International Organizations

An international organization is any organization with international membership, scope, or presence. However, in common usage, the term is commonly reserved for intergovernmental organizations (IGO) such as the U.N., the European Community, or the World Trade Organization, with sovereign states or other IGOs as members. Their scope and aims are most usually in the public interest but may also have been created with a specific purpose. While many non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a generalizing term used for privately created organizations with international scope, certainly have international presence and aims, they tend to relate more to global issues on individual levels rather than state problems on systemic levels.

Legally speaking, an international organization may be established by a constituent document such as a charter, a treaty or a Convention, which when signed by the founding members, provides the IGO with legal recognition. International organizations so established are subjects of international law, capable of entering into agreements among themselves or with states. Thus, international organizations in a legal sense are distinguished from mere groupings of states, such as the G-8 and the G-77, neither of which have been founded by a constituent document and exist only as task groups, though in non-legal contexts these are sometimes referred erroneously as international organizations.

International organizations differ in function, membership and membership criteria. Membership of some organizations (global organizations) is open to all the nations of the world as far as they comply with membership criteria and after approval by a general assembly or similar body. This category includes the United Nations and its specialized agencies and the World Trade Organization. Other organizations are only open to members from a particular region or continent of the world, like European Union, African Union, ASEAN and other regional organizations.

Finally, some organizations base their membership on other criteria: cultural or historical links (the Commonwealth of Nations, La Francophonie, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the Latin Union), level of economic development or type of economy (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC), or religion (Organization of the Islamic Conference).

International organizations developed mainly from the need of nations and governments to have a neutral forum where to debate and consider matters of importance to more than one particular nation.

Among the first IOs was the future International Telecommunications Union, which was founded by the signing of the International Telegraph Convention by twenty countries in May 1865. In the nineteenth century, France showed interest in the creation of many international organizations (such as those which maintain the Systè me international d'unité s (metric system).

International organizations describe and define their purpose in their charter or other document of creation. International Organizations exist with diverse aims, including but not limited to increase international relations, promote education, health care, economic development, environmental protection, human rights, humanitarian efforts, inter-cultural approach.

Global organizations include United Nations, its specialized agencies, and associated organizations. There are more than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as the UN system. Day in and day out, the UN and its family of organizations work to promote respect for human rights, protect the environment, fight disease and reduce poverty. UN agencies define the standards for safe and efficient air travel and help improve telecommunications and enhance consumer protection. The United Nations leads the international campaigns against drug trafficking and terrorism. Throughout the world, the UN and its agencies assist refugees, set up programs to expand food production and lead the fight against AIDS. World Trade Organization, INTERPOL, FIFA and some other organizations are referred to global organizations with their specific tasks and characteristics. The stated aims of the UNO are to maintain international peace and security, to safeguard human rights, to provide a mechanism for international law, and to promote social and economic progress, improve living standards and fight diseases. It provides the opportunity for countries to balance global independence and national interests when addressing international problems.

Regional organizations group almost all the countries in their respective continents. European organizations include: European Union (EU), Council of Europe (COE), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). Asian States are represented by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Eurasian organizations comprise Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Eurasian Economic Community, GUAM, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). Africa is represented by African Union and The Americas – by Organization of American States (OAS). Trans-Atlantic organizations include North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

International organizations may have various membership criteria. Some International organizations largely represent the independent states formed after the breakup of an empire, like Unió n Latina, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC), Commonwealth of Nations, La Francophonie, Non-Aligned Movement, Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference. Financial international organizations deal with economic and financial challenges Bank for International Settlements, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank Group.

7. Word Study: Key Terms