Chapter 7 International Organizations and Transnational Actors Learning

Chapter 7 International Organizations and Transnational Actors

Learning Objectives 1. Define international governmental organization, international nongovernmental organization, transnational corporation, and transnational advocacy network. 2. Understand the distinction between intergovernmentalism and supranationalism. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 2

Learning Objectives 3. Describe the structure of the United Nations and the functions of its various agencies, programs, funds, and commissions. 4. Evaluate different arguments concerning the significance of the United Nations. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 3

Learning Objectives 5. Describe the structure of the European Union and the functions of its various branches and institutions. 6. Analyze the challenges facing the European Union. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 4

Learning Objectives 7. Assess the influence of transnational corporations on governments. 8. Identify the ways in which international nongovernmental organizations and transnational advocacy networks influence international politics. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 5

Types of International Organizations § International Governmental Organizations § Three or more nation-states § Discuss issues of mutual interests § Have permanent bureaucracies Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 6

Types of International Organizations § Transnational actors § Work across borders § Members are not states § Transnational corporations § Operations in more than one country § Transnational nongovernmental organizations § Diverse § Individuals or organizations Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 7

Types and Examples of International Organizations Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 8

Why Form International Organizations? § § It is in the states interest to do so Focus on collective action problems Provide a forum for discussion Governance vs. government § Intergovernmentalism § Supranationalism Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 9

The United Nations System § Means for great powers to join forces to promote peace and development § Most visible IGO, universal membership § Purposes and Principles of the UN § Goal of effective international action vs. state sovereignty § Relative rights of large and small states § Five “great powers” Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 10

The United Nations System § Organization of the UN § General Assembly § Secretariat § Security Council Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 11

The United Nations System § Deterring and Countering Aggression § States should refrain from threat/use of force § States reserve right of self-defense § U. S. attack on Iraq in 2003 § Deterrent function is based on model of collective security § Three barriers to UN-sponsored force Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 12

The United Nations System • Peacekeeping § Helps solve security dilemma → helps stop fighting § Humanitarian relief, running elections § Perception that UN peacekeepers are ineffective § Peacekeeping vs. peace enforcement § Typically underfunded Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 13

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Nigeria accepting the Nobel Peace prize in part for her support of women’s participation in peace-building work. What role do international actors and nonstate actors play in conflict resolution? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 14

Peacekeeping forces are lightly armed, and therefore, they cannot repel a determined effort to break the peace. These Dutch peacekeepers were captured and held hostage by Serb forces in Bosnia. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 15

The United Nations System § The Specialized Agencies § Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) § Oversees work on development and related issues § Range of programs, funds, commissions, agencies § International Court of Justice (ICJ) § The World Court § Decides on disputes that arise over treaty obligations § Authority on international body of law Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 16

The United Nations System § Four Views of the United Nations § § UN as World Government UN as Irrelevant UN as a Tool for States UN as a Source of Norms Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 17

The United Nations System § Problems and Prospects for the UN § Inability to solve pressing global issues § Too powerful relative to states § Reflects politics among states Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 18

The European Union § “Community of States” § Pushed bounds of international collaboration § Supranational level of government § Functions like a single state in many economic areas Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 19

The European Union § Historical Evolution of the EU § European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) § Management to promote industrial recovery from war § Promote peace by binding key war-making sectors § Integration had major benefits § Economic: lower trade barriers and larger markets § Political: facilitated peace § Spillover Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 20

The European Union § Treaty of Rome (1957) § Founding document of current EU § Signed by six states § Added Euratom – nuclear power § Added European Economic Community (EEC) § Covered trade liberalization § EU has widened and deepened Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 21

Stages of Economic Integration Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 22

The European Union § Maastricht Treaty (1992) § Changed name to European Union § Creation of a common security and foreign policy § Proposed goal of single currency § Single Currency § 12 of 15 members joined currency in 1992 § 17 of 27 are currently using euros § Requires all states to agree to single monetary policy § European Central Bank Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 23

The European Union § The Lisbon Treaty § § § Created President of the EU Council High Representative of Foreign Affairs Modified voting system Increased power of European Parliament Reduced power of European Council Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 24

The European Union § Organization of the EU § European Commission (“cabinet”) § § Each commissioner heads a ministry Purpose: govern for benefit of entire community Oversees implementation of policy Drafts new legislation § Council of the European Union § Represents the governments of member states § Co-decision process § Most votes require qualified majority Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 25

The European Union § Organization of the EU § European Parliament § Members are directly elected by the citizens § Weakest institution § Arrangement called “democratic deficit” § European Court of Justice § Similar to U. S. Supreme Court § Most judicial functions handled by member states Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 26

The European Union § Problems and Prospects for the EU § Uncertain effectiveness of decision making § Question of expansion § Agricultural subsidies hinder move to free markets § Universally regarded as a success Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 27

Vote Quotas in the Council of the European Union Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 28

Major Regional Economic Organizations, 2010 Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 29

Transnational Actors § What Are Transnational Actors? § Actors whose activities cut across state boundaries § Involved in almost all world issues § Two major kinds § Transnational corporations § International nongovernmental organizations Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 30

Transnational Actors § Transnational Corporations § Companies whose production and sales operations span more than one country § Firms seeking international suppliers and markets § Pursue global strategies for production, sales, research, and investment Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 31

Indigenous protestors block a highway in Guachala, Ecuador, May 2009. The protestors opposed government policy on exploitation of mineral and oil rights. How are the rights and interests of local populations weighed against those of international corporations? Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 32

Transnational Actors § Transnational Corporations § § Positive and negative views on their role Governments compete intensely for TNCs use government as salespeople TNCs may be eroding state sovereignty Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 33

Transnational Actors § Transnational Advocacy Networks § Organize across boundaries to pursue some political, social, or cultural goal § Complex relationships with governments § Can work in opposition or collaboration § Roles of TANs § Lobbying Governments § Setting Agendas § Providing Services Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 34

Earthquake survivors queue for water at a makeshift housing compound in Port au Prince, Haiti, 2010. Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 35

End of Westphalian State System? § State system is in decline § Counterargument § Sovereign states are alive and well § Sovereignty is with entity that possesses monopoly on legitimate use of force Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. 36