February 03, 2024

Vito Santiago Di Maio Guerrero

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Activity 2a. IOS News

After reading the chapter of this unit, look for 5 recent news (1 month max) in which
you can find relevant information on the activities of international organizations
mentioned in the chapter provided and relate them to the historical background of
IOS, trying to understand their evolution and their influence in the years they have
been in operation, the historical background, their current role and the main
challenges they face, highlighting their role in the global governance nowadays.

1. World Bank probe rights violations in $150m Tanzania project:

a. Historical background and evolution: The World Bank, which was

established in 1944 originated from the Bretton Woods Conference.
Initially, its main focus was on rebuilding after the war. Over time, it
expanded its efforts to support long term development on a scale. In
response to criticisms during the 1970s and 1980s, the bank
underwent reforms that placed emphasis on reducing poverty and
promoting sustainability. After the Cold War, there was a shift towards
prioritizing market oriented reforms and fostering sector growth.
Through the years, the World Bank has also adapted to address
pressing issues such as climate change to promote development goals
and respond to global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout its history, this institution has played a role in facilitating
development and alleviating poverty.
b. Current role and influence: The World Bank currently plays various
roles, such as offering financial support for development initiatives,
addressing global emergencies, providing policy guidance and
technical aid, promoting inclusive and sustainable development,
supporting private sector growth through the International Finance
Corporation, tackling climate change issues and conducting research
and data analysis on matters related to global development.
 c. News summary: The World Bank is investigating allegations of human
rights violations raised in the implementation of Tanzania's $150 million
tourism resource management project after authorities failed to settle a
dispute with communities the project affected. A major focus of the
probe is the state-run Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa), one
of the project’s main implementing agencies, which is accused of using
violence and forceful seizure of cattle belonging to communities
surrounding the Ruaha National Park, which is part of the project area,
in a bid to force them out of the land.
d. News conclusion: we can see in this example the role that the World
Bank plays in assisting developing countries by offering their financial
support, we can also see how the World Bank finds that sustainable
development of a project in relation to its community is a must.

2. IMF releases US$4.7b to support Argentina’s ‘ambitious’ plan.

a. Historical background and evolution: the International Monetary Fund

was established at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 to promote
international monetary cooperation. Initially focused on post-war
reconstruction, it later played a key role in managing the global
economic transition and dealing with the financial crisis. Over time, the
IMF has evolved to recommend economic policies, implement
structural adjustment, and respond to a variety of global challenges,
including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Today,
it continues to promote international monetary stability and economic
cooperation.
b. Current role and influence: the International Monetary Fund (IMF) plays
an important role in global governance, providing regular research and
policy advice on the economies of world member countries Economic
assistance to countries facing economic difficulties, which often is
associated with situations aimed at implementing necessary changes
in order to solve these difficulties. The IMF is a key official in managing
global financial crises and facilitates international cooperation to
address economic challenges. In addition, it contributes to the building
 capacity of member states by providing technical assistance and
training.
c. News summary: the IMF after its seven review agreed to distribute
another series of loans to Argentina, worth around 4.7 billion US
dollars. The loans came after the old Argentinian administration failed
to meet the requirements of past loans by large margins. The IMF
managing director praised current efforts by President Milei to bring the
original program back on track, while supposedly protecting the
country’s most vulnerable,
d. News conclusion: here we can see the IMF acting by helping
Argentina, a country with a history of major economic problems, with
loans to help the Latin American country in fixing their economic
situation, through a program drafted by them in conjunction with the
Milei Administration.

3. Russia calls for ‘urgent’ UN Security Council meeting on US strikes in

Iraq, Syria

a. Historical background and evolution: The UN was founded in 1945

after WWII in order to fix the old problems and inadequacies of the
League of Nations, to promote global peace, security and cooperation
between its members. In its early years, it focused on rebuilding
countries in the post-war period, culminating in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. After the end of the post-war period and
during the Cold War, the UN played the role of the global peacekeeper,
helping in resolving conflicts between both sides of the war. The 1960s
saw decolonization efforts, and the UN expanded its focus to
development, creating the United Nations Development Programme in
1965. The organization addressed environmental concerns and
sustainable development in the 1970s and 1990s, respectively.
Post-Cold War, the UN engaged in significant peacekeeping missions.
In 2000, it adopted the Millennium Development Goals and later, in
2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Today, the UN
 continues its work on global challenges such as climate change,
peacekeeping, and humanitarian aid.
b. Current role and influence: the UN remains the central organ of global
governance, influencing the world via peacekeeping, humanitarian aid,
international law promotion, and a world court of justice. It acts
effectively against climate change, global health problems, and human
rights violations. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
details the UN’s pledge to overcome poverty, injustice, and
environmental sustainability. The group functions as an interface for
diplomacy, thereby supporting multilateral cooperation on even more
different global challenges.
c. News summary: the Russian foreign Ministry accused the US
government of escalating the situation in the Middle East by sending
airstrikes against Iran-affiliated militias in Iraq and Syria, calling for the
UN Security Council to meet to discuss the matter.
d. News conclusion: Russia is asking the UN to fulfil its role as world
peacekeeper to meet in order to discuss the US’ involvement in the
current conflict in the Middle East.

