International organisations mediate cooperation and conflict among states, but their effectiveness depends on the willingness of powerful members to abide by shared rules. — NCERT
4.1 Why International Organisations?
States create international organisations (IOs) to:
- Manage collective problems — war, trade, disease, environment
- Provide forums for negotiation — reduce unilateral action
- Establish norms and rules — international law, human rights
- Deliver public goods — peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, development finance
IOs operate on principles of sovereign equality but reflect power asymmetries in practice.
4.2 The United Nations (UN)
Founded in 1945 after World War II:
| Organ | Function |
|---|---|
| General Assembly | Deliberative body; one vote per member |
| Security Council | Maintains peace; 5 permanent + 10 elected members |
| Secretariat | Administrative arm headed by Secretary-General |
| ECOSOC | Economic and social affairs |
| ICJ | International Court of Justice |
Reform debates:
- Expansion of Security Council permanent membership (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan)
- Veto power of P5 (US, UK, France, Russia, China) — often blocks action
- Funding dependence on major contributors
UN peacekeeping is a major contribution to global security.
4.3 IMF, World Bank, and WTO
International Monetary Fund (IMF):
- Promotes global monetary cooperation
- Provides loans with conditionality — structural adjustment, austerity
- Criticised for imposing neoliberal policies on developing countries
World Bank:
- Funds development projects — infrastructure, poverty reduction
- IBRD and IDA — lending to middle-income and poorest countries
- Debates over environmental and social impact of projects
World Trade Organisation (WTO):
- Sets rules for international trade (replaced GATT in 1995)
- Dispute settlement mechanism
- Doha Round stalled over agriculture subsidies and development concerns
These Bretton Woods institutions reflect post-1945 economic order.
4.4 Regional and Non-State Actors
Regional organisations:
- EU, ASEAN, African Union, OAS — economic integration, conflict resolution
- NATO — military alliance; Article 5 collective defence
- Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) — China, Russia, Central Asia
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs):
- Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Médecins Sans Frontières
- Advocate for human rights, environment, humanitarian relief
- Shape global agendas through campaigns and UN consultative status
Multinational corporations (MNCs):
- Economic power rivals states; influence trade, labour, environment policies
4.5 India and International Organisations
India's engagement:
- Founding member of the UN; major contributor to peacekeeping
- Seeks permanent UNSC seat — supported by G4 nations
- Active in NAM, G20, BRICS, Commonwealth
- WTO member — defends agricultural subsidies and food security
- IMF and World Bank borrower in early decades; now a contributor
India advocates reforming global governance to reflect contemporary power realities.
Chapter Summary
- International organisations address collective problems through cooperation and rules
- The UN is central to peace and security but needs Security Council reform
- IMF, World Bank, and WTO shape global economic governance
- Regional organisations and NGOs complement state-led diplomacy
- India seeks greater representation in reformed multilateral institutions
Exercises (NCERT)
- Exercise 1 — structure and functions of the United Nations
- Exercise 2 — role of IMF, World Bank, and WTO
- Exercise 3 — India's position on UN reform and multilateralism