17 The concept of International organizations

Summary

The video script discusses the evolution and significance of international organizations since the 19th century, highlighting their growth and role in global governance. It defines these organizations as associations of states or other organizations with specific tasks, equipped with permanent organs and governed by international law. The video touches on the political issues of legitimacy and accountability, emphasizing the rationality and centrality of law in the functioning of these bureaucracies.

Takeaways

• 🕰️ International organizations have been around since the 19th century but significantly increased in the second half of the 20th century, reflecting their growing importance in global governance.
• 🌐 There are several hundred international organizations worldwide, ranging from small technical organizations to large universal organizations like the United Nations.
• 🤝 International organizations are defined as associations of states or other organizations, established to serve specific tasks with permanent organs.
• 🏛️ The creation of international organizations is a result of a free intent to come together and act together, unlike states which are often the result of a factual process.
• 📜 Membership in international organizations is often made up of states, but can also include other international organizations, as seen with the European Union's membership in the WTO.
• 📑 International organizations are established through juridical acts, typically treaties, which serve as their foundational instruments and are binding like a constitution.
• 🔍 Organizations are specialized based on functionalism, designed to fulfill certain functions such as monitoring, protecting, or regulating specific areas.
• 🛠️ Equipped with permanent organs like a Secretariat and governing bodies, international organizations are institutions with their own internal culture and habits.
• 📚 Bureaucracies within international organizations are rational and central to modern governance, with law being a key driver of their actions and decisions.
• 📖 The legal basis for any new task within an international organization is a question of international law, highlighting the importance of legal expertise in these entities.
• 🔑 Civil servants in international organizations derive their power and authority from the law, always referring to legal instruments to justify their actions.

Q & A

What is the historical context of the emergence of international organizations?

International organizations have been in existence since the 19th century, but their number and importance significantly increased during the second half of the 20th century.

How many international organizations are there today, and what is the range of their sizes and purposes?

There are a few hundred international organizations around the world today, ranging from small technical organizations like bilateral River commissions to large universal organizations with crucial political tasks, such as the United Nations.

What role do international organizations play in global governance?

International organizations play an important role in global governance by providing expertise and professionalism, often being relied upon by states to design, decide, and implement common policies.

What are some of the concerns and problems associated with international organizations?

Concerns and problems associated with international organizations include issues of legitimacy and accountability, which are largely political issues rather than purely legal ones.

How can international organizations be defined from a legal perspective?

From a legal perspective, international organizations can be defined as associations of states and/or other organizations, established to serve specific tasks and equipped with permanent organs.

What distinguishes the creation of international organizations from the formation of states?

Unlike the formation of states, which is largely a factual process, the creation of international organizations is the result of a free intent to come together and act together.

Why are international organizations often referred to as intergovernmental organizations?

International organizations are often referred to as intergovernmental organizations because their members are typically states, although other international organizations can also be members if the rules allow it.

What is the significance of a treaty in the establishment of an international organization?

A treaty is significant in the establishment of an international organization as it serves as the basic instrument or 'constitution' that is binding upon the organization and governs its creation and operation.

What is the concept of functionalism in the context of international organizations?

Functionalism in the context of international organizations refers to the idea that these organizations are established to fulfill certain functions and are specialized accordingly, such as monitoring and protecting migrating birds or regulating fisheries.

Why are international organizations equipped with permanent organs?

International organizations are equipped with permanent organs, such as a Secretariat and governing bodies, to serve as institutions with their own habits, character, and internal culture, distinguishing them from ad hoc international conferences.

How do international organizations relate to the concept of bureaucracies, and what role does law play in this context?

International organizations are bureaucracies, characterized by their rationality and central role in modern governance. Law is central to bureaucracies, as bureaucrats, including international civil servants, derive their power and authority from the law and always refer to it to justify their actions.