1.
Week 3 - Lecture
International Institutions
Globalisation and International Institutions
(BLB00012-6)
Prepared by: Dr. Junie T. Tong
Ref: Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. (2010).
The globalisation of World Politics: An Introduction to
International Relations (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Revenhill, J. (2011). Global Political Economy (3rd ed.).
Oxford University Press.
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2.
Introduction
• International institutions created after
Depression and Second World War
• Cold war postponed operation of these
institutions --> U.S. managed European
reconstruction and dollar-based international
monetary system
• United Nations: established on 24th October
1945 by 51 countries. By 2010, 193 countries
were members of the UN

3.
History of the United Nations
• Established to preserve peace after the Second
World War and is the only global institution with the
legitimacy derives from universal membership.
• Is made up of a group of international institutions
and its central system is located in New York.
• Reflected lessons learned from League of Nations.
• Reflects both demands of great power politics (i.e..
Security Council veto) and universalism.
• Also reflects tension between needs and interests of
people and states.

4.
The UN & International Peace & Security
• Cold war and decolonization discouraged
active UN involvement
• Post-cold war
–More focus on internal developments in
states
–Sense that UN served national interest as
well as morality

5.
• By mid-1990s, the UN:
–Resisted aggression between states
–Attempted to resolve internal disputes (civil
wars)
–Focused on improving states’ economic,
social and political conditions
The UN & International Peace & Security
(cont’d)

6.
• 1990’s: new justifications for
intervention, but no consensus
–Most UN operations justified traditionally: a
response to threats to international peace
and security
–States were reluctant to approve changes to
intervention
• 2001: Responsibility to Protect report
The United Nations and Intervention

7.
Economic and Social Reform
• Significant increase in number of UN
institutions that address economic/social
issues
– Programmes and Funds created in response
to Global Conferences
– Reforms concerned with operations at both
the country and the general or
headquarters levels.
• Coordination problematic, funds limited

8.
Economic and Social Reform (cont’d)
• Mid-1990s: S-G Kofi Annan led reform effort
on economic and social arrangements:
–Improving coordination
–Eliminating duplication
–Clarifying spheres of responsibility
–Strengthened norms of multilateral system

9.
Ref: Figure 19.1 The structure of United Nations System, pg. 314. Baylis, Smith & Owens (2011)

10.
The United Nations - News & Broadcast:
Ref: http://webtv.un.org/news-features/
• General Assembly’s high-level segment produced substantial
progress, says deputy UN chief
Ref: http://webtv.un.org/media/watch/its-your-general
assembly-2012/1799012617001
• It's Your General Assembly 2012

11.
About the UN General Assembly:
In September every year, the world gathers in New York to tackle humanity's
most intractable problems.
Functions and Powers
• The General Assembly (GA) is the main deliberative organ of the UN.
Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security,
admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds
majority. Decisions on other questions are by simple majority.
• Each country has one vote. Some Member States in arrear of payment
may be granted the right to vote. A Member State in arrears in the
payment of its dues in an amount that equals or exceeds the contributions
due for two preceding years can lose its vote in the General Assembly.
• An exception is allowed if the Members State can show that conditions
beyond its control contributed to this inability to pay.
• The GA has established a number of Councils, Working Groups, Boards,
etc. for the performance of its functions. See the list of Subsidiary Organs.
The Assembly has adopted its own rules of procedure and elects its
President for each session.
Ref: http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/index.shtml
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12.
The World Bank
• The World Bank was established on 27th December 1945-
- as facilitator of post-war reconstruction and
development
- to alleviate worldwide poverty at present
• The World Bank’s group includes:
- the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) (from 1945)
- the International Development Association (IDA) (from
1960)
- the International Finance Corporation (IFC) (from 1956)
- the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
(from 1988)
- the International Centre for Settlement of Investment
Disputes (ICSID) (1966)

13.
While the World Bank is to provide longer-term monetary
assistance to countries seeking enhanced development
prospects, the IMF is to supply short-term monetary
assistance to countries struggling with financial instability
(Baylis, Smith & Owens, 2011).
The activities of the five agencies of the World Bank are as
follows:
Both the IBRD and the IDA focus on developing countries in the
areas of human development, agriculture and rural
development, environmental protection, infrastructure and
governance.
Both organisations provide loans at preferential rates to
member countries whereas offer grants to the poorest
countries in relation to wider policy changes in the economy.

14.
The IFC provides various forms of financing without sovereign
guarantees whereas the MIGA provides insurance against
certain types of risk, including political risk, primarily to the
private sector.
The ICSID works with governments to reduce investment risk.
The World Bank Building in Washington D.C
Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bank_Group

15.
The World Bank - News & Broadcast:
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,pagePK:
34382~piPK:34439~theSitePK:4607,00.html
• World Bank President: What will it take?
• Severe Droughts Drive Food Prices Higher
Ref: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/
0,,pagePK:34382~piPK:34439~theSitePK:4607,00.html

16.
has been established since 1995 to replace the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which regulated
global trade since 1947.
By the 24 August 2012, WTO has 157 countries and its
functions include:
• Administering WTO trade agreements
• Forum for trade negotiations
• Handling trade disputes
• Monitoring national trade policies
• Technical assistance and training for developing
countries
• Cooperation with other international organizations
Ref: http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/
who_we_are_e.htm
The World Trade Organisation (WTO)

17.
WTO Public Forum 2012 : Highlights
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
The WTO Public Forum ended on Wednesday 26 September. Participants
tacked the question “Is Multilateralism in Crisis?” in 44 sessions and
three intensive Ideas Workshops. Check out some of the highlights and
hear some of the ideas the public brought to the WTO during these three
days.
Ref: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm

18.
A Group Presentation to be Made:
• Pick a subsidiary or agent of the UN
• Imagine your group is working for this organisation
• You will need to raise £500,000 for the organisation to achieve
its objectives
• Prepare a presentation, on a group basis, to raise the necessary funds.
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