IL March 5

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

  • IGOs are composed mainly or entirely of states.

  • Typically established by a constitutive treaty, which serves as the statute or governing instrument for the organization.

  • Example: The UN Charter acts as the constitution for the United Nations.

Types of IGOs

  • Global IGOs: Includes organizations like the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the World Bank.

  • Regional IGOs: Includes organizations like the European Union (EU) and NATO.

Characteristics of IGOs

  • Formed when two or more states come together to create a separate entity for a specific purpose.

  • States cede some of their powers to the IGO rather than acting solely bilaterally or multilaterally.

  • IGOs operate above the level of nation states.

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)

  • NGOs are established under municipal (domestic) law by individuals or private groups, often driven by a specific passion or cause.

  • They operate below the level of states.

  • Examples of influential NGOs include:

    • International Committee of the Red Cross

    • Amnesty International

    • Greenpeace

    • Doctors Without Borders

    • Human Rights Watch

Differences between IGOs and NGOs

  • IGOs are formed by states and have international legal personality which allows them to operate independently of their member states.

  • NGOs lack international legal standing and are governed by the laws of the state in which they operate.

United Nations (UN)

  • The UN is the most prominent IGO, with 193 member states (as of the transcript date).

  • Established to promote international peace and security.

  • Born out of the failures of the League of Nations and the aftermath of World War II.

Purposes of the UN (Article 1 of the UN Charter)

  1. Maintain international peace and security: Aims to prevent future global