human rights
3
What are IOs?
Formal institutions whose principal members are states.
How are IGOs created?
States often create IOs to help address collective problems. Such IOs are referred to as
IGOs because governments, which represent states, voluntarily join, contribute financing,
and make decisions within the organization. Their purpose, structures, and decision-making
procedures are clearly spelled out in a charter or treaty.
What is the traditional definition of IGOs? Explain why it is outdated?
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. The
traditional definition is no longer accurate because more actors are involved besides
sovereign states.
What are 4 important aspects of IGOs?
- Formal institutions
- Continuous
- Created by sovereign states
- Goal is common interest
What is the meaning of multi- and general-purpose IGOs?
General-purpose IGOs focus on a variety of issues that affect their members (the United
Nations). Multi-purpose IGOs have more narrow mandates and thus may focus on specific
economic and social issues (ILO & WTO).
What is the updated definition of IOs?
IOs are formal international social institutions characterized by behavioural pattern based on
international norms and rules, which prescribe and proscribe behaviour in recurrent
situations and lead to the convergence of expectations on the international stage.
What are NGOs?
NGOs are non-profit and private organizations that engage in a variety of international
activities. They can be oriented towards a single issue or have a multipurpose agenda.
What are MNCs?
MNCs are for-profit economic firms that have subsidiaries in two or more countries and
engage in transnational production activities involving the movement of goods and services
across national boundaries.
What are TNCs?
TNCs are commercial enterprises that operate substantial facilities, perform businesses in
more than one country and do not consider any particular country its national home.
What is the main difference between MNCs and TNCs?
MNCs have an international identity as belonging to a particular home country where they
are headquartered, TNCs do not consider any particular country its national home.
Mention three types of IOs and give and example:
- IGOs: United Nations (UN), The North Atlantic Treaty (NATO), The EU (the European
Union), and The League of Arab States (the Arab League)
- NGOs: Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders, and the
International Committee for the Red Cross.
1
,- MNCs/TNCs: Shell, Unilever
Why is international cooperation difficult?
- Self-interest
- Trust-issues
- Short term goals
LECTURE 2
Which movements are visible from the 17th Century onwards?
- Rise of the modern state
- Technological advances in transport and communication
- Industrial revolution
- The need for cooperation
What are the three conditions for international cooperation?
- Problem condition
- Cognitive condition
- Power (hegemonic condition)
Explain the three conditions for international cooperation:
The problem condition means that complex interdependencies push states into international
cooperation. The cognitive condition is the realization that interdependencies lead to
problems which can only be solved together. The power (hegemonic) condition refers to one
or more powerful states that bear the costs of the creation of an IGO.
League of Nations example: Problem (War), Cognitive (Treaty), Power (US)
What are the 6 factors that lead to more international cooperation?
- Industrial expansion
- World economic crisis
- Development disparities
- Human rights violations
- Environmental degradation
- War and power politics
Give an example of an organization that was created to help with standardization:
Transportation:
- Rhine Navigation Act (1815)
- Today: International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
Communication:
- International Telegraph Union (1865)
- Today: International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Social regulation:
- International Office for Public Hygiene (1907)
- Today: World Health Organisation (WHO)
Intellectual property:
- Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1833)
- Today: World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
2
, Name the oldest IGO:
Rhine River Commission (1804)
What is the Concert of Europe?
The Congress of Vienna (1815-1822) was created by the European great powers to re-
establish order and stability on the continent after the Napoleonic Wars. It was a forum for
international collaboration on European security and trade, and its main idea was that there
needs to be a balance between the major powers. The Congress of Vienna is also called the
Concert of Europe. The Congress of Vienna continued until Word War 1.
- Balance of power
- Presence of threat
- No formal agreement
- Relationship between allies: Enemies
What is the League of Nations? Why did it fail?
The League of Nations was the first global IGO with universal membership (1919-1939). It
was created after World War 1 as an international peacekeeping organization. The main
aims of the organization included disarmament, preventing war through collective security,
settling disputes between countries through negotiation and diplomacy, and improving global
welfare.
However, the League of Nations failed because of lack of US participation, Germany as an
defeated country, communist Russia, self-interest, the lack of troops, the Treaty of Versailles,
ineffective sanctions, slow decision-making, the Wallstreet crash (1929), and it eventually
contributed to the outbreak of World War 2.
- Collective security
- No presence of threat
- Formal agreement
- Relationship between allies: Friends
Around which three principals was the League of Nations based?
- Collective security
- Peaceful settlement of disputes
- Foster international cooperation
What is the United Nations?
The United Nations (1945) was created at the end of World War 2 as an international
peacekeeping organization and a forum for resolving conflicts between nations.
The UN replaced the ineffective League of Nations, which had failed to prevent the outbreak
of the Second World War. The UN is an programme IGO which sets norms and rules and an
comprehensive IGO to which any state can belong.
- Collective security
- No presence of threat
- Formal agreement
- Relationship between allies: Friends
What are the 4 main purposes of the UN:
- Maintain international peace and security
- Develop friendly relations among nations
- Address economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
- Promote respect for universal human rights
3
