THE

CONTEMPORARY
WORLD
Reporter:

LARAH JANE L. MARAVILES

BSED SCIENCE 1 - A
CHAPTER 4: THE GLOBAL
INTERSTATE SYSTEM
Institutions that Govern International Relations

Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Global Economic Associations: The WTO and

NAFTA
 WHAT IS AN NGO
(Non-Governmental Organizations)?
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-
profit group that functions independently of any
government. NGOs, sometimes called civil
societies, are organized on community, national
and international levels to serve a social or
political goal such as humanitarian causes or the
environment.
● Another example of an International organization that developed
out of war is the Red Cross (Red Crescent in Muslim Countries). It
is considered as a non- governmental organization (NGO). NGOs
are not tied to any country. This allows them to operate freely
throughout the world. They provide emergency relief such as
foods, water, and medical supplies for those homes or towns have
been destroyed by disaster or war. They also monitor the treatment
of prisoner of wars and go to conflicts to make sure that no war
crimes are taking place. In fact, the Red Cross began as an
organization to help those who are wounded during wars.
The big Red Cross worn by NGOs is the identification that they are not
soldiers. Part of why it is important for the Red Cross to be an NGO is
that they remain neutral and would help the wounded from the both sides
of war. Since they are neutral, governments are more likely to them come
into their countries to help. While the headquarters of the International
Red Cross is in Geneva, Switzerland, they have branches all around the
world.
In addition to the Red Cross, there are many NGOs dedicated to
helping people around the world. Doctors Without Borders
provides free emergency healthcare in disasters areas; Oxfam
fights famine and disease; Amnesty International speaks out for
human rights and political prisoners; and Save the Children
helps kids get health care and education.
 Global Economic Associations: The WTO and NAFTA

The next group is an economic association- WTO. It is made up of

162 countries around the world and was created with goal of
increasing free trade. Countries, therefore, can buy and sell goods
from one another without placing taxes on imports or tariffs. In
addition, tariffs are used to protect businesses and companies inside
their country. Though good in nature, WTO is not without criticism.
In fact, a protest in Seattle at 1999 WTO Conference led to a major
riot as some said that WTO was more about helping large companies
and corporations than it was about helping people.
Another famous economic organizations is NAFTA. This is an
economic treaty between the United States, Canada, and
Mexico in which the three countries trade freely without taxing
each other NAFTA is not without critics either. Some American
autoworkers protested against NAFTA as several car companies
moved their factories to Mexico in search for cheaper labor.
NAFTA, like WTO, represents the challenge in America of
keeping manufacturing factories.
Larah Jane Lubin Maraviles
BSED Science 1 – A