Summary
Summary IPC2601 - International Organisations IGO's & Regional organisations
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- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
Summary IPC2601 - International Organisations IGO's & Regional organisations
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Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) have become increasingly prominentboth in facilitating conflict resolution between states, but also in dealing with
intractable conflicts within states. They serve a number of basic functions that
enhance the possibility of cooperation. Created after World War I, the League
of Nations was an early attempt to systematize third party mediation in
international conflict. However, it proved too weak because important states
did not join, which limited its ability to function. After World War II, the United
Nations was created and, although it worked better than the League of
Nations, the Cold War impeded its effectiveness for many years. Following the
end of the Cold War, the UN has taken on new roles, and regional
organizations around the world have also become more active. Growing
activism from these organizations, however, does not mean that they operate
flawlessly. This essay will briefly review the general purpose of IGOs in
minimizing interstate conflict and then proceed to discuss their expanded roles
in dealing with the internal conflicts of sovereign states.
General Issues
Intergovernmental organizations are constructed by states to facilitate
cooperation.[1] The primary utility of IGOs lies in providing states with a forum
which they can use to negotiate conflicts.[2] IGOs are also useful to states in a
number of additional ways.
• First, by providing a forum for discussion, they make it less costly for states
to discuss issues with one another.
• Second, IGOs often serve as information providers. The enhanced
transparency helps to minimize misperceptions.
• Third, IGOs help to facilitate issue linkages, which may facilitate cooperation.
• Fourth, IGOs help allow states to take a long-term perspective, which makes
them less concerned about immediate payoffs.
• Fifth, the multilateral nature of IGOs lends an air of impartiality that
enhances their effectiveness.[3]
, United Nations
Clearly, the most prominent IGO involved in conflict resolution is the United
Nations (UN). The UN became the primary venue for diffusing international
conflict in the post-World War II period. The growing role of the United
Nations is internal, rather than international, conflict in the 1990s resulted
from a curious interpretation of its own charter, which has exposed internal
contradictions within the charter itself. Central to the UN contradiction is the
contrast between the UN's support for national sovereignty and self-
determination, and its involvement in the internal conflicts of other nations.
For instance, the UN Charter's Chapter VI gives the UN a number of
mechanisms for facilitating conflict resolution, namely fact-finding, good
offices, conciliation, mediation, and negotiation. Additionally, Chapter VII
provides the basis for the use of coercion and force to maintain peace and
security. Finally, Chapter VIII encourages activism on the part of regional
organizations in bringing about peace. The UN possesses an unparalleled
collection of agencies to address various aspects of conflict and humanitarian
situations.
"First Generation" UN Activities
The UN's mission has, in fact, changed dramatically in the past decade. Prior to
this period, the role of the UN was much more limited. The UN became
involved in supporting transitions, namely decolonization processes, early on.
The first UN transitional authority mission was in Dutch West New Guinea in
1962-63. However, the unfavorable experience in the Congo in 1960-64 made
the UN reluctant to take on other such multifunctional operations, as it was
not fully prepared to provide the central authority that was needed.[4]
Throughout most of its history, the UN's mission in maintaining peace typically
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