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Intergovernmental organization
An intergovernmental organization (IGO) is an organization composed primarily of
sovereign states (referred to as member states), or of other organizations through formal treaties
for handling/serving common interests and governed by international laws.[1] IGOs are
established by a treaty that acts as a charter creating the group. Treaties are formed when lawful
representatives (governments) of several states go through a ratification process, providing the
IGO with an international legal personality. Intergovernmental organizations are an important
aspect of public international law.

Intergovernmental organizations in a legal sense should be distinguished from simple groupings

or coalitions of states, such as the G7 or the Quartet. Such groups or associations have not been
founded by a constituent document and exist only as task groups. Intergovernmental
organizations must also be distinguished from treaties. Many treaties (such as the North American
Free Trade Agreement, or the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade before the establishment of
the World Trade Organization) do not establish an organization and instead rely purely on the
parties for their administration becoming legally recognized as an ad hoc commission. Other
treaties have established an administrative apparatus which was not deemed to have been granted
international legal personality. The broader concept wherein relations among three or more states
are organized according to certain principles they hold in common is multilateralism.[2]

Contents
Types and purpose
Historicity and Evolution[1]
Expansion and growth
Participation and involvement
Privileges and immunities
Strengths and weaknesses
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Types and purpose

Intergovernmental organizations differ in function, membership, and membership criteria. They
have various goals and scopes, often outlined in the treaty or charter. Some IGOs developed to
fulfill a need for a neutral forum for debate or negotiation to resolve disputes. Others developed to
carry out mutual interests with unified aims to preserve peace through conflict resolution and
better international relations, promote international cooperation on matters such as
environmental protection, to promote human rights, to promote social development (education,
health care), to render humanitarian aid, and to economic development. Some are more general in

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scope (the United Nations) while others may have subject-specific missions (such as INTERPOL or
the International Telecommunication Union and other standards organizations). Common types
include:

Worldwide or global organizations — generally open to nations worldwide as long as certain

criteria are met: This category includes the United Nations (UN) and its specialized agencies,
the World Health Organization, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World
Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It also includes globally operating
intergovernmental organizations that are not an agency of the UN, including for example the
Hague Conference on Private International Law, a globally operating intergovernmental
organization based in The Hague that pursues the progressive unification of private
international law, and the CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural
Research), a global partnership that unites intergovernmental organizations engaged in
research for a food-secured future. International Human Rights Commission[3] (IHRC) is
working to strengthen & support all Nations capacity to engage in sustainable development
through educational access, relief programs, ecological & bioethical reflections & actions, while
taking in to consideration the traditional, social & cultural values of each Nation.[4]
Cultural, linguistic, ethnic, religious, or historical organizations — open to members based on
some cultural, linguistic, ethnic, religious, or historical link: Examples include the
Commonwealth of Nations, Arab League, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie,
Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Turkic Council, International Organization of
Turkic Culture, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS).
Economic organizations — based on macro-economic policy goals: Some are dedicated to
free trade and reduction of trade barriers, e.g. World Trade Organization, International
Monetary Fund. Others are focused on international development. International cartels, such
as OPEC, also exist. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
was founded as an economic-policy-focused organization. An example of a recently formed
economic IGO is the Bank of the South.
Educational organizations — centered around tertiary-level study. EUCLID University was
chartered as a university and umbrella organization dedicated to sustainable development in
signatory countries; United Nations University researches pressing global problems that are
the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.
Health and Population Organizations — based on common perceived health and population
goals. These are formed to address those challenges collectively, for example the
intergovernmental partnership for population and development Partners in Population and
Development.
Regional organizations — open to members from a particular continent or other specific region
of the world. This category includes the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
(CLACS), Council of Europe (CoE), European Union (EU), Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU),
Energy Community, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, African
Union (AU), Organization of American States (OAS), Association of Caribbean States (ACS),
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Islamic Development Bank, Union of South
American Nations, Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), Pacific Islands Forum, South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation[5] Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization
(AALCO) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Historicity and Evolution[1]

