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Study Notes on International Organizations and Theoretical Frameworks in International Relations

Introduction to International Organizations (IOs)

  • Understanding IOs is complex due to their multifaceted role in global politics.

  • At the national level, political parties and groups compete to influence government policy.

  • In the global arena, various actors compete to shape values and resource distribution in the absence of centralized governance.

  • IOs serve as platforms for global politics and independent entities establishing international norms, rules, and values.

Recent Disruptions to the Global Order

  • The election of Donald Trump and the UK's decision to leave the EU signal potential shifts in the liberal world order established after World War II.

  • This post-war order was founded on liberal values like integration and free markets, now challenged by nationalism, as evidenced in China and Russia.

  • Debates continue on whether this represents the end of the liberal world order or a pushback against globalization facing challenges like inequality, poverty, disease, and climate change.

Types of International Organizations

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

  • Defined as formal institutions primarily consisting of sovereign states.

  • Member states voluntarily join, contribute funds, and engage in decision-making per a charter or treaty.

  • Examples:

    • United Nations (UN)

    • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

    • European Union (EU)

    • League of Arab States (Arab League)

Membership Categories of IGOs

  • Universal Membership: Any state can join (e.g., UN).

  • Limited Membership: Participation restricted (e.g., Arab League based on Arabic-speaking states).

Purposes of IGOs

  • IGOs can be multi-purpose (e.g., UN) or focused on specific issues (e.g., ILO for labor standards, WTO for trade).

Legal Personality of IGOs

  • IGOs possess international legal personality, allowing them to act under international law, enter agreements, and operate independently of member states.

  • Legal personality can derive from constitutive treaties or case law precedents (e.g., UN's recognition of its legal personality in the "Reparation for Injuries" case by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)).

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)

  • Defined as non-profit, private entities engaged internationally to advocate for specific causes or policies.

  • NGOs exert pressure on states and IGOs to adopt or modify policies (e.g., Amnesty International, Greenpeace).

Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

  • Defined as for-profit enterprises operating across multiple countries, significantly impacting international trade and politics.

  • MNCs often have resources exceeding those of national governments (e.g., Apple, Walmart).

Global Governance

  • Refers to how state and non-state actors (IGOs, NGOs, MNCs) tackle global challenges without a world government.

  • Involves creating, sustaining, and enforcing international laws governing state and organizational interactions.

  • Importance of International Law:

    • Created through treaties and enforced by states and IGOs, addressing issues from climate change to human rights.

    • Distinction between IOs and international law:

    • IOs are the actors or entities in the international system (e.g., UN, WTO).

    • International Law pertains to the rules, norms, and principles governing interactions among these actors and states.

    • IOs play crucial roles in developing, interpreting, and enforcing IL but are not the law itself.

    • The relationship between IL and IOs is complex and interdependent:

    • IOs rely on IL for their foundation, structure, and functions, defined by international treaties.

    • IOs contribute to establishing customary international law through practices and provide dispute resolution mechanisms.

Theoretical Frameworks in International Relations (IR)

  • The text explores five theoretical frameworks for analyzing IOs: realism, liberalism, Marxism, feminism, and constructivism.

Realism

  • Definition: Realism, or power politics, focuses on power acquisition, maintenance, and exercise as core drivers of international relations.

  • Emphasizes conflict among states in an anarchic environment.

  • Realists view IOs as reflections of dominant state interests, instruments of state power rather than independent entities.

    • Hegemonic Stability Theory: Argues that stability in the international system is likely when a single dominant state provides collective goods and enforces international rules.

Liberalism

  • Emphasizes cooperation among states and the role of non-state actors in international relations.

  • Argues that global interdependence lowers conflict likelihood and that IOs facilitate cooperation, offering negotiation forums and shared interests.

    • Global Interdependence suggests states' connections across economic, social, cultural, and environmental spheres increase incentives for cooperation and decrease military utility.

Marxism

  • Focuses on economic class struggle, capitalism's role in international relations, and power dynamics between developed (core) and developing states (periphery).

  • Views IOs as tools that maintain capitalist structures, serving dominant states and corporations while perpetuating inequalities.

    • Capitalism is characterized by private ownership and competition in a free market.

Feminism

  • Analyzes global politics through a gender lens, critiquing IOs for marginalizing women’s issues and perpetuating gender inequalities.

Constructivism

  • Emphasizes how social norms and shared identities shape state interactions and IO functions.

  • Argues reality is socially constructed, viewing IOs as influential in constructing state identities and norms through discourse and institutional cultures.

Organization of the Text

  • Chapter 2 will provide an overview of key IGOs, NGOs, and MNCs, examining their structures, functions, and impacts on world politics.

  • Case studies will reveal practical implications of these organizations' actions and theoretical frameworks.

Challenges Faced by International Organizations

  • IOs confront numerous challenges, such as political paralysis, national interest conflicts, and budgetary constraints amid evolving global crises.

  • Addressing global problems is complicated by fluctuating power dynamics necessitating adaptation to new political, economic, and social realities.

IR Theories: Contrasting Views on Sovereignty & National Interests

  • Analyzing contrasting perspectives, particularly those of Presidents Donald Trump (2017) and Barack Obama (2016).

