Different Types of Intergovernmental Organizations

Read the text paying attention to the new words and describe the role and the missions of international organizations.

An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states (referred to as member states), or of other intergovernmental organizations. Intergovernmental organizations are often called international organizations, although that term may also include international nongovernmental organization such as international non-profit organizations (NGOs) or multinational corporations.

Intergovernmental organizations are an important aspect of public international law. IGOs are established by treaty that acts as a charter creating the group. Treaties are formed when lawful representatives (governments) of several states go through a ratification process, providing the IGO with an international legal personality. IGOs in a legal sense should be distinguished from simple groupings or coalitions of states, such as the G8 or the Quartet. Such groups or associations have not been founded by a constituent document and exist only as task groups.

Intergovernmental organizations must also be distinguished from treaties. Many treaties (such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, or the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade before the establishment of the World Trade Organization) do not establish an organization and instead rely purely on the parties for their administration becoming legally recognized as an ad hoc commission. Other treaties have established an administrative apparatus which was not deemed to have be granted international legal personality.

Intergovernmental organizations differ in function, membership and membership criteria. They have various goals and scopes, often outlined in the treaty or charter. Some IGOs developed to fulfill a need for a neutral forum for debate or negotiation to resolve disputes. Others developed to carry out mutual interests in a unified form. Common stated aims are to preserve peace through conflict resolution and better international relations, promote international cooperation on matters such as environmental protection, to promote human rights, to promote social development (education, health care), to render humanitarian aid, and to economic development. Some are more general in scope (the United Nations) while others may have subject-specific missions (such as Interpol or the International Organization for Standardization and other standards organizations). Common types include:

• Worldwide or global organizations - generally open to nations worldwide as long as certain criteria are met. This category includes the United Nations (UN) and its specialized agencies, the Universal Postal Union, Interpol, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• Regional organizations - open to members from a particular region(-s) or continent(-s) of the world. This category includes the Council of Europe (CoE), European Union (EU), NATO, OSCE, African Union (AU), Organization of American States (OAS), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Arab League, and Union of South American Nations.
• Cultural, linguistic, ethnic, religious, or historical organizations - open to members based on some cultural, linguistic, ethnic, religious, or historical link. Examples include the Commonwealth of Nations, La Francophonie, Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Latin Union, or Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
• Economic organizations - based on economic organization. Some are dedicated to free trade, the reduction of trade barriers (the World Trade Organization) and International Monetary Fund. Others are focused on international development. International cartels, such as the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC), also exist. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was founded as an economics-focused organization. An example of a recently formed economic IGO is the Bank of the South.
• Educational organizations - centered around tertiary level study. Academy of European Law offers training in European law to lawyers, judges, barristers, solicitors, in-house counsel and academics. EUCLID (Euclid University) chartered as a university and umbrella organization dedicated to sustainable development in signatory countries and United Nations University efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.

Interview with Robert L. Gallucci,

Dean of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service

of Georgetown University, January 31, 2007

Read and act out the following conversation between journalist Janet H. Moore and expert on foreign affair Robert L. Gallucci. What points do they discuss? What are the qualities of a good international lawyer according to Dean Robert L. Gallucci?

Introduction: Robert L. Gallucci has served as the Dean of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University since 1996. From 1998 through 2001 he also served as the United States Special Envoy dealing with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. Dean Gallucci, who holds a Ph.D. in politics from Brandeis University, has a distinguished academic background. Before becoming Dean of the School of Foreign Service, he taught at Swarthmore College and John Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and received fellowships from the Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard University and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Janet H. Moore: I am speaking with Dean Robert Gallucci of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Welcome, Dean Gallucci.

Dean Gallucci: It’s a pleasure to be here.

Janet H. Moore: What kind of training, talents and other qualities do you think make a person most effective when working in the international arena?

Dean Gallucci: I think if I focused on the word “international”, the first quality would be an appreciation for the differences between people. That quality is useful in any endeavor but, if you are particularly engaged in international negotiations, international business, or another area, there are going to be cultural differences that highlight or exacerbate the differences one confronts within your own culture. So, I would probably put that first. Second, I think having a grasp of history is important so that you understand where other people are, as they say, coming from.

Janet H. Moore: Are there any tips for young professionals who want to break into the international arena, either private or public?

Dean Gallucci: I think there is always a danger of being over credentialed. Here are two things that would be very useful to a young professional interested in moving into this field. One is some academic or formal study in international affairs; that would demonstrate a kind of commitment to the field, and also provide an organized way of trying to understand how nation states act and the nature of our now globalized world. I am speaking about either graduate or undergraduate study with some emphasis on international affairs. The second thing is experience, and having demonstrated an interest by voting with your feet by looking for opportunities that are international. Very often when a graduate of the School of Foreign Service is adrift and not sure of what to do, I will say: What about the Peace Corps? Or, what about something else that immediately brings you in contact with an international environment? The exact area in which any particular individual may go will reflect his or her separate interests. Someone may have no interest in the Peace Corps, and may be interested in business, but, I still suggest an international enterprise so that you start to underline for your later career moves an early interest in international affairs.

Janet H. Moore: From your personal observations, are there any particular characteristics or qualities that you feel make an international lawyer particularly effective?

Dean Gallucci: I have worked with international lawyers all through my professional career. As I think back to these lawyers, the traits that I would pick out, and those that would be most effective, would be: first, having a substantive interest in issues at hand in addition to the legal dimensions that they were there to address. In other words, what every lawyer wants is to be in on the ground floor. That is an easier thing to accomplish if you have built up respect with the lawyer. Rather than regarding the lawyer as sort of a hired gun coming in to do the legal aspect of the issue, the lawyer becomes part of the whole team. Again, if I think back, those lawyers certainly needed a solid grasp of the law, and certainly intelligence and overall judgment, but also a really deep appreciation for all the issues, including legal issues. That is what I would say without a doubt is the most important thing.

Janet H. Moore: Thank you so much Dean. I appreciate your time.

Dean Gallucci: Thank you.

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Date: 2015-01-12; view: 1596