global institutions Flashcards
what are IGOs?
intergovernmental organisations
global governance should include members from around the globe so that all opinions are fairly expressed.
what are the positives of global institutions?
Promoting Growth and Stability
Institutions aim for global economic equality,
allowing less developed countries to grow
economically. Economic growth is mainly
promoted through trade laws and regulations
set by the WTO. Special and Differential
Treatments and other agreements are put in
place by these global institutions so that
struggling economies can grow.
Global institutions stabilise economies. The
World Bank provides development loans and
aid, and the IMF provides stabilising loans.
These allow economies to stable during times
of instability, hopefully avoiding economic
crashes which can have global consequences
Societal growth is promoted by global
institutions maintaining social equality. The
International Criminal Court, as an example,
can prosecute those who have committed
genocide, war crimes, or crimes against
humanity.
Social stability is maintained by global
institutions, including the prevention of
conflicts and promoting global health. The
World Health Organisation (WHO) combats
global epidemics such as malaria, obesity,
and ebola.
Environmental stability is maintained by
IGOs and other global institutions, such as
non-government organisations (NGOs). The
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the
International Union for the Conservation of
Nature (IUCN) are some of the institutions that
work for environmental conservation.
what are negatives of global institutions?
Exacerbating Inequalities and Injustices
Some institutions have been accused of
creating more inequalities as they are not
representative of every country, putting
underrepresented countries at a disadvantage.
Institutions like G7 represent only the richest
countries. Although these institutions work to
help LICs and their debts, there are arguments
that these countries should still be involved.
As discussed previously, the World Bank and
the IMF only give loans conditionally, which
can lead countries exposed to exploitation. It
is perhaps unjust to force countries to open
their markets up to receive help
International laws and treaties are voluntary,
meaning many institutions do not hold full
power on global systems. For example,
members of the UN security council can veto
propositions. Not every country in the world is
part of the security council, meaning their laws
do not apply to these countries.
Despite global institutions’ best efforts, some
countries and companies may still act against
the policies, which can create inequalities. For
example, there is much conspiracy that Japan
are acting against the International Whaling
Committee by illegally whaling for profits
Companies may also manipulate the rules of
global institutions in order to enhance their
profits, which creates injustices. For example,
in the ‘Banana Wars’, American TNCs like Dole
argued against the EU’s special treatment of
Caribbean plantations, despite Latin American
bananas supplying 75% of the entire market.
