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International – regional organisations

Classification, role and function of international organisations

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Classification of international organisations How do we classify them

Intergovernmental organisations ( IGOs) – this notion is based on the sovereign state view of international relations

Transnational organisation (TNOs) – here members are not states but also drawn from groups, associations, organisations or individuals from within the state

Three sorts of TNO Genuine international non-governmental organisation, e.g.

International Olympiccommittee, World Council of Churches, Salvation Army

Hybrid INGO, as it has some governmental and some non-governmental representation

The transgovernmental organisation

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IGOs classificationAims and activities of five International governmental organisations by functional area

UN NATO IMF OPEC Nordic CouncilPolitical x x xEconomic x x x xSocial x x xLabour x xLegal xMilitary x xFood & agriculture xTrade and commodities x x xEducaiton x x xCulture x x xHuman Rights xScience and Technology x xHealth x x xTransport x xOther Communications x x

Archer International Organisations 2001

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INGOs: classificationAims and activities of five INGOs by functional area

IOC WFUNA IFWTU LI ICS

Political x x xEconomic x x xSocial x xLabour xLegalMilitaryFood & agricultureTrade and commodities xEducaiton x x x x xCulture x xHuman Rights x x xScience and Technology xHealth x xTransport xOther Communications x

IOC:International Olympic CommitteeWFUNA: World Federation of United Nations AssociationsIWFTU: International Federation of World Trade UnionsLI: Liberal InternationalICS International Chamber of Shipping

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Role of International Organisations An Instrument being used by its

members for particular ends An arena or forum within which actions

take place An independent actor?

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An International Organisation: intergovernmental co-operation We will examine the Council of Europe

today as an example of an international organisation, where its role as instrument , arena and actor(?) can be explored, but where co-operation between these states is on a strictly intergovernmental basis. National governments have not been involved in transferring authority to this organisation

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International organisations: Europe:post-war 1945 - Military

Political

Economic

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International organisations: Europe:post-war Military:

The Cold War created an artificial divide in Europe; out of this NATO ( 1949) and Warsaw Pact faced each other across the Iron Curtain for 40 years; it did mean ‘power politics’ was put in cold storage, balance of power politics was no longer the method of inter-state co-operation ; furthermore the nuclear threat changed the military landscape completely

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International organisations: Europe:post-war Political/Economic

For the first time Western European states could focus on creating some kind of United States of Europe ( first attempt, Council of Europe)

Some wanted to pursue ‘intergovernmental’ type of co-operation (UK) - ended up establishing EFTA

Others wanted to take co-operation between states a step further, to actually transfer some authority to the organisation which could rise above the seemingly ‘selfish’ national-interest of the sovereign state; thus the Six set up ECSC, Treaty of Paris, 1951; this ultimately the blueprint for Treaty of Rome, 1957 (EEC, Euratom); this became characterised as ‘supranational’ co-operation

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Council of Europe: Palais de l’Europehttp://www.coe.tv/photo/batiments/bati.htm

www.coe.int 11

The Council of Europe - basics established in 1949 10 original members, + The council consists of

an executive body, the committee of ministers (the foreign ministers of the

member states), and the consultative assembly (individuals selected by the

national parliaments of the member states). The committee of ministers and the consultative assembly

meet annually in joint session at the headquarters of the Council in Strasbourg, France

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Map and members of Council of Europe

44 MEMBER STATES   Albania (13.07.1995)

Andorra (10.10.1994)Armenia (25.01.2001)Austria (16.04.1956)Azerbaijan  (25.01.2001)Belgium (05.05.1949)Bosnia & Herzegovina (24.04.2002)Bulgaria (07.05.1992)Croatia (06.11.1996)Cyprus (24.05.1961)Czech Republic (30.06.1993)Denmark (05.05.1949)Estonia (14.05.1993)Finland (05.05.1989)France (05.05.1949)Georgia (27.04.1999)Germany (13.07.1950)Greece (09.08.1949)Hungary (06.11.1990)Iceland (09.03.1950)Ireland (05.05.1949)Italy (05.05.1949)Latvia (10.02.1995)Liechtenstein (23.11.1978)Lithuania (14.05.1993)Luxembourg (05.05.1949)Malta (29.04.1965)Moldova (13.07.1995)Netherlands (05.05.1949)Norway (05.05.1949)Poland (29.11.1991)Portugal (22.09.1976)Romania (07.10.1993)Russian Federation (28.02.1996)San Marino (16.11.1988)Slovakia (30.06.1993)Slovenia (14.05.1993)Spain (24.11.1977)Sweden (05.05.1949)Switzerland (06.05.1963)the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (09.11.1995)Turkey (09.08.1949)Ukraine (09.11.1995)United Kingdom (05.05.1949) 

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Council of Europe: powers The powers of the Council of Europe are

purely advisory . The Council established

a Commission in 1950 and a Court (of Human Rights)in 1959

to enforce the rights outlined in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950). These include the rights to a fair wage, to strike, and to social security, including social and medical assistance if it is needed.

