International Organization

Lecture 10

The Formal The Formal Organization of Organization of

International PoliticsInternational PoliticsLargely a 20Largely a 20thth Century Century Phenomenon Phenomenon In 1900, about 37 In 1900, about 37 International Governmental International Governmental Organizations (IGOs)Organizations (IGOs) Mostly concerned with Mostly concerned with

technical matterstechnical mattersIn 1997, about 260 IGOsIn 1997, about 260 IGOs War, peace, and securityWar, peace, and security Economic developmentEconomic development EnvironmentEnvironment

NGOs Not Counted in This NGOs Not Counted in This TotalTotal

What Do IGOs DO?

UN Membership

020406080

100120140160180200

1945

1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

Security Cooperation UN NATO Organization for Security and

Cooperation in Europe

Economic Cooperation International Monetary Fund World Bank World Trade Organization

(WTO) Org. for Economic

Cooperation and Development

Health, Environmental, and Humanitarian Cooperation

The United Nations

The “Legislature”The “Legislature” Security CouncilSecurity Council The General AssemblyThe General Assembly

The “Executive”The “Executive” The General Secretary and The General Secretary and

AgenciesAgencies

The “Judiciary”The “Judiciary” International Court of International Court of

JusticeJustice

How Big?How Big? Staff of less than 10,000Staff of less than 10,000 Annual budget of $2.5 Annual budget of $2.5

billionbillion

The Structure of UN Agencies

IOs and LiberalismUN Reduces the Severity of the Security Dilemma. Governments Must Provide Own Security.Producing More Weapons Makes Neighboring States Less Secure. Neighbor States Build More Weapons.None Are Any More Secure After Than Before the Build Up.Can’t Not Build Weapons, One’s Security Might Diminish.

UN Provides Framework for Collective Security.Article 2: All Members must “refrain. . . from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independent of any state.” Only Exception is Self Defense (Article 51).Security Council Can Impose Non-Military Sanctions, and Call for Military ResponseAll Members are Obliged to “Accept and Carry Out.”Measures Should Reduce Security Dilemma.

Economic IGOsEconomic IGOs Promote Economic Interdependence.

TradeThe International Trade Organization, The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (in 1964). Now the WTO.Oriented Toward Creation of Open, Market-Based, Non-Discriminatory International Trade System.

Finance: The Bretton Woods SystemThe International Monetary Fund, The World BankThe IMF: Provides Balance of Payments Financing and Facilitates International Financial Cooperation.The World Bank: Provides Long-Term Loans for Economic Development.Together Would Create Stable International Economy To Promote Interdependence and Prosperity.

Promoting Democracy?UN Role Limited Because of Sovereignty—No Right to Intervene in a Member Country’s Domestic Political Affairs. Article 2: “The Organization is Based on the Principle of the

Sovereign Equality of All its Members.”UN Emphasis Between 1945 and 1970 Was on De-Colonization (Self-Determination Rather than Democratization).General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) of December 14, 1960 Alien Domination Contrary to UN Charter All Peoples Have the Right To Self Determination Inadequacy of Political, Economic and Social Conditions Not Legitimate

Excuse for Refusing Independence All Powers of Government Should Be Immediately Transferred to

Indigenous Peoples Disruption of the National Unity or Territorial Integrity of a Country is

Contrary to UN Charter.

The UN and Liberalism

UN as Planned Addressed Each of the Three Strands of Liberalism:Collective Security in an Attempt to Mitigate the Security Dilemma: The “Four Policemen”Economic Cooperation to Promote Economic Interdependence and Prosperity.De-Colonization, with Pressure for Democratization in the Newly Independent Countries

UN During the Cold WarSoviet-American Conflict Soviet-American Conflict Rendered Security Council Rendered Security Council IneffectiveIneffectiveDe-colonization saw UN De-colonization saw UN membership increase from 51 membership increase from 51 states in 1945 to about 150 by states in 1945 to about 150 by mid-1970smid-1970sIncreased focus on North-Increased focus on North-South Issues and Economic South Issues and Economic DevelopmentDevelopmentGrowing American Growing American Disenchantment with UN as Disenchantment with UN as Developing Countries Hostile to Developing Countries Hostile to American Objectives Dominate American Objectives Dominate the General Assemblythe General Assembly

Votes With the Majority in the UN General Assembly, 1946-1990

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Pe

rce

nt

1946-50 1951-55 1956-60 1961-65 1966-70 1971-75 1976-80 1981-85 1986-90

US Soviet Union

Source: Lawrence Ziring et al. 2002. The United Nations: International Organization and World Politics. (New York: Harcourt Brace), page 99.

UN in Post Cold War UN in Post Cold War WorldWorld

No Longer the Block to No Longer the Block to Security Council ActionSecurity Council Action

Chance for Greater UN Chance for Greater UN Role in Security affairsRole in Security affairs

Two Purposes of UN Two Purposes of UN PeacekeepingPeacekeeping MonitoringMonitoring TransformationTransformation