International OrganizationsIS 101

United Nations An international organization Founded in 1945 (after WWII) Originally 51 countries – now about 193 Original mandate – peace and security,

friendly relations amongst nations Better living standards and human

rights Headquarters in New York

4 main purposes of the UN1. Peace throughout the world2. Development friendly relations among

nations3. Help nations work together to improve

the lives of poor people, conquer hunger, disease, illiteracy and encourage respect for each others rights and freedoms

4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals

Committees of the UN Disarmament and international security Economic and Financial Social Humanitarianism and Culture Special political and de-colonization Administrative and Budgetary Legal

Critique of the UN Some say that it was a good idea in it’s

time but has now lost credibility and should be abolished

Security Council of the UN 5 permanent members: China, France, Russia,

UK and US 10 non-permanent members with 2 year term:

currently Bosnia, Herzegovina, Brazil, Columbia, Gabon, Germany, India, Lebanon, Nigeria, Portugal and South Africa

Each council member has one vote – must have 9 to proceed, including the votes of all 5 permanent members

President is appointed in alphabetical order for a term of one month (from amongst members)

Meetings can be requested by any member of the Security Council and meetings must be held at least every 14 days

Function is to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN

Investigate any dispute or situation that might lead to international friction

To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement

To formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments

To determine the existence of a threat to the peace or the act of aggression and recommend the action to be taken

To call on members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression

To take military action against an aggressor To recommend the admission of new members To exercise the trusteeship function of the UN

in strategic areas

To recommend the Secretary General appointment and to elect the judges of the International Court of Justice

World Bank Founded in 1944 Made of 2 unique development institutions

(International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Int. Dev. Assoc.)

owned by 187 member countries Provide to the countries with the most need and

where it will have greatest impact and promote growth (particularly in the Arab world)

Also help middle income countries Provided 46.9B for 303 projects in developing

countries

Managment Under the leadership of president,

management and senior staff and the vice presidents in charge of regions, sectors, networks and functions

Mission Statement of WB To help developing countries and their

people reach their goals by working with our partners to alleviate poverty.

Address global challenges in ways that advance an inclusive and sustainable globalization

Overcome poverty, enhance growth with care for the environment and create individual opportunity and hope

Critique of WB With less aid, the economies of the developing

countries were growing – when the WB provides aid it stunts growth

WB has lent billions to dictators Infrastructure projects often have negative

social and environmental impacts for local communities

Partnership with private sector may undermine the role of the state as the primary provider of goods and services

Run by a small group of dominant countries

International Monetary Fund An intergovernmental organization that promotes

economic cooperation around the world Has 187 member countries Specialized agency of UN with it’s own charter Main focus is policies that have an impact on

exchange rates and balance of payments Aim is High rates of employment and low inflation Address global challenges in ways that advance an

inclusive and sustainable globalization

Focus on macro economic and financial policies

Balance payments and establish a “real” economy in developing countries (capitalism)

Financial sector development Analyze impact of policies and provide

forum for international cooperation on global economic and financial problems

Governance of IMF Run by a board on behalf of member

countries

Critique of IMF Managing director (Dominique Strauss-Kahn)

accused of sexual assault and attempted rape of a chamber maid in a New York hotel

During the Cold War, they supported a lot of anti-communist dictatorships (Ethiopia, Pakistan, Southern Africa, Brazil…)

Policies are not beneficial to developing countries

Environmental impacts Food distribution policies don’t work in

impoverished societies

G8/G20 G8 started in response to the oil crisis of the

1970s Canada (1976), EU, France, Germany, Italy,

Japan, Russia (1997), the UK and the US Meet annually – Finance Ministers and Central

Bank Governors G20 started in 1999 in response to financial crisis

– key emergent countries needed to have a say G8 represented 15% of global population, 65% of

GDP and 2/3s of all international trade

G20 represents 90% of international trade

No official language Consultative process, not an

international organization No authority to take action – only

consultative Has influence rather than direct action

G20 countries Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU,

France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Turkey, UK and US

Managing director of IMF, president of WB, Chairs of International Monetary and Finance Committee and Development Committee of IMF and WB

Represent 90% of GDP, 80% of world trade and 2/3 of population

Mandate Help support growth and development

Critique of g8/g20 Cost of meetings and lack of authority Very nebulous organization Some believe that it promotes war and

the terrorocracy of the west Some believe that it’s ineffective and

perpetuates status quo

International Court of Justice Part of the UN – stems from Nuremburg trials

in 1946 Located in the Hague (Netherlands) in the

Peace Palace Only UN sanctioned organization that’s not in

New York Core is made of 15 judges Official languages are French and English Does not with international crime (war

criminals) – that International Criminal Court

Mission Statement The courts role is to settle in accordance

with international law legal disputes submitted to it by states and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and specialized agencies.

Governance Current president is from Japan, vp from

Slovakia Elected by members of the court every

3 years by secret ballot All 15 judges must be from different

countries 3 year term for judges

Cases UK vs. Albania – the Corfu Channel

(1947) Current case is between Cambodia and

Thailand – a border dispute involving a temple

Often deals with border disputes

Critique No real power Security Council can veto any decision

made by the court