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Function of international organisations Articulation and aggregation of interests Norms Recruitment Socialization Rule making Rule application Rule adjudication Information Operations

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Council of Europe: Articulation and aggregation of interests How does this IGO perform the task of outlining and

bringing together the interests of its members: In the CoE case it acts as a forum where

interests can be articulated ( spoken about); The CoE does not have a tightly knit membership

so it is difficult to act as an instrument of interest articulation/aggregation – unlike OPEC which was more like an oil exporters’ trade union in the mid 70s, or the EU which speaks as one in trade negotiations at WTO talks, for example

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Council of Europe: final lecture Today

we will examine the remainder of the functions of this organisation and assess its contribution to co-operation and integration in Europe

Examine this organisation by a comparison with the European Union

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Council of Europe: Norms What norms or values does the CoE

support? The rule of law, pluralist democracy…

In the field of Human Rights, a single Court of Human Rights which is directly accessible to the individual and its jurisdiction is compulsory for all contracting parties

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Council of Europe: Recruitment Has the CoE been active in recruiting

participants to the international political system Arguably as only sovereign states can

be members it has been an incentive to places like Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina etc to achieve their independence and thus join such IGOs as the Council of Europe in order to represent their own interests

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Council of Europe:Socialization Does the CoE instill loyalty and a sense of ‘we-

feeling’? As awareness of this organisation is low it has not

managed to create such a positive profile One cannot ignore however its role in promoting

‘Europe’, introducing the flag etc Have governments become ‘socialized’ to act in a

certain way that is acceptable to the rest of the international community undoubtedly! It encourages members to act in a

cooperative way so as not to undermine the norms they share with other members (e.g. new Balkan states)

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Council of Europe: Rule Making The CoE operates on an intergovernmental basis –

decisions have to be agreed unanimously; its mode of operation is by means of conventions and standing conferences

The organisation does provide a focus for the setting of rules, particularly in the Human Rights area and private citizens have recourse to the Court of Human Rights.

Member states adopt an ‘a la carte’ approach to intergovernmental co-operation: e.g. the Convention on Human Rights is one of the few Conventions to have been signed and ratified by all Council of Europe member states

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Council of Europe: Rule application

This is left to the states - there is no central authority to undertake this task Protecting human rights, pluralist

democracy and the rule of law…

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Council of Europe: Rule Adjudication

Court of Human Rights It is difficult as the process of rule

adjudication doesn’t carry the compulsory nature of that of the nation-state

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Council of Europe:Information

CoE centrally involved in promoting ‘democracy, human rights and dealing with other ills facing society by organising conferences, training courses for judges…

Its publications, more formal adoption of Conventions, Charters, are often the back drop for changes in legislation ( either at national level or even in the European Union

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Overview of Council of Europe The Council of Europe has a weak institutional base It has no independent law-making power Once the EU is involved in an area/issue ( education,

culture, justice) it quickly becomes the main arena for discussion of such matters; the EU has a more effective decision-making capacity and institutional structure which overshadows the non-binding commitments that characterize intergovernmental co-operation in the Council of Europe.

While there has been increased co-operation between the EU and the Council of Europe, the latter remains the organisation most if not all of the CEE states wish to join.

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Overview of Council of Europe It carved a niche for itself in the

establishment of a Europe wide order after 1989 and it has acted as a bridge between East and West in the last decade For the Central and east European states

full membership provided a stamp of approval for the reform processes underway in their countries as the CoE has always prided itself on being the protector of human rights and democratic freedoms

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Council of Europe v European Union CoE: a weak institutional structure

EU: its structures and powers of EU institutions are more sophisticated and there is a greater intensity in decision-making

CoE: its actions ( conventions etc) are non-binding EU: its legal order is one of its primary

supranational features – a new and independent legal order that directly constrains the sovereignty of the member states

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CoE: The European Flag 25 October 1955 the

Parliamentary Assembly made the unanimous decision to adopt a circle of gold stars on a blue background as an emblem. On 8 December 1955 the Committee of Ministers adopted this as the European flag.

1983: flag adopted by European Parliament as the flag to represent the EC/EU