The origin of IGOs can be traced way back from the Congress of Vienna of 1814–1815, which was
an international diplomatic conference to reconstitute the European political order after the
downfall of the French Emperor Napoleon.
States then became the main decision makers who
preferred to maintain their sovereignty as of 1648 at the West Phalian treaty that closed the 30
years’ war in Europe.
But in the scholarly world, the origin of IGOs is most reflected at the birth of
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the League of Nations (LoN), which was the first worldwide intergovernmental organization
founded on 10 January 1920 with a principal mission of maintaining world peace after World War
I. The League of Nations was succeeded by the United Nations (UN) in 1945, which was also
predicted on the notion that continued cooperation among states would ensure global security.
This was signed on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations
Conference on International Organization, and came into force on 24 October 1945. ([6])
Currently, the UN is the main IGO with its arms such as the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC), the General Assembly (UNGA), the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Secret Ariat
(UNSA), the Trusteeship Council (UNTC) and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Other
IGOs include the Multi- National Companies (MNCs) like SHELL, Regional and Continental
bodies/ blocks like European Union (EU), African Union (AU), East African Community (EAC)
among others.

Expansion and growth

Held and McGrew counted thousands of IGOs worldwide in 2002[7] and this number continues to
rise. This may be attributed to globalization, which increases and encourages the co-operation
among and within states and which has also provided easier means for IGO growth as a result of
increased international relations. This is seen economically, politically, militarily, as well as on the
domestic level. Economically, IGOs gain material and non-material resources for economic
prosperity. IGOs also provide more political stability within the state and among differing states.[8]
Military alliances are also formed by establishing common standards in order to ensure security of
the members to ward off outside threats. Lastly, the formation has encouraged autocratic states to
develop into democracies in order to form an effective and internal government.[9]

According to a different estimate, the number of IGOs in the world has increased from less than
100 in 1949 to about 350 in 2000.[10][11]

Participation and involvement

There are several different reasons a state may choose membership in an intergovernmental
organization. But there are also reasons membership may be rejected.

Reasons for participation:

Economic rewards: In the case of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),
membership in the free trade agreement benefits the parties’ economies. For example,
Mexican companies are given better access to U.S. markets due to their membership.
Political influence: Smaller countries, such as Portugal and Belgium, who do not carry much
political clout on the international stage, are given a substantial increase in influence through
membership in IGOs such as the European Union. Also for countries with more influence such
as France and Germany, IGOs are beneficial as the nation increases influence in the smaller
countries’ internal affairs and expanding other nations dependence on themselves, so to
preserve allegiance.
Security: Membership in an IGO such as NATO gives security benefits to member countries.
This provides an arena where political differences can be resolved.
Democracy: It has been noted that member countries experience a greater degree of
democracy and those democracies survive longer.

Reasons for rejecting membership:

Loss of sovereignty: Membership often comes with a loss of state sovereignty as treaties are
signed that require co-operation on the part of all member states.

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Insufficient benefits: Often membership does not bring about substantial enough benefit to
warrant membership in the organization.

Privileges and immunities

Intergovernmental organizations are provided with privileges and immunities that are intended to
ensure their independent and effective functioning. They are specified in the treaties that give rise
to the organization (such as the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United
Nations and the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court),
which are normally supplemented by further multinational agreements and national regulations
(for example the International Organizations Immunities Act in the United States). The
organizations are thereby immune from the jurisdiction of national courts.

Rather than by national jurisdiction, legal accountability is intended to be ensured by legal

mechanisms that are internal to the intergovernmental organization itself[12] and access to
administrative tribunals. In the course of many court cases where private parties tried to pursue
claims against international organizations, there has been a gradual realization that alternative
means of dispute settlement are required as states have fundamental human rights obligations to
provide plaintiffs with access to court in view of their right to a fair trial.[13][14]: 77  Otherwise, the
organizations’ immunities may be put in question in national and international courts.[14]: 72  Some
organizations hold proceedings before tribunals relating to their organization to be confidential,
and in some instances have threatened disciplinary action should an employee disclose any of the
relevant information. Such confidentiality has been criticized as a lack of transparency.[15]

The immunities also extend to employment law.[16][17] In this regard, immunity from national
jurisdiction necessitates that reasonable alternative means are available to effectively protect
employees’ rights;[18] in this context, a first instance Dutch court considered an estimated duration
of proceedings before the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization of 15
years to be too long.[19]

Strengths and weaknesses

These are some of the strengths and weaknesses of IGOs.

