Module 5: The United Nations and Contemporary Global Governance

Global Governance

Refers to the various intersecting processes that creates an international order.

Semblance

The fact that states in an international order continue to adhere to certain global norms means that there is a _______ of world order despite the lack of a single world government.

Global Governance or World Governance

A movement towards political cooperation among transnational actors, aimed at negotiating responses to problems that affect more than one state or region.

International Organization

It refers to international intergovernmental organizations or groups that are primarily made up of member-states.

Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs)
International non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Multinational enterprises—A multinational corporation (MNC)

Types of International Organization

Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs)

Refers to an entity created by treaty, involving two or more nations, to work in good faith, on issues of common interest.

International non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Voluntary group of individuals or organizations, usually not affiliated with any government, that is formed to provide services or to advocate a public policy.

Multinational enterprises—A multinational corporation (MNC)

A company that operates in its home country, as well as in other countries around the world.

Power of Classification
Power to Fix Meanings
Power to Diffuse Norms

Powers of International Organizations

Scholar Michael N. Barnett
Martha Finnemore

_______ and ______ list three specific powers of IOs.

Power of Classification

They create powerful standards and establish identities (e.g., the UN defining what a "refugee" is).

Power to Fix Meanings

They define broad terms like "security" or "development" (e.g., defining security to include safety from environmental harm, not just military violence).

Power to Diffuse Norms

They spread ideas and accepted codes of conduct across the world.

General Assembly (GA)
Security Council (SC)
Economic and Social Council (ECOSC)
International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The Secretariat

The Five Active Organs of the UN.

General Assembly (GA)

The main policy-making and representative organ where decisions on important questions require a two-thirds majority. It has 193 member states.

Security Council (SC)

Considered the most powerful organ. It consists of 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, and USA) and 10 elected members active for two-year terms.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSC)

The central platform for discussing sustainable development and coordinating social and environmental issues.

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Settles legal disputes submitted by states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions.

The Secretariat

The administrative body led by the Secretary-General, carrying out the day-to-day work of the UN.

International Court of Justice

Established in 1945 by the UN Charter that settles disputes between States. General legal disputes and advisory opinions.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

Established in 2002 by the Rome Statute that prosecutes individuals.

Genocide
Crime Against Humanity
War Crimes
Crimes of Aggression

The ICC prosecutes four specific types of offenses.