Non-State Actors in Non-State Actors in Inter-state SystemsInter-state Systems

IGOs, NGOs, and World IGOs, NGOs, and World MovementsMovements

What Are They?What Are They?

IGOs—Intergovernmental IGOs—Intergovernmental OrganizationsOrganizations– Member units are statesMember units are states

NGOs—Nongovernmental NGOs—Nongovernmental OrganizationsOrganizations– Member units are individuals and groupsMember units are individuals and groups

There has been a large increase in There has been a large increase in the number of IGOs and NGOs since the number of IGOs and NGOs since the end of WWII (esp. 90s for NGOs)the end of WWII (esp. 90s for NGOs)

PurposesPurposes

IGOs—formed to solve global and IGOs—formed to solve global and regional problemsregional problems– ““official” IGOs meet regularly, have official” IGOs meet regularly, have

structured rules and regulations, and a structured rules and regulations, and a permanent headquarterspermanent headquarters

– Most do not offer universal membershipMost do not offer universal membership– 243 at beginning of 2003, only 34 243 at beginning of 2003, only 34

offering universal membershipoffering universal membership

PurposesPurposes

NGOs—focus on a multitude of issues NGOs—focus on a multitude of issues in many global areas (economic, in many global areas (economic, military, health, etc.)military, health, etc.)– Seen as humanitarianSeen as humanitarian– End result not always positive—may End result not always positive—may

cause conflictcause conflict– Often seek changes in a states policies, Often seek changes in a states policies,

making IGO-NGO interaction usefulmaking IGO-NGO interaction useful– There are more NGOs in the Global There are more NGOs in the Global

North than the SouthNorth than the South

United NationsUnited Nations

Universal Membership (almost)Universal Membership (almost) Often used by Great Powers in the Often used by Great Powers in the

game of politicsgame of politics– 5 permanent members promote own 5 permanent members promote own

allies/dependents for membership while allies/dependents for membership while inhibiting the process for “enemy” inhibiting the process for “enemy” state’s allies/dependentsstate’s allies/dependents

GoalsGoals

To create peaceful relations between To create peaceful relations between statesstates

Solve global problemsSolve global problems– Increase the quality of life for citizensIncrease the quality of life for citizens

IdeologyIdeology

Core beliefs about the Core beliefs about the world/politics/values that structure world/politics/values that structure actionsactions

Six fundamental values of UN that Six fundamental values of UN that form its ideology: freedom, equality, form its ideology: freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, shared responsibilitynature, shared responsibility

StructureStructure

Security Council-5 permanent Security Council-5 permanent members: U.S., Britain, France, members: U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia (Soviet Union)China, Russia (Soviet Union)

General Assembly-all member statesGeneral Assembly-all member states– Majority rulesMajority rules– Only make policy recommendationsOnly make policy recommendations– Increasing power over security issuesIncreasing power over security issues

StructureStructure

Economic and Social CouncilEconomic and Social Council

Trusteeship CouncilTrusteeship Council

SecretariatSecretariat

International Court of JusticeInternational Court of Justice

DynamicsDynamics

Structure based on 1945 politics, not Structure based on 1945 politics, not today’stoday’s

Increasing reliance on NGOs for Increasing reliance on NGOs for information and policy solutionsinformation and policy solutions

Increasing influence of Global South Increasing influence of Global South in Assemblyin Assembly

Focus on access to and limits on Focus on access to and limits on resourcesresources

Working against Global North power Working against Global North power politicspolitics

BudgetBudget

Based on ability to pay—economic Based on ability to pay—economic strength of statestrength of state

U.S. pays 22% of costs and most U.S. pays 22% of costs and most military supportmilitary support

Global North only has 10 votes in Global North only has 10 votes in G.A. but pays 75% of the billG.A. but pays 75% of the bill

Global South has 175 votes and pays Global South has 175 votes and pays only 25% of the billonly 25% of the bill

RealityReality

The politics within the UN are all The politics within the UN are all about POWER—who has it and who about POWER—who has it and who seeks itseeks it

Very small budget for increasing Very small budget for increasing involvement world-wideinvolvement world-wide

Budget less than that for NY City’s Budget less than that for NY City’s police dept.police dept.

