APComp: Unit 5, Political Economic Changes, Development - The Role of International and Supranational Organizations, UN, IMF, World Bank, WTO, EU

What This Means

International and supranational organizations play a crucial role in shaping global governance and influencing the policies of individual countries. These organizations, such as the United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), and European Union (EU), bring together countries to address common challenges, promote cooperation, and establish common standards. For example, the EU's single market allows for the free movement of goods, services, and people between member states, much like how a country's internal market allows for the free flow of goods and services within its borders.

Key Terms & Concepts

• International Organization: A group of countries that work together to achieve common goals, such as promoting peace and security (e.g., the United Nations).
• Supranational Organization: A group of countries that have transferred some of their sovereignty to a central authority, allowing it to make decisions on their behalf (e.g., the European Union).
• Multilateralism: A system of international relations where multiple countries work together to achieve common goals, often through negotiations and agreements (e.g., the Paris Agreement on climate change).
• Bilateralism: A system of international relations where two countries work together to achieve common goals, often through agreements and treaties (e.g., the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement).
• Global Governance: The system of rules, norms, and institutions that govern international relations and address global challenges (e.g., the World Health Organization's response to pandemics).
• IMF: The International Monetary Fund, an international organization that provides financial assistance to countries facing economic difficulties (e.g., Mexico's 1994 peso crisis).
• World Bank: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, an international organization that provides loans and financial assistance to countries for development projects (e.g., China's Belt and Road Initiative).
• WTO: The World Trade Organization, an international organization that promotes free trade and sets rules for international trade (e.g., the US-China trade war).
• EU: The European Union, a supranational organization that brings together 27 European countries to promote economic and political integration (e.g., the Eurozone).
• Schengen Area: A region in Europe where countries have abolished border controls, allowing for the free movement of people (e.g., the UK's Schengen Area membership before Brexit).
• Electoral Threshold: A minimum percentage of votes required for a party to enter a parliament or legislature (e.g., Germany's 5% threshold).
• Number of Chambers: The number of legislative bodies in a country's parliament (e.g., the UK's bicameral parliament with the House of Commons and House of Lords).

How This Works in Practice

• In the EU, the European Commission has the power to propose laws and regulations, which are then debated and voted on by the European Parliament (e.g., the EU's climate change policy).
• In the WTO, countries negotiate trade agreements and resolve disputes through a system of arbitration and mediation (e.g., the US-China trade war).
• In the IMF, countries can borrow money to address economic difficulties, but must agree to implement economic reforms and policies (e.g., Mexico's 1994 peso crisis).
• In the World Bank, countries can borrow money for development projects, but must agree to implement policies and reforms to address poverty and inequality (e.g., China's Belt and Road Initiative).
• In the UN, countries can participate in peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid efforts, but must agree to abide by UN resolutions and decisions (e.g., the UN's response to the Syrian civil war).

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: International organizations are always effective and powerful.
• Correction: International organizations are only as effective as the countries that participate in them and the agreements they make. For example, the UN's inability to prevent the Syrian civil war highlights the limitations of international organizations.
• Misunderstanding: Supranational organizations always have more power than national governments.
• Correction: Supranational organizations have limited powers and must respect the sovereignty of their member states. For example, the EU's powers are limited by the principle of subsidiarity, which requires decisions to be taken at the lowest level possible.
• Misunderstanding: Global governance is a new concept that only emerged in the 21st century.
• Correction: Global governance has been a feature of international relations for centuries, with the League of Nations and the UN being two notable examples.

Quick Comparison Table or Scenarios

Scenario 1: Which type of legitimacy does Kim Jong-un rely on? Answer: Charismatic legitimacy, as he relies on his personal charm and authority to maintain power. Explanation: Charismatic legitimacy is a type of legitimacy where a leader's personal charm and authority are used to maintain power, rather than through institutional or procedural means.

Scenario 2: Which international organization has been involved in the Syrian civil war? Answer: UN, through peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid efforts. Explanation: The UN has played a role in the Syrian civil war through its peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid efforts, but its inability to prevent the conflict highlights the limitations of international organizations.

Last-Minute Exam Cram

• A 'state' is not the same as a 'government' – the state is the permanent institution, the government is temporary.
• The EU is a supranational organization, not an international organization.
• The IMF provides financial assistance to countries facing economic difficulties.
• The World Bank provides loans and financial assistance to countries for development projects.
• The WTO promotes free trade and sets rules for international trade.
• The UN has six main organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.
• The EU's single market allows for the free movement of goods, services, and people between member states.
• The IMF's quota system determines a country's borrowing capacity.
• The World Bank's IBRD provides loans and financial assistance to countries for development projects.
• The WTO's Dispute Settlement Body resolves trade disputes between countries.
• The EU's European Commission has the power to propose laws and regulations.
• The UN's peacekeeping missions aim to maintain peace and security in conflict zones.