4. European Union Agrees on New $54 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine

a. Historical background and evolution: In the 50s it all started from the
European Coal and Steel Community, which then evolved to the
European Economic Community and later the European Atomic Energy
Community. Through the Single European Act (1986), a step to
integration led on to a common market; however, it was the Maastricht
Treaty (1993) that set the basis of the EU, introduced the Euro, and
deepened the cooperation. The enlargement barely brought new
members, and the Lisbon Treaty (2009) accentuated the EU body.
Starting from an economic partnership, the EU has developed into a
union of political and economic nature, providing peace and generous
well-being for the member states.
b. Current role and influence: presently, the EU acts as a single market
with one currency along with further trade facilitating economic
 integration. It also grew to become a political union involved in common
foreign policy, diplomacy and trade negotiations. The EU enters the
acting field while humanely opposing such global challenges as climate
change and embracing human rights standards. It is involved in crisis
management, it does this via peacekeeping missions, and has been
working on the COVID-19 pandemic as a collective response. Despite
difficulties, the EU plays a big role with influence stemming from the
sources of its institutions, collective decision-making, and economic
might.
c. News summary: Leaders of the European Union sealed a deal to
provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros to support them in their current
war against Russia.
d. News conclusion: the news reflects the evolution of the EU from a
simple organization looking for economic integration to a political
organization/union to develop a unified foreign policy and diplomacy.
Their support of Ukraine proves their commitment to impose
themselves as a political force.

5. International Court of Justice to Hear Ukraine-Russia Genocide Case.

a. Historical background and evolution: ICJ came to be in 1945 as the

main judiciary of the United Nations, succeeding the international
permanent court of justice. Working in The Hague, Netherlands, it
resolves a legal argument between states and delivers advisory
opinions. Having a variable number of judges, it has dealt with a
number of cases on territorial issues, human rights and environmental
issues among others. The ICJ has contributed to the peaceful
settlement of international disputes as well, further advancing the
development of international law.
b. Current role and influence: The ICJ currently acts as the principal
judicial body offering its services to settle the legal battles between the
countries and also to provide legal advisory opinions regarding
international law questions. It creates precedents through the
implementation of its decisions, which form the basis of international
 law. The ICJ encourages peaceful dispute settlement while
strengthening global governance, by offering an arena for states to
engage on contemporary issues. Its judgments are binding; however,
implementation is as good as state parties entreat to act with it is
difficult to enforce. The ICJ impact reaches out to the public
consciousness of international legal issues and the state responsibility
in the international arena. As much as stated difficulties affect the court,
the preservation of the rule of law at the global level and the power to
represent the court itself in this function cannot be overemphasised.
c. News summary: the ICJ has said they’ll finally listen to Ukraine’s case,
claiming that Russian claims of genocide used to justify their invasion
were false. The claim was presented in 2022 when Ukraine asserted
that Russia violated the 1948 Genocide Convention when it said the
invasion was necessary to stop an alleged genocide of Russian
speakers in eastern Ukraine. While the court claimed that they didn't
have the jurisdiction to rule on that issue, they coil rule on whether
Ukraine violated the convention and. if they did commit genocide on
Eastern Ukraine
d. News conclusion: the article provides a perfect example of the ICJ’s
purpose in settling legal disputes between states, promoting peaceful
dispute resolution making states accountable on the global stage for
their behaviour.
References:

IMF releases US$4.7B to support Argentina’s “ambitious” plan. thesun.my. (n.d.).

https://thesun.my/world/imf-releases-us-47b-to-support-argentina-s-ambitious-plan-M
G12052349

Karashani, B. (2024, February 3). World Bank probe rights violations in $150M
tanzania project. The East African.
https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/world-bank-probe-rights-violati
ons-in-150m-tanzania-project-4512678

LORNE COOK and SAMUEL PETREQUIN / AP. (2024, February 1). European
Union agrees on $54 billion aid package for Ukraine. Time.
https://time.com/6590783/european-union-ukraine-aid-package-billions/

Voa News. (2024, February 2). International Court of Justice to hear Ukraine-russia
genocide case. Voice of America.
https://www.voanews.com/a/international-court-of-justice-to-hear-ukraine-russia-gen
ocide-case-/7468701.html

Russia calls for ‘urgent’ UN Security Council meeting on US strikes in Iraq, Syria .
Rudaw.net. (n.d.). https://www.rudaw.net/english/world/030220241