Contemporary International Organizations PDF

CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS  This introduces the learners on how to analyze the dynamics of transnational cooperation and how governments are affected by globalization. This section also enables the learners to look into the meaning of global governanc...

CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS  This introduces the learners on how to analyze the dynamics of transnational cooperation and how governments are affected by globalization. This section also enables the learners to look into the meaning of global governance through the discussion of the United Nations’ (UN) roles and functions.  Weber (1997) defines the state as a compulsory political organization with a centralized government that maintains the legitimate use of force within a certain territory. He explicated that it is normal for the state to use force and/or violence to suppress lawlessness in its territory as well as to protect itself from other states. On the other hand, the concept of nation emphasizes the organic ties that hold groups of people together and inspire a sense of loyalty and belonging – i.e., ethnicity, language, religion, and others (Schattle, 2014). Combining these two, a nation – state can then be defined as a political community that emanates from civic society to legitimately execute peace. Thus, civic society is the basis of the people’s oneness.  Though some scholars like Appadural and Ohmae claim that globalization has superseded the individual function and jurisdiction of nation – states, this is still arguable. In fact, nation – states can manipulate competitive advantages with international and political issues, transnational civil society organizations, and multinational companies. However, if nation – states no longer have power in today’s globalized world, then why does the United Nations (UN), with its increasing number of states, remain relevant in global decision making? The 194 member states of UN prove that globalization has affected the dynamics of nation – states in the context of their agency as legitimate holders of force in their jurisdiction.  The United Nations The United Nations was established after the Second World War with once central mission – to maintain international peace and security. Aside from maintaining international peace and security and protecting human rights, UN also carries the functions of delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and upholding international law. It is composed of six organs: a. The General Assembly – which serves as the main deliberative policy-making and representative organ. b. The Security Council – is the organ which has the commitment to preserve peace and security. c. The Economic and Social Council – is the main organ for cooperation, policy, review, policy dialogue, and advice on economic, environmental and social issues. d. The Trusteeship Council – is the organ tasked to administer international oversight for trust territories and to make sure that adequate procedures are taken for independence and self – government. e. The International Court of Justice – is the UN’s prime judicial organ. f. The Secretariat – is the organ tasked to execute the daily activities as assigned by the five other organs.  Globalization has, in a way, reshaped the role and functions of nation – states as governing bodies in their particular territories.  First, globalization is seen to impose a forced choice upon nation – states. Either they conform to the neo – liberal ideas and free – market principles of deregulation, privatization, and free trade or run the risk of being left behind in terms of development. Of course, the nation – states, in this contemporary age, are forced to submit themselves to the demands of globally accepted free – market principles. Though government policies can be put in place, nation – states are forced to realign their policies to be congruent with the principles of free trade because of the pressures from global corporations. To illustrate, the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the Philippines, established the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1999. Its goal is to encourage the member – states to deepen their commitments in investment, trade, and industrial collaboration to brace them for the increase in the region’s economic activity.  Second, is the establishment of economic and political integrations. One good example is the European Union (EU) and the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). EU has become a supranational body with 28 members. It has a single currency and monetary system among 17 states, parliament with legislative powers, with common citizens’ right to live, work, vote and run for office, with developed collective mechanism to resolve crises and assist those in need, and with intercontinental jurisprudence in the case of the European Court of Justice and the European court of Human Rights. The statehood of the members is not dissolved, what has changed is only how nation – states function, in terms of economy and politics, as part of a whole (Schattle, 2014).  The third effect of globalization is the establishment of international laws and principles. This is observable in the establishment of the UN that operates as a forum for nation – states to air their differences and try to resolve them. The UN Security Council has powers that include the creation of peacekeeping operations and international sanctions and the authorization of military action. Also, UN’s International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutes individuals accused of crimes against humanity such as genocide. The founding of ICC is based on the adoption of the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court in 1998, with the vote of 120 to 7, with 21 abstentions.  It began functioning in 2002 when the statue officially came into force. However, the United States, China and India are not signatories. Thus, the treat is not binding to these economic powers. Moreover, there are also universal principles that are adopted by nation – states in relation to the dynamism of globalization. Two of them are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that affirms an individual’s rights and the other is the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea that defines the rights of nation – states on the use of the world’s  The fourth effect of globalization is the rise of transnational activism (TNA). Such happens when activist groups of nation – states connect with their counterparts in our states. For example, an advocacy – based organization in the Philippines may connect itself with and get support from other human rights groups in Europe to pressure the Philippine government to realign its stance and actions in upholding human rights.  The fifth and last effect of globalization is the creation of new communication network. Globalization binds communities through digital media. With new technologies in communication, political interaction can happen in a virtual sphere. People can exchange political perspectives through internet, therefore stirring political discourse on an online platform. Because of the so – called network society (Castells, 2009), nation – states must reshape themselves to become part of global networks in the arena of finance, education, science, technology, arts and sports. This can be seen in the proliferation of online education from universities outside the Philippines.  Conversely, Philippine universities offer online courses to non – Filipinos. Thus, digital media has become the platform for strategic communications at home and abroad wherein the nation – states can utilize the internet to gather feedback from the citizens. Social media gives people the power to air their sentiments, and also, serves as an avenue to discuss issues. In the case of authoritarian and repressive states like China, Russia, and North Korea, the governments make us of media technologies to filter content that can be viewed by their citizens.  In order to facilitate connections among nation – states, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) were established. Their aim is to foster strong economic, political, cultural, educational, and technical intergovernmental relationships. Here are some examples:  Overall, the global interstate system is a facet of contemporary political globalization that seeks to form collaboration among nation – states through the establishment of intergovernmental organizations. It is rooted on the idea of internationalism. THANKS! Any questions?