Ultimate Summary Lectures | IGOs and INGOs- World Citizenry at Work
Lecture 1 | IGOs and INGOs - World Citizenry at Work
What are International Organisations?
Definition of IOs: ‘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’(Archer)
Example: Unicef, European Union
More actors involved than the state
Updated definition of IOs: IOs are formal international institutions based on
norms and rules. Agreed upon with members which prescribe behaviour in
recurrent situations and lead to convergence of expectations on the international
stage. Set of rules meant to govern international behaviour.
The deciding role of states
The “More, Mobility and Mentality” Revolution (Naim, 2013)
Global issues require global solutions: cooperation
Transnational actors: Types of international organisations (IOs)
IOs include
- Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)
- International non-governmental organisations (INGOs)
- Multinational companies (MNCs)
Transnational actors: IGOs
Members: sovereign states that join the organization voluntarily
Systems that constrain members’ behaviour (rules and behaviour)
Structures for political communication (between different actors)
Formal aspect: a charter or treaty
Example: UN, NATO, OSCE, EU
Transnational actors: INGOs
Members are Non-Governmental Organisations: non-profit organizations that
engage in a variety of international activities
Provide information, give expert advice
Pressure governments and IGOs through direct and indirect lobbying
Example: OXFAM, Save the Children
Transnational actors: Multinational corporations (MNCs)
For-profit firms that have subsidiaries I two or more countries and have
transnational production
Complex interaction between governments and MNCs
- In some areas of economic policy, governments have lost sovereignty
- MNCs can evade taxation or government financial controls
But.. It is not all bad
,Lecture 2 | IGOs and INGOs – World Citizenry at Work
Looking back at history
What is the pattern for the creation of IGOs?
History of international corporation
IGOs are a 20th century phenomenon
- No political institutionalised alliances in the 19th century as such
Industrialisation (18th/19th century)
- Increased economic links and interdependence
Increased need for regulations – why?
Early forms of corporation:
- Rhine Navigation Act (1815): today International Maritime Organisation
- International Bureau for Weights and Measures (1875)
- International Office for Public Hygiene (1907): today World Health
Organisation
Conditions for the creation of IGOs
1. Problem condition: there has to be a problem and that needs to be solved
(interdependence)
2. Cognitive condition: states realise that this problem can only be dealt with
corporation
3. Hegemonic condition: one state has a lot more power than other states
Six factors leading to more international cooperation:
Industrial expansion
War and power politics
World economic crisis
Development disparities
Human rights violations
Environmental degradation
Example: Industrial Revolution
Problem condition
- Industrial Revolution – interdependence in creased
Cognitive condition
- Clearly recognised
- In the interest of industrialising countries
Hegemonic condition
- Great Britain willing to sustain organisations
Example: war and power politics
“Only a peace between equals can last” by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, 1917
,The Concert of Europe
Background
- 1814-1815: Congress of Vienna
- The first attempts at creating an IGO but NOT institutionalized
- Main idea: the major European powers would jointly secure peace and
cooperation amongst each other (3 conditions?)
Why is it important?
- Introduced the idea of peaceful conflict resolution
- Multilateralism – “balance of power”
- A growing sense of interdependence: a community of interest
- Rules and customs for collective diplomacy established
Why it failed? WWI
The League of Nations
Background
- The first permanent international organization of a political nature
- Established after WWI in 1919 by 42 states
3 conditions
- “Never again” (problem)
- International institutions needed to prevent war (recognition)
- USA (President Woodrow Wilson) as hegemonic initiator (power)
Why is it important?
- Collective security
- Peaceful settlement of disputes (mediation, negotiation, arbitration)
- International cooperation in the economic and social realms
Why it failed?
Issues related to the structure of the League:
- USA (isolationism)
- Major players were not invited (Russia and Germany)
- Slow and ineffective decision-making
- Lack of troops to enforce measures
External issues:
- Wall Street Crash 1929: economic depression and unemployment in Europe
- Rise of dictators
- Self-interest of the states dominated (WWII)
, The United Nations
Background
- Created at the end of WWII
- 1945: UN Charter signed (51 members then, today 193+2)
- Ban on the use of force – sovereign equality of states
- Founded on the idea of collective security
3 conditions
- “Never again” (problem)
- International institutions needed to prevent war (recognition)
- USA (President Woodrow Wilson) as hegemonic initiator (power)
Why is it important? – 4 central powers (inspired by The League of Nations to
improve them)
- To maintain international peace and security
- To develop friendly relations among nations
- To address economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems
- To promote respect for universal human rights
What is the pattern?
States organize into IGOs after grand scale wars and humanitarian disasters
in order to prevent them from happening again
But their failure precedes such wars/humanitarian disasters (WWI, WWII)
IGOs nowadays
Examples: EU, OIC, ASEAN, IMF, OPEC
Classification of IGOs: Membership & Competences
According to Membership:
Open membership
- UN
Restricted membership
- EU, OPEC, due to geography, economy, culture
According to Competences:
Comprehensive
- UN and EU
Limited
- Specialized agencies of the UN: ILO, FAO
- Special organizations: European Space Agency (ESA)
Lecture 1 | IGOs and INGOs - World Citizenry at Work
What are International Organisations?
