International Organisations Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the definition of an international organisation (IO) according to Park (2018)?
Park (2018) defines an IO as “a permanent organisation designed to perform continuous tasks for a common purpose with three or more states represented.”
This means IOs are formal bodies created by treaties between states to work on shared goals over time — not just one-off meetings.
Example: The World Health Organization (WHO) is an IO working continuously on global health issues.
What distinguishes international governmental organisations (IGOs) from other types of IOs?
IGOs are created through agreements (treaties) between sovereign states. They have formal structures like headquarters, staff (a secretariat), and legal status. Unlike NGOs (non-governmental organisations), IGOs are made up of governments as members and usually focus on political, economic, or security goals.
Example: The United Nations, NATO, and the World Trade Organization are IGOs.
What are the key features of international organisations?
IOs usually have the following features:
- Voluntary state membership – countries choose to join.
- Clear mandates – laid out in formal documents like charters or constitutions.
- Political agency – they engage with states and can influence international decisions and policies.
Example: The UN has a charter, member states, and influences global security, human rights, and development.
What types of problems do IOs aim to address?
IOs aim to solve global problems that individual states cannot address alone, such as war, terrorism, poverty, pandemics, and financial crises. These problems require coordinated international action due to their transboundary nature.
Why did the number of IOs increase after the 1990s?
The post-1990s surge in IOs is attributed to greater economic integration, advances in information and communication technology, and the expanding flow of goods, services, capital, and labour. These globalising forces created a need for more coordinated international regulation.
What criticisms have been made against IOs?
IOs are often seen as too bureaucratic, slow to respond, and influenced by powerful countries. They may fail to meet their goals, lack democratic accountability, and struggle to adapt to new global challenges. Their effectiveness depends on who is judging them and the context.
How do Realists view international organisations?
Realists argue that IOs are not independent actors but are tools used by powerful states to pursue their own national interests. Since the international system is anarchic (no central authority), states prioritize power and security above cooperation. IOs may help coordinate actions, but they do not constrain state behavior in any meaningful way.
Example:
The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017 shows how a powerful state can ignore IO commitments when they conflict with national interests — reinforcing the Realist view that states act independently when needed.
How do Liberal Internationalists view international organisations?
Liberals view IOs as mechanisms that facilitate cooperation, promote peace, and manage interdependence. States delegate authority to IOs because they can benefit from absolute gains and resolve collective action problems through institutionalised rules and trust-building.
According to Constructivism, how do IOs function in international politics?
Constructivists argue that IOs are shaped by and also shape international norms, values, and identities. They are not merely passive arenas but active participants in the construction of international social reality, influencing what behaviour is considered appropriate.
What factors influence IO decision-making processes?
Decision-making in IOs is shaped by the interests of member states, pressures from non-state actors (such as activists or other IOs), and responses to external shocks such as pandemics or conflicts. Their responsiveness varies based on their institutional structure.
What limits the effectiveness of IOs in global politics?
IOs are limited by conflicting member interests, lack of enforcement mechanisms, bureaucratic inefficiency, and the dominance of powerful states. These structural and political constraints hinder their ability to solve complex global problems.
Give an example of an IO addressing global health crises.
The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a central role in global health governance by coordinating responses to pandemics, setting international health regulations, and disseminating medical guidance across member states.
Provide an example of criticism toward IO effectiveness in humanitarian crises.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) received mixed evaluations for its response to the Syrian refugee crisis. Refugees, host countries, and donor states all interpreted the effectiveness of the UNHCR differently, illustrating the subjective nature of IO legitimacy.
What is global governance?
Global governance refers to the coordination and regulation of global issues by a diverse set of actors—including states, IOs, NGOs, and private entities—through mechanisms that are non-hierarchical and operate across multiple levels without a central global authority.
What does the term “governance” mean in international relations?
Governance is the process of managing and guiding society through networks of different actors—like states, organizations, and companies—who work together by negotiating and consulting rather than using top-down orders. It relies on rules, norms, and cooperation to regulate behavior and solve conflicts without force.
How do Realists interpret global governance?
Realists see global governance as ineffective or illusory, as they believe the international system is based on competition, power maximisation, and relative gains. In their view, governance structures merely reflect the interests of dominant powers.
How do Liberals interpret global governance?
Liberals regard global governance as a rational and useful way to manage interdependence and produce mutual benefits. They focus on the potential for cooperation, win-win scenarios, and the institutionalisation of norms and rules.
What is multi-level governance and where is it applied?
Multi-level governance refers to the interaction of local, national, and supranational levels in policymaking. It is especially evident in the EU, where decision-making involves national governments, EU institutions, and regional bodies, sometimes reducing direct state control.
What is multilateralism in international relations?
Multilateralism is the coordination of policies or actions among three or more states, based on rules or principles aimed at achieving shared goals. It is a core mechanism for promoting global governance and maintaining the liberal international order.
What are the core features of multilateralism according to Ruggie (1992)?
Ruggie argues that multilateralism is based on generalised principles that are non-discriminatory, apply equally to all states, and are aimed at producing public goods. It opposes preferential bilateralism and seeks to create predictable, rule-based cooperation.
What is the relationship between global governance and multilateralism?
Multilateralism is the main method through which global governance operates. It supports consensus-building, rule enforcement, and coordinated action among multiple states, making global governance more effective and legitimate (Prakash, 2019).
What are formal and informal multilateral institutions?
Formal multilateral institutions have legal structures and binding authority (e.g., UN, WTO, IMF). Informal multilateral fora are looser, voluntary cooperation platforms (e.g., ASEAN, APEC, ECOWAS) with limited enforcement power
What are the prerequisites for the establishment of multilateralism, according to Park (2018)?
States must be independent, in frequent contact, aware of the potential problems of coexistence, and recognise the need for institutions to regulate their relations. These conditions allowed for the rise of multilateralism in 19th-century Europe.
What concerns were raised by Joe Biden in 2017 regarding multilateralism?
Biden warned that the liberal international order—centered around multilateral cooperation—was under pressure from rising nationalism, internal disillusionment, and external geopolitical shifts. He urged urgent action to preserve the rules-based system.
