The Role and Functions of International Organizations

The second chapter reviews the main theories and academic perspectives applied to the study of international organizations. We start by explaining the different meanings associated with the term international organization. Then we focus on how the role of the international organizations has been conceptualized across the different academic disciplines to highlight the current literature gaps and future research trajectories.

This paper uses history, various organizations and a test case to show how International organizations like Intergovernmental Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations work in the international system and help form international law. The question discussed is where these institutions are of a value or a detraction to the international system and if they are a help or a detracting factor in International Law. Using the history of these organizations and the history of international law in regards to institutions and how institutions have developed over time in reaction to various world events. Institutional qualities and failures are noted as well. IGO’s limited effectiveness and the private agenda based policies of the NGOs are also discussed and how that affects international law.

1994

Without the international agencies, the world would be chaotic and a lot of conflicts would be worsened and get out of control. Although the role of the UN was criticized by many organizations by its failure of certain late developments especially in the case of Gulf war, we must look at the whole picture to see that the UN is facing a huge problem because of lack of funds, non-respect of the commitment of certain member states, and the mechanism of veto rights that give certain nations more power than the others, the UN and its agencies are fundamental in regulating the world as it is and have created a huge difference in protecting human rights, nation rights, and maintaining peace for most countries. The series of negotiations for better trade exchanges, international conference on world issues, regional forum between member states, world federations of professional bodies are all signs for a better harmonization of rules conducting to the maintenance of peace though a sustainable policy which is profitable to all nations.

Do international organizations act for the maintenance of international peace, or are they little more than guarantors of the interests of powerful states?

Journal of Global Social Sciences

The myriad of challenges such as diseases, climate change, wars, terrorism, hunger and starvation, pollution, environmental degradation, etc, confronting the global community today deserve nothing than a concerted effort via international organizations to address on a permanent basis. This is incontrovertibly true because international organizations provide some veritable platforms through which nation states as well as individuals desirous of finding solutions to their common challenges can meet and have these issues resolved. This paper, therefore, intends to discuss the essence of international organizations in the contemporary society. The motive is not just to showcase the crucial roles of international organizations but to also draw the attention of the public to the salient opportunities hidden in these institutions. The data for the piece are based on the secondary source which includes textbooks, journal articles and other online materials. Liberal institutionalism has been...

International organisations play a central part in the international system as in most cases of we find international organisations in one form or another at the heart of all most all of the political and economic challenges of the 21 st century. The presence of these international organisations has shaped the international relations between different actors both state and non state actors. Their presence is vital as they are often the vessel through which states interact and exert their interest with the international system. These different organisations all so set the rules within the international system and how states are supposed to behave within the international system. International organisations can be understood from two points as intergovernmental organisation such as the UN and also as international non governmental organisation such as Amnesty international. Hurd (2014) is of the view that international organisations are constituted by international law as being independent entities which are separate from states. They also have legal standing with certain rights and obligations and can sue and also be sued in a court of justice. Thus their behavior is also regulated by the international law. International organisations are also composed of states which have voluntarily come up together and formed an organisation consisting of three or more countries. The importance of international organisations can be understood from analyzing three theories which are idealism, realism and institutionalists point of view. Institutionalisms understands international organisations as completely rational. On the other hand realist believe that since power of international organisations are limited, it is impossible for any international organisation to be able to change the anarchical structure of the international system as states can easily withdraw their membership if their interest are threatened. On the contrary the the proponents of idealism understand international organisations as a representative of commonly accepted values by the different states and no state actors within the international system and believe that cooperation leads to an order in the international system. International relations can e understood as the interactions of states and non state actors within the international system for the common good through diplomacy under the regulation of international law.