Organización intergubernamental

Una organización intergubernamental, aveces reconocida como un organismo internacional es una organización incluyendo a estados soberanos, o estados miembros. Las organizaciones intergubernamentales también se reconocen como tipos de organización internacional, aunque ese termino también incluye a las organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG) internacionales, e incluso corporaciones multinacionales.

Las organizaciones intergubernamentales son un aspecto importante del derecho público internacional. Estas organizaciones se establecen a través de un tratado que actúe como una carta creando el grupo. Los tratados están formados cuando los representantes legales de los gobiernos de varios estados entran un proceso de ratificación, creando una personería jurídica al grupo.

Las organizaciones intergubernamentales, en un sentido legal, deben ser distinguidos de grupos de estados simples, tales como el G-24. Estos grupos o asociaciones no fueron fundados a través de un documento constituyente y existen como grupos de trabajo.

Las organizaciones intergubernamentales también deben ser distinguidos de los tratados en sí. Varios tratados como los Acuerdos de Comercio, anterior a la Organización Mundial de Comercio no establecen una organización y en lugar de esto dependen en las partes para su administración antes de ser legalmente reconocidas como una comisión ad hoc. Otros tratados establecen un aparato administrativo que no da una personería jurídica legal internacional.

Tipos y propósitos

Las organizaciones intergubernamentales tienen funciones, membrecía y criterios de membrecía diferentes. Tienen varios objetivos y alcances, tipicamente delineados en un tratado o carta. Algunos responden a una necesidad para un foro netural de debate o negociación para resolver disputas. Otras funcionan a favor de intereses mutuas de una manera unificada.

Entre posibles objetivos en comun son preservar la paz a través de resolución de conflictos y mejores relaciones internacionales, promocionan la cooperación internacional en temas tales como protección medioambiental, la promoción de los derechos humanos, la promoción de cambio social, la ayuda humanitaria y el desarrollo económico.

Organizaciones globales o mundiales - generalmente abiertas a naciones en todo el mundo con tal que se llenan ciertos criterios. Esta categoría incluye a las Naciones Unidas, Interpol, la Organización Mundial de Comercio y el Fondo Monetario Internacional.
Organizaciones regionales - abiertas a naciones en ciertos continentes o subregiones. Esta categoría incluye, por ejemplo, la Organización de Estados Americanos.
Organizaciones

Regional organizations - open to members from a particular region(-s) or continent(-s) of the world. This category includes the Council of Europe (CoE), European Union (EU), NATO, OSCE, African Union (AU), Organization of American States (OAS), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Union of South American Nations.
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, La Francophonie, Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Latin Union, or Organisation of the Islamic Conference
Economic organizations - based on economic organization. Some are dedicated to free trade, the reduction of trade barriers (the World Trade Organization) and International Monetary Fund. Others are focused on international development. International cartels, such as the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC), also exist. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development was founded as an economics-focused organization. An example of a recently-formed economic IGO is the Bank of the South.

Some organizations, such as NATO, have collective security or mutual defense provisions.

The Union of International Associations publishes an annual directory of organizations and provides ancillary information on most international organizations, both intergovernmental and non-governmental.

Examples of IGOs

The United Nations Mission:

To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.<ref>http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml</ref>

Membership:<ref>http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter2.shtml</ref> 192 Member States Membership is "...open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations."

World Bank Mission Statement:

"To fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results. To help people help themselves an their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors." <ref>http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/0,,contentMDK:20040565~menuPK:1696892~pagePK:51123644~piPK:329829~theSitePK:29708,00.html</ref>

Membership: 186 Members made up of government-owned organizations.<ref>http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/ORGANIZATION/BODEXT/0,,contentMDK:50004946~menuPK:64020025~pagePK:64020054~piPK:64020408~theSitePK:278036,00.html</ref>

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mission:

"The Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all governments.

They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the preservation of peace and security. They therefore agree to this North Atlantic Treaty." <ref>http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm</ref> Members: "NATO is an Alliance that consists of 28 independent member countries."<ref>http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/nato_countries.htm</ref>

History

While treaties, alliances, and multilateral conferences had existed for centuries, IGOs only began to be established in the 19th century. Among the first were the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine, initiated in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, and the future International Telegraph Union, which was founded by the signing of the International Telegraph Convention by 20 countries in May 1865. Of notable significance was the emergence of the League of Nations following World War One, designed as an institution to foster collective security in order to sustain peace.

Expansion and growth of IGOs

There currently are more than 250 IGOs worldwide, and this number continues to rise. This increase may be attributed to globalization, which increases and encourages the cooperation among and within states. Globalization 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. 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.<ref>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]</ref>/meta/p59961_index.html>

Participation and involvement in IGOs

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

Reasons for participation

1) Economic rewards: In the case of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), many different countries receive economic benefits from membership in the free trade agreement. For example, Mexican companies are given better access to U.S. markets due to their membership.

2) Political influence: Smaller countries, such as Portugal and the Netherlands, 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 they are beneficial as the nation increases influence in the smaller countries' internal affairs and expanding other nations dependence on themselves, so to preserve allegiance

3) Security: Membership in an IGO such as NATO gives security benefits to member countries. This provides an arena where political differences can be resolved.

4) Improve democracy and the likelihood of democratic survival: It has been noted that member countries experience a greater degree of democracy and those democracies survive longer.

Reasons for rejecting membership

1) Loss of sovereignty: Membership often comes with a loss of state sovereignty as treaties are signed which require cooperation on the part of all member states.

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

Impact of IGOs on world politics

The Impact of IGOs on world politics depends on the organization and its global influence.

Strengths and weaknesses of IGOs

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. <ref>Kegley, Charles W. World Politics Trend and Transformation. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2008. Print.</ref>
They provide information.
They allow multilateral cooperation.<ref>www.beyondintractability.org/essay/role_igo</ref>

Weaknesses:

Membership is limited. Prohibits the membership of private citizens. This makes IGOs undemocratic. In addition, not all IGOs allow universal membership.
IGOs often overlap resulting in a complex network.
States have to give up part of their sovereignty, which weakens the state's ability to assert its authority.
Inequality among state members creates biases and can lead powerful states to misuse these organizations. <ref>Kegley, Charles W. World Politics Trend and Transformation. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2008. Print.</ref>

References

Organización intergubernamental

De OCHA Colombia Wiki

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