WTOWTO

Created by Great Powers to promote Created by Great Powers to promote economic stabilityeconomic stability

GATT was precursor, but little powerGATT was precursor, but little power 1995—new structure and decision making 1995—new structure and decision making

ministersministers Goals:Goals:

– Manage flow and freedom of trade globallyManage flow and freedom of trade globally– Mediate disputesMediate disputes– Change from regional/bilateral relationships to Change from regional/bilateral relationships to

global system of liberal or free tradeglobal system of liberal or free trade

Ideal vs. RealityIdeal vs. Reality

Global North and Global South give Global North and Global South give up some of their rights in order to up some of their rights in order to create a free and balanced trade create a free and balanced trade globallyglobally

Only voluntary acceptance of Only voluntary acceptance of decisionsdecisions

U.S., Canada, EU, and Japan make U.S., Canada, EU, and Japan make the decisions, then use economic and the decisions, then use economic and political clout to push them throughpolitical clout to push them through

World BankWorld Bank

U.S. holds most votes due to its being the U.S. holds most votes due to its being the largest shareholderlargest shareholder– A quota system based on economic strength of A quota system based on economic strength of

countriescountries– U.S. also has veto powerU.S. also has veto power– $$ comes from individual lenders, not the state$$ comes from individual lenders, not the state– Borrowers must show how loan will benefit the Borrowers must show how loan will benefit the

economy of the stateeconomy of the state– Usually on 25% of needed capitalUsually on 25% of needed capital– Must show democratic reformsMust show democratic reforms– Tend to require that borrowers have the Tend to require that borrowers have the

backing of the governmentbacking of the government

International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund

Originally meant to create economic Originally meant to create economic stability between Great Powers and to be a stability between Great Powers and to be a lender of last resort (mostly poorer states)lender of last resort (mostly poorer states)

Now it works to create stable exchange Now it works to create stable exchange ratesrates

Voting rights and monetary support based Voting rights and monetary support based on economic strength of stateon economic strength of state

States can borrow against “tranche”States can borrow against “tranche”– 25% of support deposited in primary funds25% of support deposited in primary funds

IMFIMF

Often places conditions on loansOften places conditions on loans– Move towards democratizationMove towards democratization– Address environmental concernsAddress environmental concerns

NATONATO

North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization Developed after WWII to insure the Developed after WWII to insure the

containment of communism in Europe.containment of communism in Europe. Often seen as an extension of U.S. power Often seen as an extension of U.S. power

in Europein Europe After the end of the Cold War, the role of After the end of the Cold War, the role of

NATO revolves around security in the NATO revolves around security in the region and anti-terrorism.region and anti-terrorism.

Future of IGOsFuture of IGOs

Global South countries see these Global South countries see these structures as a way for Global North structures as a way for Global North countries to have control over IGOscountries to have control over IGOs– Just solidifying power positionJust solidifying power position

There has been an increase in the There has been an increase in the number of regional IGO.number of regional IGO.– Membership of Global South countries in Membership of Global South countries in

regional groups in order to create regional groups in order to create strength and power for their own strength and power for their own economic concernseconomic concerns

NGOsNGOs

Create pluralistic access to Create pluralistic access to international policy makinginternational policy making

Private interest groups at global levelPrivate interest groups at global level Most promote non-threatening policy Most promote non-threatening policy

changeschanges ““Grass Roots” organizations that can Grass Roots” organizations that can

influence government policiesinfluence government policies

NGOsNGOs Seek to reduce the strength of Seek to reduce the strength of

state’s “borders” and make states state’s “borders” and make states more “porous” more “porous”

More influence on “high” politics More influence on “high” politics than “low” politicsthan “low” politics

Single issue groups more successful Single issue groups more successful than multi-issue groupsthan multi-issue groups

As there are always opposing NGOs, As there are always opposing NGOs, real power is limited—depends on real power is limited—depends on the policy goals of the statesthe policy goals of the states

Multinational CorporationsMultinational Corporations

Increase the number of jobs in an Increase the number of jobs in an area/statearea/state

Viewed by some in the Global South Viewed by some in the Global South as exploiters and creators of povertyas exploiters and creators of poverty

Become involved in domestic politicsBecome involved in domestic politics– Seek better trade conditionsSeek better trade conditions

Gain power by not being beholden to Gain power by not being beholden to any stateany state– Reduce strength of bordersReduce strength of borders– Limit ability to be taxedLimit ability to be taxed