Strengths:

They hold state authority.

Their institutions are permanent.
They provide a forum for discussion.
They are issue-specific.
They provide information.
They allow multilateral co-operation.

Weaknesses:

Membership is limited. IGOs’ legal basis prohibit membership of private citizens, making them
undemocratic. In addition, not all IGOs allow universal state membership.
IGOs often overlap, resulting in an overly complex network.
States have to give up part of their sovereignty, which weakens the states’ ability to assert
authority.
Inequality among state members creates biases and can lead powerful states to misuse these
organizations.
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They can be deemed unfair as countries with a higher percentage voting power have the right to
veto any decision that is not in their favor, leaving the smaller countries powerless.

See also
Intergovernmentalism
International financial institutions
International organisations in Europe
International relations
International trade
Index of international trade topics
List of intergovernmental organizations
List of organizations with .int domain names
List of supranational environmental agencies
Multilateralism
Non-aggression pact
Supranational aspects of international organizations
Supranational union
Trade bloc
World government

References
1. Timothy M. R. Kukula, 2021, School of Social Sciences, Nkumba University- Uganda
2. Lavelle, Kathryn C. (2020). The challenges of multilateralism (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11
49484630). New Haven. ISBN 978-0-300-25232-3. OCLC 1149484630 (https://www.worldcat.o
rg/oclc/1149484630).
3. "IHRC" (https://www.ihrchq.org/index.php).
4. "Mission IHRC" (https://www.ihrchq.org/mission.html).
5. "Saarc Secretariat" (http://saarc-sec.org/).
6. Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justce
7. Held and McGrew, 2002: Introduction, pp. 1–21
8. Lundgren, Magnus (2016). "Which type of international organizations can settle civil wars?".
Review of International Organizations. 12 (4): 613–641. doi:10.1007/s11558-016-9253-0 (http
s://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11558-016-9253-0). S2CID 152898046 (https://api.semanticscholar.or
g/CorpusID:152898046).
9. Shannon, Megan. "The Expansion of International Organizations" Paper presented at the
annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer
House Hilton, Chicago, IL, Sep 02, 2004 <Not Available>. 2009-05-26 [1] (http://www.allacade
mic.com) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20091125043303/http://www.allacademic.co
m/) 2009-11-25 at the Wayback Machine
10. Keohane, Robert O. (2020-05-11). "Understanding Multilateral Institutions in Easy and Hard
Times" (https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-polisci-050918-042625). Annual
Review of Political Science. 23 (1): 1–18. doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-050918-042625 (https://
doi.org/10.1146%2Fannurev-polisci-050918-042625). ISSN 1094-2939 (https://www.worldcat.o
rg/issn/1094-2939).

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11. Eilstrup-Sangiovanni, Mette (2020-04-01). "Death of international organizations. The

