Development of International Organizations - Essay Example

Development of International Organizations The term International Organizations has become quite familiar in the field of modern political science. Political scientists across the world have provided various definitions to the term International Organization. There have been various dichotomies when it comes to the definition of International Organization, as, “The dual meaning of its singular form, and its interchanging in many books with the word ‘institutions’, confuses the use of the term ‘organizations.’” (Archer, 2001, p.2) However, International Organization can be defined as “An international organization…represents a form of institution that refers to a formal system of rules and objectives, a rationalized administrative instrument and which has ‘a formal technical and material organization: constitutions, local chapters, physical equipments, machines, emblems, letterhead stationery, a staff, an administrative hierarchy and so forth.’” (Archer, 2001, p. 2) There has been a common tendency to confuse between ‘international organizations’ and ‘international institutions.’ In this context, writers and scholars need to remember that an internal institution actually refers to ‘the detailed structure of an international organization…for international organizations is more restricted than the sociological meaning of the word.’(Archer, 2000, p.2) According to the historical references, formation of the international organizations commenced during First Word War at the Versailles Peace Conference (1919). Formation of international organizations in nineteenth century was propelled due to certain social reasons. Political scientists widely agree to the point that in order to formation of such organizations development of sovereign states as well as ‘a relatively stable system’ was necessary in Europe. Moreover, the Great War and its horrific consequences did cast such a tremendous effect over the nations that they immediately understood if harmony between the nations could not be maintained it will not be possible to avoid tragedy of such great dimension. In addition to such factors, the social and economic issues also played a great role in the formation of international organizations. Almost at the end of the nineteenth century the European nations witnessed that they were fighting amongst each other trivial political issues and it was affecting social as well as economic stability of the countries. Consequences of those issues were also reflected in the international relationship of the countries. Thus, the European nations were “…of necessity, fashioning new means for co-operation over the issues of peace and conflict and were being faced with a growing need to co-ordinate action in the socio-economic areas of life.” (Archer, 2000, p.11) Drastic change in the communication process led to better industrial relationship among the nations. Trade and commerce played an important part in bringing the nations closer to each other. It is due to the growing rate of trade and commerce at the international level representatives of different states gathered together to discuss different aspects of public life, including ‘travel, communications, commerce or welfare’ and manage them. In order to execute all these jobs properly necessity of certain neutral bodies was realized by the nations. The international organizations are actually materialized forms of those realizations. Importance and Responsibility of the International Organization: At the first place we need to remember that importance and responsibility of the international organizations very from each other. While some of the organizations have limited access to handle international affairs others have wider range of power to deal with such matters. However, there is no denial that the international organizations perform a wide range of activities, some of them ‘overlapping, some conflicting, making their function in international relations difficult to discern.’(Archer, 2000, p.67) Functional scope of the international organizations is so vast that ‘evidence about the activities of individual organizations, especially the more specific non-governmental organizations, is not readily available and the overall effect of their existence has to be estimated or summarized from the larger, better-known institutions.’(Archer, 2000, p.67) The international organizations also have a great deal of functional activities to perform and execution of such activities is clear from aims of the international organizations. This functional activism of international organizations contributes to a great extent in developing international relationship among the nations. It is quite clear that various factors, including war, trade and tourism play the most important role in the development of the organizations but it is quite unfortunate to observe that even after formation of such organizations, on many occasions, no such explicit change occurs in the relationship between nations. However, such case is not always evident. Operation of international relationship occurs within international system itself and within scope of this system this relationship factor covers wide array of activities, including travel, business, trade, diplomatic aspects, information exchange system, police activism, terrorism, propaganda and different actions, hostile for international relationship. In proper treatment and management of all these disputes, importance and responsibility of international organizations can be realized. Roles of the international organizations can be broadly classified in three ways, namely, Instrument, Arena and Actor. The international organizations are often regarded as an essential instrument that is used by the member nations to fix up a particular matter of dispute. Such incidents are most frequently observed in case of IGOs, where the member sovereign states are empowered to curtail the actions of international organizations. The international organizations often play the role of an arena where various actions among nations take place. The organizations actually arrange different places, where the representatives of the member nations gather and they discuss over several issues in order to reach the conclusion. According to Stanley Hoffman an international organization is ‘…an arena and a stake it has been useful to each of the competing groups eager to get not only a forum of their views but also diplomatic reinforcement of their policies, in the Cold War as well as in the wars for decolonization.” (Hoffman, 1970, pp.398-99) In a very conventional ways it can said that the international organizations ‘have provided their members with the opportunity of advancing their own viewpoints and suggestions in a more open and public forum than that provided by bilateral diplomacy.’ (Archer, 2000, p.74) If we attempt to trace out certain examples, the first instance that comes before us is the use of United Nations and its allied agencies by the developing nations to provide their views regarding NIEO or New International Economic Order. The international organizations are often attributed with the role of ‘independent actor’. The word independent is quite significant and it implies that certain international organizations have the capacity to formulate their own decisions in the field of international relations without being influenced by other nations. International organizations’ attribute of an actor is very much dependent over certain criteria, including recommendations, resolutions and order radiating from its different parts, known as organs. Such decision making mandates the member nations to act according to directive of the organizations and at the same time it put a stop over possibilities of other actions that could have been undertaken by the member nations. Organizations like United Nations or OPEC, if they have taken certain decisions, then it automatically becomes mandatory for the member nations to follow the decision. Rules and Regulations: Rules and regulations of the international organizations differ from each other according to nature of their actions. Each of these organizations has certain rules and regulations that are required to be followed by each member of the organization without any exception. Why it is necessary to develop these rules and regulations? According to the nature of functioning international organizations vary from each other. These rules and regulations actually bind the member nations within a limited scope and prohibit them from executing any other action beyond that boundary. In this new era of internationalism there is a high probability that a member nation, due to lack of proper rules and regulations of the international organization, of which it is a part, can indulge in certain affairs that would lead the organization to overlap with actions of some other organization. Under such circumstances there is always a high probability of conflict. Birth of such conflict will lead to misunderstanding between the organizations as well as the member nations and evolvement of such actions must be avoided keeping in mind the factor of international relationship. Even when the organizations formulate their decisions, they always give special importance to formation of policies that might affect provisions of international law, relationship between international organizations and states ‘inter se’, law of the sea, international criminal law, provisions related to international peace and security, matters related to economic and social welfare, human rights and environmental issues. An individual, who possesses certain knowledge about international affairs, it is nor very tough for him to realize that all these issues are quite sensitive. Hence, it is onus of the international organizations to respect this area of sensitivity and formulate rules and regulations is such manner that it does not hamper function of its counterparts by any of its members. How and why did international organization develop international regime?: “The mandate and roles of several international organizations overlap and the roles of various international organizations require specification and delimitation of redundancy and competition over missions is to be avoided.” (Ghosh, 2000, p.42) In rules and regulations section of the paper it has already been mentioned that roles of the international organizations are always at a high risk of overlapping and consequences of such overlap is not at all encouraging. Role of the international organizations is becoming increasingly important in case of international migration but in such cases interference of the sovereign states has not been stopped completely. Due to this reason, political scientists often argue that international organizations have been formed by the sovereign nations. It has also been argued that such organizations are used by the nations in order to achieve national interest of the countries. To contradict such attacks from the critics, the international organizations thought about formation of an international regime. It was during the 80s, political scholars throughout the world became highly interested about formation of such regime. At the same time a series of arguments were done over elements that actually constitute an international regime. Generally speaking, international regime means, “perceived constraints on the prerogatives of sovereign states.” (Ghosh, 2000, p.42) Several states under this international regime have agreed to follow the rules and regulations while dealing with people citizens of other states and societies, keeping in mind ‘the basis of reciprocity of their nationals.’