    • Trump’s Perspective (2017):

    • Emphasized nationalism, state sovereignty, and mutual respect among nations.

    • Used “sovereignty” 21 times, stressing state autonomy and non-interference in international relations.

    • Advocated bilateral agreements over multilateralism.

    • Obama’s Perspective (2016):

    • Advocated for international cooperation and warned against divisive tendencies.

    • Highlighted the importance of collective action to tackle challenges such as climate change and terrorism, proposing pooled sovereignty for common good.

Realism in Detail

Definition of Realism

  • Definition: Realism defines international relations as focused on power dynamics within an anarchic system, prioritizing state power.

  • Power Types:

    • Hard Power: Tangible military and economic capabilities used to coerce cooperation (e.g., warships, economic sanctions).

    • Soft Power: Attracting influence through cultural values and political ideals, leveraging non-coercive means to achieve national interests.

Central Questions of Realism

  • What accounts for order and stability in international relations without global authority?

  • How does international order deteriorate into conflict?

Historical Underpinnings of Realism

  • Emerged from European history characterized by constant wars and security dilemmas (e.g., Thirty Years War, Napoleonic Wars, World Wars).

Views on IGOs

  • Realists are skeptical of IGOs' ability to alter state behavior or prevent war, viewing them as tools of state power rather than independent entities.

Philosophical Roots of Realism

  1. Thucydides: Emphasized power dynamics in "The Peloponnesian War." Illustrated the principle of might makes right in disputes.

  2. Machiavelli: Advocated for leaders to prioritize pragmatism for state power survival.

  3. Hobbes: Introduced the concept of anarchy in Leviathan, arguing for a strong sovereign to maintain order.

  4. Clausewitz: Defined war as a continuation of political activity, emphasizing military force as a tool of statecraft.

  5. Hamilton: Stressed economic nationalism, linking economic strength to state power and foreign policy.

Contemporary Realism Assumptions

  1. State as the Primary Actor: States hold ultimate authority in international relations post-Westphalia (1648).

  2. Unitary & Rational Actor: States act as cohesive entities pursuing rational goals (security and power).

  3. Inherent Conflictual Relations: Conflict stems from human nature and anarchic structure.

  4. Security/Geostrategic Priority: National security is paramount over all other issues.

  5. Balance of Power: Order maintained through distribution of military capabilities among states.

Game Theory & International Organizations

  • Game theory illustrates collective action difficulties, with the Prisoners' Dilemma exemplifying states' self-interest hindering cooperation.

Liberalism Definition

  • Challenges realism, emphasizing cooperation's potential in achieving a peaceful global order through institutions.

Fundamental Changes Since WWII

  1. Decline of Military Force Utility

  2. Spread of Democracy

  3. Increased Global Interdependence

Philosophical Roots of Liberalism

  1. Grotius: Established foundations of international law, emphasizing cooperation.

  2. Locke: Advocated rights and limited government authority originating from the consent of the governed.

  3. Smith: Promoted free markets through individual self-interest guiding societal benefit.

  4. Ricardo: Introduced comparative advantage in trade, justifying economic interdependence.

  5. Kant: Suggested a federation of states grounded in democratic norms for lasting peace.

  6. Bentham: Advocated for utilitarianism in policy-making.

Nature of IOs in Liberalism

  • Recognizes multiple actors influence IR, emphasizing diverse agendas over simple security concerns.

Roles of IOs

  1. Overcoming Collective Action Problems

  2. Promoting Economic Prosperity

  3. Fostering Shared Values

  4. Integrative Function of MNCs

  5. Assistance for Victims

Conclusion on Realism and Liberalism

  • Fundamental contrasts exist: realism's caution vs. liberalism's optimism regarding the role of IOs and cooperation.

Critical Theories

  • Critical approaches like Marxism, Feminism, and Constructivism challenge realism and liberalism's core assumptions, focusing on socioeconomic factors, gender perspectives, and norm construction respectively.

Understanding International Relations Theories

  • Theories serve to interpret events, predict behavior, and analyze complex dynamics.

Competing Worldviews: Realism vs. Liberalism

  • Two dominant theoretical frameworks contrast significantly, illustrated by Trump's and Obama's approaches to international relations.

Realist View

  • Emphasizes state sovereignty, power politics, and national interests.

Liberal View

  • Advocates for cooperation, integration, and the benefits of international institutions.

International Organizations in Action

  • IGOs exemplify real, tangible influence on global governance through past interventions and ongoing functions across various sectors:

    • Gulf War Response: UN intervention for legitimacy and coalition building.

    • Arms Inspections: IAEA verification showcasing technical neutrality.

    • Peacekeeping Operations: UN and NATO deployment for humanitarian and security needs.

Scope and Scale of International Organizations

  • The diversity in characteristics showcases the range and evolution of IOs, addressing emerging global challenges through collaborative efforts.

Management of Global Policies

  • IOs manage policy across global health, security, and economic stability, exemplified through organizations like WHO, NATO, and IMF, celebrating their critical roles in contemporary governance.