STATES AND NON-STATES AS LEGAL ACTORS IN THE WORLD

NON-STATE ACTORS

NON-STATE ACTOR
Principal actors of the world politics are nation state. But they are not the only actors. The international system consists of nation states, international organization and private actors.

CLASSIFICATION OF NON-STATES ACTOR

Non-states actors ate divided into two (2) categories: 1) International intergovernmental organisation (IGOs) used to describe an organisation set up by agreement between two or more states; 2) Transnational @ International nongovernmental organisation (INGOs) set up by individual or groups of individual.

 IGOs consist of the non-states actors that are created by nation states. It is created by treaties and negotiations which mainly reflect preference of stronger states. Stronger states created IGOs because they need them to protect their interest. IGOs may be classified by scope (global and regional), or by function (political, economic, social and environmental)

INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION (IGOs)

 Decisions made by IGOs are products of negotiations among the governmental representative assign to them. The main functions of IGOs are rule making, agenda setting and information gathering. The effectiveness of IGOs differ from one issues to another, one international regime type to another, one state to another.

 The influence of IGOs varies with the capacity of government of member states to implement their own provisions and activities under their jurisdictions especially for less developed countries. Examples of IGOs: UN,IMF,EU,ASEAN,COMMONWEALTH

 INGOs is a legally constituted organisation created by private persons or organisation with no participation or representation of the government. It is established not by nation states but by certain groups of individuals, businessman and other societal forces.

INTERNATIONAL NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION (INGOs)

INGOs
This group has no legal bond with nationstates / not formally associated with states or the authority structure although they often cooperate with the government to achieve their goals.

Factors that have contributed to the growth of INGOs

1) the spread of democracy around the world; 2) An increase in global problems that states are ill equipped to solve unilaterally; 3) Problems created by the creation of weak states; 4) The computer and telecommunications revolutions; 5) Relatively easy and inexpensive transportation (so it become easier for groups of people to organise and interact across national

There are several types of INGOs:

1) economic organisation such as transnational corporations; (PETRONAS,SIME DARBY) 2) advocacy organisation such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International 3) Service organisation such as the International Red Cross and Doctors without Borders, MERCY

 4) transnational terrorist organisation that seek to undermine government. 5) transnational criminal organisation that focus on profiting from illegal activities such as Street gangs, Mafia Organisations. In fact, INGOs have achieved significant influence in world affairs.

The main roles of INGOs

1) Setting Agendas: INGOs often force national policymakers to include certain issues on their agendas. For example, the British and Foreign AntiSlavery Society in the early 1800s persuaded the British government to act to end the slave trade.

 2) negotiating Outcomes: INGOs work with governments to solve global problems. For example. Environmental groups often collaborate with business groups and governments on such issues as sustainable development and climate change.

 3) Conferring Legitimacy Organisation such as the World Bank and transnational corporations derive legitimacy from the support or approval of various INGOs. 4) Making Solutions Work Many governments and intergovernmental organisations rely on NGOs to implement their decisions in such areas like humanitarian relief and economic development.