The use of Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)to maintain power.

Objectives: 1. How much of an influence do superpowers have in international decision making? 2. What part do intergovernmental organisations play in the mechanisms of maintaining power? 3. Do Intergovernmental organisations create a glass ceiling for emerging powers?

The Key Intergovernmental organisations

Starter: Use your knowledge from AS to match the correct symbol and description to each organisation name 1. North Atlantic Treaty organisation 2. G8 3. United Nations 4. World Trade Organisation 5. International monetary fund 6. Organisation for economic cooperation and development
Monitors economic and financial development, lending money to countries in financial difficulties The 8 of the 10 largest global economies try to improve food and energy security Forecasts, analyses and researches into development A military alliance between the US and EU countries Promotes free trade by settling trade disputes and creating trade policies and agreements. An international Peacekeeper

Ext: Could you divide these organisations into categories? What would the categories be?

 Objective 1. How much of an influence do superpowers

have in international decision making?

Task 1: a] Who are the key players in intergovernmental decision making? b] Members are not equal in some of these IGOs. What are the likely reasons for this? Participant=
WTO member G20 Richest 20 nations UN Security Council G8 Richest 8 nations

NATO

IMF (over 5% of votes)

Membership of Inter-governmental organisations

USA
UK EU China Russia India Brazil Japan

17%
5% 30%

6%

The key features of Intergovernmental Organisations

Make key decisions about
World economy Conflicts Environmental issues/ resources

Small number of dominant key players such as USA, EU

encouraging focus on their interests Often created by superpowers post war as a way to promote cooperation and reduce conflict Big overlap in membership of IGOs Often have a veto Lot of mutual support has effect of a block vote USA and EU work together to promote or block policies they favour- bilateral action Critics say created by superpowers for superpowers

 Objective 2. What part do IGOs play in the

mechanisms of maintaining power?

Iraq, oil and the UN: The 1st Gulf War

Task 2: Read the article and use the information to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of countries acting as part of the UN instead of alone. Ext: Whose power has been maintained in this example?

China and the UN

Task 3 Watch the Film a) Summarise the role China is alleged to have played in Sudan b) How strong an Influence has Chinas veto of the UN embargo on Sudan been? c) Whose power is threatened? Whose is maintained in this?

Objective 3. Do Intergovernmental organisations create a glass ceiling for emerging powers?

Task 4: Look back at the starter table and decide where on this graph each IGO goes.
MEDCs Discuss: Who is exempt from much decision making ? Ext: Will it harm the power development of excluded countries?

BRICs Members NICs LEDCs Local National Beneficiaries International

Global

Plenary: In whose interests?

The IMF pressurised the Nigerian government to privatise public assets that were bought up by MNCs and promote free trade. 2. The UN set up the Kyoto protocol to begin global action on the causes of global warming. Carbon caps were high for MEDCs but more lenient for LEDCs/NICs. 3. The USA wanted to invade Iraq in 2003 because of the possibility of Weapons of mass destruction being harboured there as well as Osama Bin Laden. UN security council refused to back the invasion. The USA and UK invaded Iraq. The G8, UN and NATO all participated in the restoration of the Iraqi economy and other peacekeeping activities after the invasion.
1.

Objectives: 1. How much of an influence do superpowers have in international decision making? 2. What part do intergovernmental organisations play in the mechanisms of maintaining power? 3. Do Intergovernmental organisations create a glass ceiling for emerging powers?

Homework:
Evaluate the need for superpowers to play a key role in international decision making to maintain their status.