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International Organizations. Introduction to Global Studies XIDS 2301. IGOs vs. NGOs. From the book: IGOs 1900 few dozen 2008 300 NGOs 1909 175 2002 45,000. Intergovernmental Organizations Key conceptual points: By definition, there is no authority/government “above” states
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International Organizations Introduction to Global StudiesXIDS 2301
IGOs vs. NGOs From the book: IGOs 1900 few dozen 2008 300 NGOs 1909 175 2002 45,000
Intergovernmental Organizations Key conceptual points: By definition, there is no authority/government “above” states IGOs can be seen as a form of geopolitics, which emerged with space-time compression: Specifically, in late 1800s as result of space-compressing technologies and European imperial expansionism states “moved” closer
Intergovernmental Organizations Key conceptual points: IGOs are one way in which global political space is being (re)constructed Intensification of global enmeshment growing institutionalization of global politics Why? coordination, standardization, management, facilitation, prevention, regulation, and adjudication and avoidance of conflicts related to social flows and relations that operate and stretch across state spaces strategically participate in shaping individual state’s relationship to those flows Flows: trade, foreign investment, financial commodities (including money), tourism, migration, cultural practices, hazardous waste, knowledge, crime, narcotics, ecological impacts
Intergovernmental Organizations Late 1800s/early 1900s was important moment (first age of globalization) First major IGOs were intended to establish an international order conducive to stability and, thus, the international expansion of industrial capitalism
Intergovernmental Organizations Post WWII period was second important moment Realization of the need for inter-state (international) cooperation Continued creation of IGOs and quasi-IGOs represents a process of “internationalizing” the state e.g. US and British Treasury officials are in regular, active contact with each other and the IMF policymaking conferences are crucially important (G-20, IMF, EU meetings)
Intergovernmental Organizations We live in a world of “international regimes” forms of international governance that are distinct from government defined in terms of sovereign political power Regulate specific sectors of international or global activity, e.g. telecommunications, human rights, etc. We have a global system of governance without government In other words, perhaps there is to some degree emergent political authorities above the state e.g. the existence of international human rights is an intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign state
Nongovernmental Organizations International or transnational NGOs exist to coordinate action at a distance, i.e. to organize communities of interest across territorial boundaries They institutionalize social, cultural, political relations beyond/across national societies Different types Criticisms of