Ch.

5 the global interstate

system
History of Global Politics: Creating an International Order

Serg imperio
Spup
Reference: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD by Claudio and Abinales
Ch 2.4. The United Nations and
Contemporary global
Governance
Global governance

•… refers to the sum total of intersecting

processes that promote global order
(despite the absence of a world
government)
Sources of global governance

•Public international law----

international rules that govern
interactions between states ,
arrived at through treaties and
organizations
Sources….

•International non-governmental
organizations (NGOS)… through
lobbying for certain causes e.g.
animal rights
Sources….

•Transnational corporations /
multinational corporations
Sources….

•International governmental
organizations
•--- e.g. UNITED NATIONS
WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION(IO)?
•… a group primarily made up of
member-states

•Misconception: an IO is mere
amalgamation of various state
interests
Powers of IO s: (Barnett, Finnemore)

•Power of classification…..
•----- they create powerful global
standards
•------ e.g.: UNHCR: has the authority to
define what is a refugee
Powers of IO s: (Barnett, Finnemore)
•Power to fix meanings…..
•----- IOs are legitimate sources of
information
•------ e.g.: we wait for an official
pronouncement before acting accordingly
•-----”security”----safety from military
violence; from environmental harm
Powers of IO s: (Barnett, Finnemore)

•Power to diffuse norms

•….. Norms--- accepted codes of conduct
•----- IO s establish global standards or norms
•------ e.g.: WB has experts that advice on
foreign debts
THE UNITED NATIONS
• 1945 OCTOBER 24
• WORLD PEACE;
• PREVENT ANOTHER
• GLOBAL WAR
FIVE ORGANS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Main deliberative policy making
and representative organ
• Decisions on important questions
require 2/3 majority:
• --- peace and security
• --- admission of new members
• --- budgetary matters
• Others issues only require simple
majority
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• Headed by: General
Assembly president elected
annually
• Number of member
countries: 193
• Nb: Philippines: Carlos P
Romulo as GA President
1949-1950
 Security Council
• Regarded as most powerful IO
• 15 member states
• --- 10 are elected to 2-year
terms
• ---- 5 are permanent members
• Permanent members: China,
France, Russia, United
Kingdom, United States ,
• --- with veto power
 Security Council
• The SC Takes the lead in
establishing the existence of
threat to peace or an act of
aggression
• Calls upon parties to resolve
disputes peacefully
• Recommends settlements
• Imposes sanctions
• Authorizes use of force when
necessary(military
intervention)
 Economic and Social Council
• The principal body for
coordination, policy review,
policy dialogue, and
recommendations on social
and environmental issues, as
well as the implementation
of internationally agreed
development goals
• -- 54 members with 3-year
terms
International court of justice
• To settle, in accordance with
international law, legal disputes
submitted to it by states and to give
advisory opinions referred to it by
authorized UN organs and specialized
agencies
• Its rulings may be enforced by the SC
• Nb: individual international criminals
are tried by the International Criminal
Court(independent of the UN)
UN Secretariat
• Consists of the Secretary-
General and thousands of
international UN Staff
members who carry out the
daily work of the UN as
mandated by the GA and the
organization’s other principal
organs

• It is the bureaucracy of the

UN; members serve in their
capacity as UN employees and
not as state representatives
Challenges of the United Nations
• It is not a world government; therefore, if
countries refuse to cooperate, then it is
powerless.
• Problem on security: the P5’s veto power can
prevent necessary military action and other
measures to prevent, among others, genocide,
civil wars, actions against terrorism