IO Case Studies

UN Security Council Veto Ukraine

The UNSC is meant to make global peace but it’s 5 permanent members hold veto powers, which were used by russia in 2022 to block their own condemnations.

UNSC Veto Ukraine (Realism)

Proves Mearshimers view that IOs have no power when their goals disalign with those of states.

WTO Dispute Settlement

WTO Settlement Mechanism allows smaller countries to legally challenge trade disputes against economic giants fairly.

WTO Dispute Settlement (Liberal Institutionalism)

Shows that IO rules can bind powerful states and that these international laws can create a structured global market and limit power politics.

Structural Adjustment Programs by IMF & World Bank

IMF and World Bank forced developing nations to change privatisation, gov spending, market borders in return for loans.

Structural Adjustment (Postcolonialism)

IOs like IMF are not global helpers but are simply there to improve Western hegemony by forcing Western ways on smaller states and erode their sovereignty.