International Relations: IGOs and Regimes

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Questions and Answers

What is a key feature that distinguishes formal international government organizations (FIGOs) from informal international government organizations (IIGOs)?

FIGOs have legally binding commitments. (correct)

FIGOs have explicit non-legal membership.

IIGOs have a centralized oversight structure.

IIGOs require regular meetings with secretariat support.

Which of the following is an example of an informal international government organization (IGO)?

World Trade Organization

G-20 (correct)

European Union

World Health Organization

What primarily affects a state's preference for choosing informal IGOs (IIGOs) over formal IGOs (FIGOs)?

The requirement for high policy continuity.

A need for a legally binding enforcement mechanism.

The desire for low negotiation costs and flexibility. (correct)

The presence of a permanent secretariat.

In the context of IIGOs and FIGOs, which statement about 'relative power' is accurate?

Rising states tend to challenge FIGOs to cement their power. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly describes the costs associated with IIGOs?

IIGOs have low re-negotiation costs and low set-up costs. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is true of the structure of FIGOs compared to IIGOs?

FIGOs generally have a permanent secretariat. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the autonomy of states have on the choice between FIGOs and IIGOs?

IIGOs are more appealing when states prefer decentralized oversight. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of unanimity in the context of IGOs?

Every member has a veto but can abstain. Signup and view all the answers

How do strong states typically influence the design of international organizations (IOs)?

They maximize their self-interests through IO design. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best explains the relationship between interdependence and IO designs?

Interdependence creates external risks that institutions help manage. Signup and view all the answers

According to Koremenos et al., what factor increases the restrictiveness of membership rules in IOs?

Increased uncertainty about preferences of other states. Signup and view all the answers

What primarily determines the demand for various IGO designs according to the assumptions made by scholars?

The desirability of agreements and the ability to achieve them. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of having more actors in an international organization as suggested by Koremenos et al.?

Increased centralization of tasks. Signup and view all the answers

What role do past choices play in the reform of IGOs?

They can shape both the design and the ability to reform IGOs. Signup and view all the answers

Which form of decision-making allows a single state to prevent the passage of a proposal in an IGO?

Consensus-minus-one. Signup and view all the answers

What is one possible reason weak states might accept the terms of an IGO?

Rejecting them would pose a greater cost than acceptance. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary functions of inter-governmental organizations (IGOs)?

To facilitate cross-border trade among member states Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of IGOs indicates that they can act independently of their member states?

IGOs as actors with their own policy preferences Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential characteristic that can differentiate formal intergovernmental organizations (FIGOs) from informal intergovernmental organizations (IIGOs)?

FIGOs are usually governed by international law Signup and view all the answers

What factors typically shape the design and reform of international organizations?

Global power dynamics and geopolitical interests Signup and view all the answers

What role do international regimes play in global governance?

They consist of sets of rules governing specific regions or issues. Signup and view all the answers

How might a single IGO be involved in multiple international regimes?

By representing diverse interests across different domains Signup and view all the answers

What is a main consideration for states when choosing between IIGOs and FIGOs?

The degree of formality and legal obligations involved Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the Antarctic regime?

An arrangement that includes a formal treaty and a secretariat Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes IGOs as forums from their role as instruments?

Forums enable states to meet, while instruments implement decisions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Analysing International Relations - The Design of International Organizations

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are international organizations whose members are states. They manage global governance by overseeing issues like trade and the environment.
IGOs differ in terms of membership, functions, formality, and decision-making procedures.
International regimes are sets of rules, decision-making procedures, and organizations that govern behavior in a region or issue area. They often involve a formal treaty and/or a formal IGO.
IGOs can act as forums for states to meet and negotiate, as instruments for states to achieve their interests, or as actors with their own interests, preferences, and ability to act.
Examples of international regimes include the Antarctic regime and the Ozone regime.
A single IGO can be active in multiple regimes, and a single regime may include multiple IGOs. For example, the UN is active in several regimes, and many IGOs are involved in the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Different Forms of IGOs

IGOs differ in various ways, including membership, function, formality, and decision-making.
Membership can be limited (e.g., European Union, OPEC) or universal (e.g., United Nations).
Functions can be to govern an issue area (e.g., WTO for trade), a geographic area (e.g., African Union), or promote a particular culture or set of values (e.g., Organization of Islamic Cooperation).
Formality varies, with some IGOs being formal with written principles and members, and some informal with shared expectations.

Decision-Making in IGOs

Decision-making can be supranational (made by an independent body) or intergovernmental (made collectively by member states).
Intergovernmental decision-making processes can include consensus (unanimity or consensus-minus-one), majority, or supermajority votes, and some mixed approaches.

Factors Shaping IGO Design

Power: Strong states design and promote IGOs to maximize their self-interests, whereas weak states accept them if rejection is costly. New great powers create and impose new IGOs.
Shared interests: Interdependence exposes states to external risks, and international institutions help states manage this through mutually beneficial agreements.
Shared normative aims: The shared normative aims of states that create them influence IGO design. Post-WWII, this involved social welfare, while post-Cold War aims included maximizing economic growth.
Past choices: Past decisions on IGO design influence current options and decision-making. This includes situations where a minority of members block changes.

Informal IGOs

Felicity Vabulas and Duncan Snidal (2013) detail types of IGOs without strict delegation or legal frameworks but sharing expectations.
Examples of informal IGOs, like the Proliferation Security Initiative, highlight their flexibility and adaptability.

Differences between Formal and Informal IGOs

Formal IGOs tend to have low flexibility but legally binding rules and commitment.
Formal IGOs usually have high policy continuity and central oversight.
Informal IGOs have high flexibility, non-binding rules, but uncertain policy continuity and decentralized oversight.

What Determines IGO Type Preference

Functional efficiency: States often favor informal IGOs for their lower negotiation costs and speed, but formal IGOs are preferred when rules and enforcement are needed.
Relative power: Status quo states generally prefer formal IGOs to lock in their power and policy preferences. Rising states often favour informal IGOs to avoid committing to stronger, longer-term rules.

IGO Autonomy

The next topic of discussion examines how independent IGOs are from the interests of member states.

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Description

Explore the design and function of intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and international regimes in global governance. Understand their roles in managing trade, environment, and diplomacy. Learn how these entities influence decision-making and international cooperation.