INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS (IOs)

About the Course:

Importance of the course on international organisations (IOs) lies in the fundamental realization
that international organisations (IOs) have assumed a crucial role to play in the political,
economic and various other fields of actions of international community. IOs have emerged out
to be powerful actors along with the sovereign states in shaping, steering and regulating the
world order. Interconnectedness of world community mandates the individual states to
acknowledge and facilitate the formation and utilization of IOs in order to tackle the multiple
complexities of global connectivity and take advantage of their functioning for a better global
order. Global Organisation like UNO, regional organisations like EU or ASEAN and various
specialized agencies such as WHO or FAO focusing on exclusive aspects like health or
agriculture have all proved to be of great importance to all the stakeholders desiring a robust
global order which is multifaceted. In view of this it has become imperative for the students of
law to have a comprehensive understanding on the conceptual, structural and functional
characteristics of various international organisations . Particular emphasis however will be on the
United Nations.

Objectives:

The course helps the learners

• To realize the role, importance and limitations of IOs for a better comprehension of the
important avenues of global connectivity and governance
• To develop a detailed and analytical understanding of the organisation and functioning of
United Nations
• To understand the importance, scope and importance of regional organisations
• To have an overview of objectives and scope of functioning of specialized agencies and
other IGOs in their select fields of action
• To comprehend the peacekeeping role of United Nations

Course Outline

Unit 1: Introduction

1.1. Evolution of International Organisations

1.2. Classification of IOs
1.3. Importance and Limitations of IOs
1.4. International Legal Personality

Unit 2: United Nations

2.1. Foundational History
2.2. Purposes and Principles & Membership
2.3. United Nations Organisation (UNO)
2.3.1. Security Council
2.3.2. General Assembly
2.3.3. ECOSOC
2.3.4. Trusteeship Council
2.3.5. Secretariat
2.3.6. ICJ
2.4. Privileges and Immunities of UN

Unit 3: Specialized Agencies & other IGOs

3.1. WHO
3.2. FAO
3.3. ILO
3.4. IMF
3.5. IBRD
3.6. UNESCO
3.7. WTO
3.8. ICC

Unit 4: Regional Organisations

4.1 Introduction on regionalism

4.2. European Union (EU)

4.3. ASEAN
4.4. APEC
4.5. SAARC

Unit 5: Pacific settlement of disputes & Peacekeeping by UN

5.1. Pacific settlement of disputes system in UN

5.2. Establishment of peacekeeping operations
5.3. Issues and challenges of peacekeeping
5.4. Evolution of peacekeeping ideology

Books for reference:

1. Leland M. Goodrich and Edvard Hambro, Charter of the United Nations;
Commentary and Documents, Stevens and Sons Ltd, London, , 1949
2. Alexandrowicz, C.H., Law-making Functions of the Specialized Agencies of the
United Nations. Sydney, 1973
3. Conforti, B., The Law and Practice of the United Nations, 2nd. edn., The Hague ,
2001
4. D.W.Bowet, The Law of International Institutions, Stevens, 1982
5. Prof. B.S. Murthy, International Relations and Organisatin, EBC. 1991
6. Clive Archer, International Organizations, Routledge , 2001
7. Robert Kolb, The International Court of Justice, Hart Publishing, 2013
8. Kilian Splander, Regional Organizations in International Society, Palgrave, 2018
9. Louis Fawcett and Andrew Furrell, Regionalism in World Politics, OUP, 1996
10. Simon Usherwood & John Pinder, The European Union, A very Short Introduction,
2018
11. James R.Rush,Southeast Asia; A Very Short Introduction, 2018
12. Rodolfo, C Severnio,The ASEAN Regional Forum, Singapore : Institute of
Southeast Asian Studies, 2009
13. Dr. Muzarmil Ahadand Javed Ahmed Kumar, Regional Cooperation in South Asia,
A Study on India’s Role in SAARC, Gyan Books Pvt Ltd,
2018
14. Richard E Feinberg (Ed), APEC an Institution; Multilateral Governance in the Asia
Pacific, 2003
15. Stuard Griffin Paul Williams et al, Understanding Peacekeeping, John Wiley &
Sons, 2nd edition
16. Cedric Ryengaert et al (ed), Judicial Decisions on Law of International
Organisations, Oxford University Press, (Print Publication Date: Mar 2016)