International OrganizationsIntroduction to Global Studies

XIDS 2301

IGOs vs. NGOs

From the book:IGOs1900 few dozen2008 300

NGOs1909 1752002 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