(Millar, 42) It has been noticed that several elements of an international regime exist that are related to the international migration. International organizations, including UNHCR, IOM , ILO and several others are working over the migration related aspects to international regime. Problems faced by International Organizations while implanting their plans and activities: During implementing the plans and activities, the international organization sometimes face great deal of problem. Prevalent existence of terrorism and illegal entities are major obstacles before the international organizations when it comes to implanting their plans and policies. These anti social entities mainly aim to disturb the peaceful existence and harmonious relationship between the nations. The sovereign states make the task easier for such organization easy as they are also engaged in cold war to attain supremacy in the world politics. Thus, the task becomes tougher for the international organizations as one hand they have to fight against the illegal entities and at the same time they need to maintain the harmony between countries, keep aside their internal power conflict. The right of people to self determination and the right of people to self- determination as well as prohibition of the use of force, these are two principles that the international organizations like United Nations provide with a great degree of importance. The United Nations as well as other major international organizations always protest against evolvement of such states that have violated these two principles and in most of the case these organizations simply refuse to give recognition to the new state. Existence of such sates is also considered illegal in the eyes of the organizations as their emergence has violated the principles of international law. There are several incidents, where these states and their governing power show hostile approach to the international organizations and their member countries due to such denial. Consequently, these illegal entities remain keen over spreading violence throughout the world. Presence of these illegal entities is mainly responsible for giving birth to terrorism. Terrorism is the modern evil for the society that is not only weakening bonds of harmonious existence between the nations as well as causing huge damage to public-private property and lives of innocent people. In international organizations are fighting against all these problems. But the fight is becoming increasing tough as terrorist are using modern technology and mixing up with common citizens. Under such ambiance of fear it is not possible to implement policies that have been meant for common people. It is primarily required that the international organizations come up with such strategic approaches that would weaken activism of such illegal entities, if not eradiate them properly. (Hirsch, 1995) Sovereign member nations under these international organizations are also greatly responsible for encouraging the illegal entities to attack over their citizens and their national properties. These countries are only aiming at the fact that if they could have received the greatest hold over the international political scenario that would enhance their national status before other nations. Simultaneously, it will also be easy for them to establish themselves as supreme nations in the whole world. Mostly the developed countries are engaged in this kind of power mongering. Though reflection of such power mongering is not happening in the form of war but it is clearly evident that an undercurrent of cold war exists between the countries. Due to such situation these nations are maintaining a distance with each other. (Van, Lauwaars, and Koojmans, 1997) It is required that the nations must collaborate with each other in the battle against terrorism and help the international organizations. It requires to be understood that without help from the nations the international organizations do not have power to win the war against terrorism and provide protection to the citizens as well as to the national properties. If the developed nations work in unified manner, then they can help the international organizations with their resources, advanced technologies and man power. Looking into the current situation we cannot say that the nations are not providing the international organizations with such assistance but more assistance is required at the same time. Terrorism is such an evil, the roots of which have gone down deep into the socio-cultural aspects of human life. Only waging armed war is not enough to achieve triumph over terrorism but at the same time it is equally important to educate people. We must remember that terrorists are among the common people and they are originated amongst common people. Until and unless people can be made aware about horrid consequences of terrorism and stop themselves from supporting the illegal entities, it will not be possible alone for the international organizations to win the war. In the conclusion it can be said that the international organizations since their development are playing great roles in controlling and orienting huge number of aspects related to human existence on this earth. Starting from setting policies for international trade, to protection of national wealth and environment to fight against social evils in order to secure life of general people, contribution of international organizations cannot be denied. As these organizations take direct steps in solving up any problems, in common notion their existence does not bear much importance but without existence of such organizations human life on this earth would not haven as simple as the recent times. It can certainly be said that if governance of a nation is leading the people, the international organizations are guides to such governance. References Archer, C. (2001), International Organizations, Routledge Bayefsky, A.F. (2000), Self-determination in International Law, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers Ghosh, B. (2000) Managing Migration, Oxford University Press Hoffmann, S. (1970) "International organization and the international system." International Organization 24 (Summer): 389-413 Hirsch, M. (1995), The Responsibility of International Organizations Toward Third Parties: Some Basic Principles, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers Van, M. , Lauwaars, R. H., Koojmans, K. (1997), International Organization and Integration, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers Read More