INTERNATIONAL AND

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Lecture 1
Muhammad Rehan Zafar
IOs/ROs Brief History
International organizations are one in the long
history of world politics comparatively recent
phenomenon.

Its development began in the 19th century, only in

the course of the 20th century, it became crucial.

Today international organizations play in

numerous policy areas
IOs/ROs Brief History
The first and oldest international organization
being established employing a treaty, and creating
a permanent secretariat, with a global membership
was the International Telecommunication Union
(founded in 1865).

The first general international organization

addressing a variety of issues was the League of
Nations founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris
Peace Conference.
IOs/ROs
Brief History
The oldest regional
organization is the
Central Commission for
Navigation on the
Rhine, created in 1815 by
the Congress of Vienna
whose function is to
encourage European
prosperity by
guaranteeing a high
level of security for
navigation of the Rhine
and environs.
IOs/ROs
International organizations with comprehensive
jurisdiction employ with many different policy
fields such as the
United Nations ("United Nations", UN) and
the European Union (EU)
IOs/ROs
There are also a large number of international
organizations, focusing on specific policy focus.
Examples include
the International Labour Organization (“International
Labour Organization, "ILO) and the
International Walfang commission ("International
Whaling Commission," IWC).
IOs/ROs
Some international organizations such as the UN,
have an (almost) universal membership.
Some have limited membership, such as
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries –
OPEC
The European Union –EU
The African Union –AU
International Organizations
International organization is a formal institution that
has a structure established by agreement among
sovereign states with the aim of pursuing the common
interest of the members.

An organization that accommodates the world

community is regarded as global or universal.
International and Regional organizations
International and regional organizations create a
stable set of norms and rules meant to govern the
behavior of states and other actors in the international
system.
 "an association or union of nations established or
recognized by them for the purpose of realizing a
common end". Pitman B. Potter
Regional Organizations
A region is a segment of the world bound together
by a geographical, social, cultural, economic or
political tie.

A regional organization is a formal arrangement

made up of voluntary association of sovereign
states within a certain area for a joint purpose.
Structure and features of International
organization
Regional Organizations
Regional organizations (ROs) are, in a sense,
international organizations (IOs), as they incorporate
international membership and encompass geopolitical
entities that operationally transcend a single nation
state.

However, their membership is characterized by

boundaries and demarcations characteristic to a
defined and unique geography, such as continents, or
geopolitics, such as economic blocs.
Types of International Organization
Importance of International organizations
Importance of International organizations
Importance of International organizations
Class Discussion