International Organizations and Law Overview

International Organization (IO)

An entity created by multiple countries to work on shared issues like peace, health, or trade.

Intergovernmental Organization (IGO)

An IO made up of sovereign states (e.g., UN, EU, NATO) that works through formal agreements.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

A nonprofit, independent group that operates internationally to provide aid or promote causes.

United Nations (UN)

A global IGO founded in 1945 to maintain peace, promote human rights, and coordinate humanitarian aid.

UN Security Council

One of the UN's main organs; responsible for peace and security. Has five permanent members with veto power.

UN General Assembly

A forum for all UN members to discuss international issues and pass non-binding resolutions.

International Law

Legal rules and agreements between countries; often based on treaties and customary practices.

Domestic Law

Laws that operate within a specific country and are enforced by national institutions.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Also called the World Court; settles legal disputes between states.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

Prosecutes individuals for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

Functionalism

Integration theory that cooperation should start in technical areas and expand over time.

Neo-Functionalism

Builds on functionalism; argues that integration in one area creates pressure for integration in others.

Sense of Community Theory

Integration grows from shared values and identity, leading to deeper cooperation.

Supranationalism

When states give up some sovereignty to a higher authority, like the EU.

European Union (EU)

A political and economic union of European countries with shared laws, a common market, and in many cases, a shared currency.

Eurozone

EU countries that use the euro as their currency.

Sovereignty

The right of a state to govern itself without external interference.

International Court of Justice (ICJ) vs. ICC

ICJ focuses on state-to-state legal disputes, while ICC deals with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

General Assembly

Discusses and votes on global issues (non-binding).

Security Council

Maintains peace and security (binding resolutions).

Economic and Social Council

Promotes development and coordinates aid.

Secretariat

Administrative arm, headed by the Secretary-General.

Trusteeship Council

Originally for decolonization (now inactive).

Free Trade Area

No tariffs between member countries.

Customs Union

Common external tariffs on non-members.

Common Market

Free movement of goods, services, people, and capital.

Monetary Union

Adoption of a shared currency (euro) by some members.

Deepening Challenges

Agreeing on further political integration, balancing sovereignty.

Widening Challenges

Including countries like Turkey or Ukraine amid political, human rights, and economic concerns.

IGOs vs. NGOs

IGOs are formed by states through treaties, while NGOs are formed independently of governments.