International organisations Flashcards
What are examples of IOs that don’t just represent states?
- BINGO
- TNCs
- WHO
How do constructivists view IOs?
- focus on interaction between states and IOs
- IOs as creating norms and rules, as a decision process
- Inis Claude- a process- change in line with needs of the time
- Ernest Haas- adaptation and learning within IOs
- epistemic community
How do realists view IOs?
- way for states to mask power
- political resources states use to pursue good
- John Bolton ‘UN does not exist’ it is a group of states who independently meet in UN building and add UN labels to their decisions- denies difference between states acting alone and in UN
How do liberals view IOs?
- they encourage flow of information and opportunities to negotiate
- give credibility to already existing agreements
- monitor what governments do
- represent citizens’ interests
- increase collective security
How do Marxists view IOs?
- they are the international ruling class at play
- states act in their own interest
- in non state- centric organisations, Elite actors have advantage- eg pharmaceutical companies invested in WHO.
What are different ways to view IOs?
- as actors in their own rights
- as tools in the hands of others
- as forums where states come to meet
What is the paradox of IOs?
Their powers and their existence is a derivative of those same actors they are supposed to regulate, govern and influence.
What is Wendt’s test of personhood for composite actors?
If it can do things that it’s constituent parts are unable to do alone it is an effective legal character
What do contractualists focus on regarding IOs?
The choices states, as agents, make to bind themselves to and comply with IOs
What does regime theory focus on regarding IOs?
International rules and their effects on states
Why did the League of Nations fail?
- failure to rebuild economic system post WW1
- did not address economic reasons for war
- did not have the US- only countries with own redevelopment
- no disarmament
- relied on member states to take action
What are changes in the UN in comparison to the LoN?
Focus on economic causes of war. Eg the disadvantage of a strong currency, as citizens won’t buy products and the influence of commercial power.
What are problems with the UN’s peacekeeping methods?
- assumes both sides have stopped fighting and want peace- realists criticise this as they see no end to war
- if the superpowers don’t want it, it won’t happen
- selective- focus on Africa over US/ Mexico border, only humiliated countries have peacekeeping forces
- they can only interfere in threats to global peace, not local affairs
- peacekeepers become the richest in town- centre of criminal activity and have a lack of discipline
