What is a the role of International Organizations?

1. What is a the role of International Organizations? History & Theory March 13, 2013 2013 – 1st semester Young Leaders & International Organizations Organized by Saori Kakihara

2. International Organizations (IOs) • What is an international organization? An organization with an international membership • Who are members of international organizations? state and non-state actors – depending on the type of organization • What purpose do international organizations serve? Connecting members, bridging gaps, encouraging peace and security, economic development, etc…

3. History of IOs • The earliest modern precedents to today’s IOs: • The Concert of Europe (1815-1914) - The balance of power that existed in Europe from the fall of Napoleon to the outbreak of WWI. This was a result of a custom, following the era of Napoleon and the French Revolution, adopted by the old great powers of Europe. • The Congress of Vienna - A forum for international collaboration on European security and commerce. A multipurpose IO created by the European great powers to reestablish order and stability on the continent after the Napoleonic Wars.

4. History of IOs • The League of Nations (1919-1939) • Failure of the League: politically challenged by Japan-China conflict in Manchuria (1931) and the Italy-Ethiopia conflict (1935). The outbreak of WWII ended the League’s history. However, its legacy lives on. • The post WWII era – massive proliferation of IOs and other IOs.

5. International Organizations (IOs) • IOs - tendencies of their emergence as crucial players in the world politics • Some major inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), such as UN and EU that are selected on the basis of their significance to the world and regional politics. • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) • Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

6. Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs) • IGOs are formal institutions comprised primarily of sovereign states (referred to as member states), or of other inter-governmental organization (e.g. UN, EU, NATO, IMF, G8, etc). • They can be multi or general-purpose organizations, taking up any international issue, such as UN. • They can also have narrow mandate focusing on a specific economic, political, social or military issue, examples: NATO, WHO. • Membership can be open to all actors, or limited by some objective criteria (e.g. EU, NATO conditionality)

7. International Non-Governmental Organizations (International NGOs) & Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) • International NGOs – essentially nonprofit, private organizations that engage in a variety of international activities (e.g. Amnesty International, Greenpeace, International Committee for Red Cross, World vision International, etc.) • Types of NGOs (alternative names): independent sector, volunteer sector, civil society, grassroots organizations, transnational social movement organizations, private voluntary organizations, self-help organizations and non-state actors • Financing – mostly membership fees, charitable contributions and private sourcing.

8. NGOs roles intheworldpolitics: • Information gathering with people on the ground, interaction with other NGOs, IGOs and MNCs. • Consult and expertise. • Carrying out policies. • Private interactions involving with various transactions to bring together groups and individuals. • Participate in international politics by defining goals, providing information, and giving expert advice • Pressure governments and IGOs through direct and indirect lobbying • NGOs are instrumental in setting international norms and executing international policy

9. Multinational Corporations (MNCs) • MNCs – for-profit firms that have subsidiaries in two or more countries and engage in transnational production activities involving movement of goods and services across national boundaries (e.g. Wal-Mart, McDonalds, General Motors, Boeing, Adidas, etc). • Agriculture and extractive industries, including gas and oil explorations (British Petroleum (BP), Statoil (Norwegian), Exxon (US), Amoco (US), etc). • financial services, such as multinational banks, brokers and insurance companies. • industrial corporations involved in manufacture of goods (Motorola, Sony, Volkswagen, etc).

10. International Regimes • International Regimes – informal principles, rules, norms, and decision-making procedures that are codified in charters, treaties and international law (e.g. International Protocols, Conventions, systems, etc). • Often form in response to a need to coordinate behavior among countries around issues, such as security, trade, finance, investment, information, communication, human rights, environment, etc.

11. Theoretical Foundations: International Organizations

12. The Main Theories 4 main theories: • LIBERALISM • REALISM • CONSTRUCTIVISM • MARXISM

13. LIBERALISM • It stems from the principle of human nature being GOOD • Instead it is the inadequate social institutions and misunderstanding of leaders that created INJUSTICE, AGRESSION and WAR

14. The Roots of Liberalism Enlightenment: Humans are rational and they can continuously improve their conditions by just societies 19th century Liberalism: Modernize via scientific and industrial revolutions to come to a democratic society and free trade 20th century Liberalism: collective security, self-determination, no power politics and prevention of war This has shaped the LIBERAL thought dwelling on the belief that cooperation is possible, peace could be achieved through interdependence, knowledge, democratic values and international organizations do work.

15. Neoliberalism • The aftermath of WWII was characterized by realism • 1970s increased interdependence of states revived the liberal thought • Prisoner’s dilemma was used to justify that states are bound to cooperate in a long run:

16. REALISM • Individuals seek to maximize their power and pursue their interests. • balance of power. • much less the independence. • Neorealism - IGOs roles are exaggerated and they are not apt to promote stability

17. CONSTRUCTIVISM • Fairly new concept that explains the role of norms. • certain beliefs, socially constructed rules and cultural practices • Examples of “poverty” agenda of the WB and humanitarian rules of UN

18. MARXISM • Resulting from an uneven economic development. • Marx is based on power, process of production and class relations. • the IGOs are dominated by a group of powerful states that drive the agenda and have higher gains, WB and IMF are seen as vices that perpetuate this International System.

19. Discussion Questions: • What International Organizations (IGOs, INGOs, NGOs, MNCs) do you consider particularly important players in the world politics? Why? • What specific International Organizations do you think play important role in shaping political-economic context of your country? Why? Thank you.