organizational ecology of intergovernmental organizations, 1815–2015" (https://doi.org/10.100
7/s11558-018-9340-5). The Review of International Organizations. 15 (2): 339–370.
doi:10.1007/s11558-018-9340-5 (https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs11558-018-9340-5). ISSN 1559-
744X (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1559-744X).
12. Parish, Matthew (2010). "An essay on the accountability of international organizations".
International Organizations Law Review. 7 (2): 277–342. doi:10.1163/157237410X543332 (http
s://doi.org/10.1163%2F157237410X543332). SSRN 1651784 (https://ssrn.com/abstract=1651
784).
13. Heitz, André (November 2005). "UN Special number 645" (https://web.archive.org/web/201310
19071051/http://www.unspecial.org/UNS645/t32en.html). Archived from the original (http://ww
w.unspecial.org/UNS645/t32en.html) on 2013-10-19. "The French court said… The right to a
day in court prevails over jurisdictional immunity"
14. Reinisch, August; Weber, Ulf Andreas (2004). "In the shadow of Waite and Kennedy – the
jurisdictional immunity of international organizations, the individual's right of access to the
courts and administrative tribunals as alternative means of dispute settlement". International
Organizations Law Review. 1 (1): 59–110. doi:10.1163/1572374043242330 (https://doi.org/10.
1163%2F1572374043242330). Pdf. (http://zsu-schmelz.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/int_
beziehungen/Personal/Publikationen_Reinisch/waite_kennedy_iolr_2004.pdf) Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20131019171912/http://zsu-schmelz.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_uploa
d/int_beziehungen/Personal/Publikationen_Reinisch/waite_kennedy_iolr_2004.pdf) 2013-10-
19 at the Wayback Machine
15. The success of which we cannot speak (http://www.brettonwoodslaw.com/the-success-of-whic
h-we-cannot-speak/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131019133530/http://www.bretto
nwoodslaw.com/the-success-of-which-we-cannot-speak/) 2013-10-19 at the Wayback
Machine, brettonwoodlaw.com, 11 September 2013
16. Reinisch, August (July 2008). "The immunity of international organizations and the jurisdiction
of their administrative tribunals". Chinese Journal of International Law. 7 (2): 285–306.
doi:10.1093/chinesejil/jmn020 (https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fchinesejil%2Fjmn020).
17. "Van der Peet vs. Germany" (https://web.archive.org/web/20131019102155/http://echr.ketse.co
m/doc/26991.95-en-19960412/view/). Archived from the original (http://echr.ketse.com/doc/269
91.95-en-19960412/view/) on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-09-15.
18. Waite and Kennedy v. Germany (1999) (http://sim.law.uu.nl/sim/caselaw/Hof.nsf/2422ec00f1ac
e923c1256681002b47f1/6093b338dfb67368c1256727004ba9e5?OpenDocument) Archived (h
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20130825103035/http://sim.law.uu.nl/sim/caselaw/Hof.nsf/2422ec0
0f1ace923c1256681002b47f1/6093b338dfb67368c1256727004ba9e5?OpenDocument) 2013-
08-25 at the Wayback Machine
19. EPO: no immunity in labor cases? (http://www.dvdw.nl/en/expertise/employment-law/epo-no-im
munity-in-labour-cases/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20131019052612/http://www.d
vdw.nl/en/expertise/employment-law/epo-no-immunity-in-labour-cases/) 2013-10-19 at the
Wayback Machine, dvdw.nl, 27 August 2013

Further reading
Claude, Jr., Inis L. (1964) [1959]. Swords into Plowshares: The problems and progress of
international organization (3rd ed.). New York: Random House. OCLC 559717722 (https://ww
w.worldcat.org/oclc/559717722).
IGO search (http://www.igo-search.org/) Free service allowing search through websites of all
intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) as recognized and profiled by the Union of
International Associations.
Nedergaard, Peter; Duina, Francesco (August 2010). "Learning in international governmental
organizations: the case of social protection" (https://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/239517095/Learning_i
n_International_Governmental_Organizations.pdf) (PDF). Global Social Policy. 10 (2): 193–
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217. doi:10.1177/1468018110366617 (https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1468018110366617).

S2CID 144435350 (https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:144435350).
"Reports on the activities of various intergovernmental organizations" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20090211115838/http://www.asil.org/rio/index.html). ASIL-RIO reports, American Society
of International Law. Archived from the original (http://www.asil.org/rio/index.html) on 2009-02-
11.
Walker, Gloria. Consolidation and corruption: the effect of IGO membership on level of
corruption in emerging eemocracies (http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p61398_index.html).
Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton
Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois, September 2, 2004. Retrieved 26 May
2009.

External links
IGO Search (https://web.archive.org/web/20120722070858/http://library.stanford.edu/depts/jon
sson/collections/intl/igosearch.html): IGO/NGO google custom search engine built by the Govt
Documents Round Table (GODORT) (https://web.archive.org/web/20080807171534/http://wiki
s.ala.org/godort/) of the American Library Association.

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