International Politics, GOV 207

International Organizations

General Comments

International Organizations (IOs) or Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs)

    Universal or regional
    General or specific
    Multiple-Purpose or single-purpose
    Functional IOs

Membership is largely limited to representatives of the central governments of sovereign states. 

The most important example of a general purpose, universal international organization is the United Nations and its associated organs. 

IOs are usually established by a multilateral treaty which becomes the charter (constitution) for the particular international organization. 

IOs usually have a secretariat that is somewhat independent of the member states. 

IOs are recognized as subjects of international law; they have a distinct legal status.  The can not be abolished by any single member state, though withdrawal from the organization is always permitted.  Expulsion may also be a possibility. 

IGOs and NGOs
 

In addition to Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) or IOs, there are also many
International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs or NGOs)

   1914       49 IGOs and  170 INGOs

   1980s     400 IGOs and 4600 INGOs  

Historic Background

Sovereign States are the main actors in the international system even today. The modern state system began after the Thirty Years War in 1648.  Within this state system, the Great Powers have always had a dominant role.  But even the Great Powers have found it necessary at times to cooperate with each other.  And even today, the Great Powers continue to have an internationally recognized role as the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Concert of Europe developed in the aftermath of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the nineteenth century.  Five great powers--United Kingdom, France, Prussia, Russia, and Austria--met with each other at various Congresses to peacefully resolve conflicts among themselves.  The League of Nations Council and the United Nations Security Council may be viewed as contemporary continuations of these ideas of Great Power consultation and cooperation.

Functional Cooperation Among States through International Organizations.  During the course of the 19th century, sovereign states found it useful to create various inter-governmental organizations to manage routine functions such as international mail delivery and the, then, new telegraph communications across national borders.

    International Telegraph Union (1865), now called the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), was the first international organization (IO) created by states.

    Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established in 1874. Both the ITU and the UPU are now United Nations specialized agencies.

Hague Peace Conferences. 

In 1899, the first International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902.
 

League of Nations 

The League of Nations was established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security."

The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.
 

United Nations

"In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States, in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 member states.

"The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year." (Source: Basic Facts - About the United Nations United Nations Publication Sales No. E.04.I.7. Available online at: http://www.un.org/aboutun/unhistory/ (accessed on October 26, 2007)
 

The United Nations

The United Nations maintains its own extensive WEBSITES.  About the United Nations links to the history and main organs of the UN.

This links to the historic documents whereby the United Nations was established.

This links to the Charter of the UN.

In 2007, the UN had a membership of 192.

United Nations is a universal, multi-purpose IGO created at the San Francisco Conference in 1945.  It is headquartered in New York City.

Organs of the UN:  Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat

The UN in Brief offers on overview of the United Nations.

Charter of the United Nations

PREAMBLE

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED
to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,


AND FOR THESE ENDS

to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and

to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS
Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.
 

General Assembly:

All member-states of the United Nations are represented.  The UN General Assembly is based on the principle of the "sovereign equality" of all members.  Even the smallest states have one vote.  However, the UN does not require unanimous agreement.  For most decisions a 2/3 vote is required.

 51 original members in 1946
 189 members in 2000
 191 members in 2002
 192 Members in 2006

Security Council has 15 members.

   Five Permanent Members With Veto Power on Substantive Issues:  China, France, Britain, Russia (took seat of USSR), and U.S.A.

   Ten members are elected by General Assembly for two year terms from January 1 to December 31.  Five are elected every year.

The 10 non-permanent members of the Council in 2007 are:

2007:  Congo, Ghana, Peru, Qatar, and Slovak Republic. 

2008:  Belgium, Indonesia, Italy, Panama, and South Africa.
 

The 10 non-permanent members of the Council in 2007 are Belgium (2008), Congo (2007), Ghana (2007), Indonesia (2008), Italy (2008), Panama (2008), Peru (2007), Qatar (2007), Slovak Republic (2007) and South Africa (2008).

Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council has 54 members, elected for three-year terms by the General Assembly. The term of office for each member expires on 31 December of the year indicated in parentheses next to its name. In 2007, the Council is composed of the following:

Albania (2007), Algeria (2009), Angola (2008), Austria (2008), Barbados (2009), Belarus (2009), Benin (2008), Bolivia (2009), Brazil (2007), Canada (2009), Cape Verde (2009), Chad (2007), China (2007), Costa Rica (2007), Cuba (2008), Czech Republic (2008), Democratic Republic of the Congo (2007), Denmark (2007), El Salvador (2009), France (2008), Germany (2008), Greece (2008), Guinea (2007), Guinea-Bissau (2008), Guyana (2008), Haiti (2008), Iceland (2007), India (2007), Indonesia (2009), Iraq (2009), Japan (2008), Kazakhstan (2009), Lithuania (2007), Luxembourg (2009), Madagascar (2008), Malawi (2009), Mauritania (2008), Mexico (2007), Netherlands (2009), New Zealand (2007), Pakistan (2007), Paraguay (2008), Philippines (2009), Portugal (2007), Romania (2009), Russian Federation (2007), Saudi Arabia (2008), Somalia (2009), South Africa (2007), Sri Lanka (2008), Sudan (2009), Thailand (2007), United Kingdom (2007), United States (2009).
 

Trusteeship Council.

"The Trusteeship Council is made up of the five permanent members of the Security Council -– China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and the United States.  With the independence of Palau, the last remaining United Nations Trust Territory, the Council formally suspended operations on 1 November 1994.  The Council amended its rules of procedure to drop the obligation to meet annually and agreed to meet as the occasion required, by its decision or the decision of its President or at the request of a majority of its members or the General Assembly or the Security Council."  Available online at  http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/org1479.doc.htm (Accessed on October 26, 2007)

The International Court of Justice.

The International Court of Justice has 15 Judges, elected by both the General Assembly and the Security Council for nine-year terms.  The current composition of the Court, with terms expiring on 5 February of the year in parentheses, is as follows:

Ronny Abraham (France) (2009)
Awn Shawkat Al-Khasawneh (Jordan) (2009)
Rosalyn Higgins (United Kingdom) (2009)
Gonzalo Parra-Aranguren (Venezuela) (2009)
Raymond Ranjeva (Madagascar) (2009)

Shi Jiuyong (China) (2012)
Abdul G. Koroma (Sierra Leone) (2012)
Hisashi Owada (Japan) (2012)
Bruno Simma (Germany) (2012)
Peter Tomka (Slovakia) (2012)

Mohamed Bennouna (Morocco) (2015)
Thomas Buergenthal (United States) (2015)
Kenneth Keith (New Zealand) (2015)
Bernardo Sepulveda Amor (Mexico) (2015)
Leonid Skotnikov (Russian Federation) (2015)

Secretariat

"The Secretariat carries out the substantive and administrative work of the United Nations as directed by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the other organs. At its head is the Secretary-General, who provides overall administrative guidance.

"The Secretariat consists of departments and offices with a total staff of about 7,500 under the regular budget, drawn from some 170 countries. Duty stations include UN Headquarters in New York, as well as UN offices in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi and other locations." (Available online at http://www.un.org/Overview/uninbrief/chapter1_secretariat.html.   Accessed on October 26, 2007.)

    Secretaries General of the United Nations, appointed by the General Assembly upon recommendation of the Security Council for five year terms.

   Trygve Lie, Norway, Feb. 1, 1946 - Nov. 10, 1952

   Dag Hammerskjold, Sweden, April 10, 1953 - Sept. 17, 1961

   U Thant, Burma, Nov. 3, 1961 - Dec, 31, 1971

   Kurt Waldheim, Austria, Jan 1, 1972 - Dec. 31, 1981

   Javier Perez de Cuellar, Peru, Jan 1, 1982 - Dec. 31, 1991.

   Butros Butros Ghali, Egypt, Jan 1, 1992 - Dec. 31, 1996.

      Kofi Annan, Ghana, Jan. 1, 1997 - Dec. 31, 2006

    Ban Ki-moon, South Korea, Jan. 1. 2007 -  

  HUMAN RIGHTS