Definition of IOs: ‘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’(Archer)
Example: Unicef, European Union
More actors involved than the state
Updated definition of IOs: IOs are formal international institutions based on
norms and rules. Agreed upon with members which prescribe behaviour in
recurrent situations and lead to convergence of expectations on the international
stage. Set of rules meant to govern international behaviour.
The deciding role of states
The “More, Mobility and Mentality” Revolution (Naim, 2013)
Global issues require global solutions: cooperation
Transnational actors: Types of international organisations (IOs)
IOs include
- Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)
- International non-governmental organisations (INGOs)
- Multinational companies (MNCs)
Transnational actors: IGOs
Members: sovereign states that join the organization voluntarily
Systems that constrain members’ behaviour (rules and behaviour)
Structures for political communication (between different actors)
Formal aspect: a charter or treaty
Example: UN, NATO, OSCE, EU
Transnational actors: INGOs
Members are Non-Governmental Organisations: non-profit organizations that
engage in a variety of international activities
Provide information, give expert advice
Pressure governments and IGOs through direct and indirect lobbying
Example: OXFAM, Save the Children
Transnational actors: Multinational corporations (MNCs)
For-profit firms that have subsidiaries I two or more countries and have
transnational production
Complex interaction between governments and MNCs
- In some areas of economic policy, governments have lost sovereignty
- MNCs can evade taxation or government financial controls
But.. It is not all bad
,Lecture 2 | IGOs and INGOs – World Citizenry at Work
Looking back at history
What is the pattern for the creation of IGOs?
History of international corporation
IGOs are a 20th century phenomenon
- No political institutionalised alliances in the 19th century as such
Industrialisation (18th/19th century)
- Increased economic links and interdependence
Increased need for regulations – why?
Early forms of corporation:
- Rhine Navigation Act (1815): today International Maritime Organisation
- International Bureau for Weights and Measures (1875)
- International Office for Public Hygiene (1907): today World Health
Organisation
Conditions for the creation of IGOs
1. Problem condition: there has to be a problem and that needs to be solved
(interdependence)
2. Cognitive condition: states realise that this problem can only be dealt with
corporation
3. Hegemonic condition: one state has a lot more power than other states
Six factors leading to more international cooperation:
Industrial expansion
War and power politics
World economic crisis
Development disparities
Human rights violations
Environmental degradation
Example: Industrial Revolution
Problem condition
- Industrial Revolution – interdependence in creased
Cognitive condition
- Clearly recognised
- In the interest of industrialising countries
Hegemonic condition
- Great Britain willing to sustain organisations
Example: war and power politics
“Only a peace between equals can last” by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, 1917
,The Concert of Europe
Background
- 1814-1815: Congress of Vienna
- The first attempts at creating an IGO but NOT institutionalized
- Main idea: the major European powers would jointly secure peace and
cooperation amongst each other (3 conditions?)
Why is it important?
- Introduced the idea of peaceful conflict resolution
- Multilateralism – “balance of power”
- A growing sense of interdependence: a community of interest
- Rules and customs for collective diplomacy established
Why it failed? WWI
The League of Nations
Background
- The first permanent international organization of a political nature
- Established after WWI in 1919 by 42 states
3 conditions
- “Never again” (problem)
- International institutions needed to prevent war (recognition)
- USA (President Woodrow Wilson) as hegemonic initiator (power)
Why is it important?
- Collective security
- Peaceful settlement of disputes (mediation, negotiation, arbitration)
- International cooperation in the economic and social realms
Why it failed?
Issues related to the structure of the League:
- USA (isolationism)
- Major players were not invited (Russia and Germany)
- Slow and ineffective decision-making
- Lack of troops to enforce measures
External issues:
- Wall Street Crash 1929: economic depression and unemployment in Europe
- Rise of dictators
- Self-interest of the states dominated (WWII)
, The United Nations
Background
- Created at the end of WWII
- 1945: UN Charter signed (51 members then, today 193+2)
- Ban on the use of force – sovereign equality of states
- Founded on the idea of collective security
3 conditions
- “Never again” (problem)
- International institutions needed to prevent war (recognition)
- USA (President Woodrow Wilson) as hegemonic initiator (power)
Why is it important? – 4 central powers (inspired by The League of Nations to
improve them)
- To maintain international peace and security
- To develop friendly relations among nations
- To address economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems
- To promote respect for universal human rights
What is the pattern?
States organize into IGOs after grand scale wars and humanitarian disasters
in order to prevent them from happening again
But their failure precedes such wars/humanitarian disasters (WWI, WWII)
IGOs nowadays
Examples: EU, OIC, ASEAN, IMF, OPEC
Classification of IGOs: Membership & Competences
According to Membership:
Open membership
- UN
Restricted membership
- EU, OPEC, due to geography, economy, culture
According to Competences:
Comprehensive
- UN and EU
Limited
- Specialized agencies of the UN: ILO, FAO
- Special organizations: European Space Agency (ESA)
