INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Introduction
• States first established international organizations to cooperate on specific matters.
The International Telecommunication Union was founded in 1865 as the International
Telegraph Union, and the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874
• In 1899, the International Peace Conference was held in Hague to elaborate instruments for
settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the
Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established
the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902
• A forum of co-operation of sovereign states
• A process of organizing the growing complexity of international relations
• Originated from multilateral international agreement
• Institution has personality distinct from individual members
• It has permanent organ to carry out common aim
• Foster peaceful cooperative behaviour
• Settling disputes
• Collecting information and monitoring trends
• Competition between states should remain peaceful

Historical Development
• Thomas Friedman theory – the world is flat means the title is a metaphor for viewing the
world as a level playing field in terms of commerce, wherein all competitors have an equal
opportunity.
• Treaty of Westphalia- Ended 30 years of war. It was a war between Protestants and Roman
Catholic regarding a conflict in central Europe. There was a Peace Conference in 1644 and
Treaty signed in 1648
• Concert of Europe- Rise of holy alliance and congress of Vienna in 1815. It was an exclusive
club of great powers that prevent imperials. Developed the habit of consultation between
great powers and laid the foundation of collective negotiation. It contained the seeds of
League of Nations.
• The Hague System- Two Hague Conferences in 1899 and 1907 – not by great power. It
enabled smaller states to enjoy independence and equality and approach towards universality.
It was a prelude to League of Nations.

League of Nations
• 10 January 1920- Paris Peace Conference
• Prevent war through collective security, disarmament and settle dispute.
• Imposed major reparation cost on japan and Germany. Lacked arm force, dependent on great
powers.
• Germany and japan withdrew league
• Lasted for 26 years and failed on the onset of 2nd world war.

Failure of League of Nations

• The League's neutrality tended to manifest itself as indecision.
• Slow in taking decision
• Dependent on major power
• No unanimity in voting
• No global representation – U.S was not the part.
• Germany was not permitted to join, USSR initially excluded.
• Japan withdrew, and later Germany once included withdrew
• Lacked armed force and major power reluctant to use theirs
• The League's collective security system required nations to act, if necessary, against states
they considered friendly, and in a way that might endanger their national interests
• Art 8- reducing disarmament – a lot of time and resources wasted

Structure and Organs:

• General Assembly
• Executive Council (major powers – U.K, France, Italy, Japan)
• Permanent Secretariat
• Permanent Court of International Justice
• International Labour Organization
States were required to submit complaints for arbitration or judicial enquiry before going for
war.

Advent of United Nations- 6 conferences- St. James Palace

• 1941- Declaration of Saint James Palace – 9 exiled government met in London along with
U.K, Canada and Australia
• 1941- Atlantic charter, meeting between Roosevelt and Churchill
• 1942- Declaration of United Nations, 26 nation fighting Rome-berlin-Tokyo Axis singed the
declaration, separate peace treaty
• 1943- Moscow and Tehran conference – U.S, U.K, China and Soviet Union signed an early
declaration
• 1944- Dumbarton Oak conference – furthering Moscow declaration to make post war
international organisation succeeding LON
 Structure
 Roles and responsibility
 Method of voting
• 1945- San Francisco Conference
 46 nations subscribed to be the part of UN
 Declared war on Germany and japan
 Staff of 3500 was set up
 Debate on jurisdiction of ICJ and veto power
 The charter was approved

Structure
• General Assembly- Art. 9
• Security Council Art. 23, system of veto Art. 27
• Economic and social council Art. 61
• Trusteeship council Art 86
• ICJ Art. 92
• Secretariat Art. 97

Function
• Securing peace Art 1 (1)
• Fostering friendly relation Art 1 (2)
• Decolonization, self-determination principle
• International co-operation Art 1 (3)- economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues

Principles
• Sovereign equality of all states
• Peaceful settlement of dispute
• Prohibition of use of force
• Non-intervention in internal affair
• Assistance to all UN member
• Co-operation and respect for non- UN member

European Union
• Came after World War II, currently 28 European nations are part of it
• It consists of three interlocking communities
• European coal and steel community + European economic community + European atomic
community
• Economic and political integration
• Internal single market
• Free movements of people, good, services and capital
• Common policies for trade, fisheries, agriculture and regional development.

Membership
• Partial delegation of sovereignty – pooling of sovereignty
• Copenhagen criteria – stable democracy, respect for human right, acceptance of obligation of
EU
• Lisbon treaty for withdrawal – Referendum

Seven Organs
• European council
• The council of EU- scrutiny of law
• European commission – executive task
• European parliament – amending and making of law
• European court– law and treatise
• European central bank – Eurozone and monetary policy
• European court of auditors - budget

International Administrative Law

• The court of European community can review the law
• System of checks and balances
• In a limited sense
• Delegation of power – Ex inquiry of matter of trade union by “committee of freedom of
association” of ILO

Dissolution
• Established for fixed period
• Special purpose or temporary nature
• Express or implied decision of the members of the institution
• Ex LON, 18th April 1946

Difference between International Institution and International Organisation

International Institutions- Formal bodies created by states and for states for addressing
political issues. aka "IGOs" (inter-governmental organizations) e.g. The U.N., NATO, the
EU, the WTO
 International Organizations- Any more informal business-like association that isn't
operated at the interstate level, typically focused on a particular field of interest (human
rights, medical care, press freedom, etc.). They run themselves, set their own priorities, and
pursue their own objectives. aka "NGOs" (non-governmental organizations) e.g. The Red
Cross, Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders, Reporters without Borders

International Institutions
• League of Nations
• United Nations
• WHO
• Food and Agriculture Organization.
Regional Institutions
• European Union
• SAARC
• NATO

Private International Union (International Non-Governmental Organization)

These Unions were established between 1840 to 1914 and were about 400 in number. The
Anti-Slavery World Conference of 1844 was first such international union. The 19 th century
saw development of international committee of Red Cross. The object was not profit but
interest of all or some states and saw regular meetings and establishment of Permanent
Secretariat.

Public International Unit

Inter-governmental organization, linking government department and administration by
multilateral treaties. In 1865, the International Telegraphic Union was set up. Later the
Universal Postal Union was set up. PIUs later became specialised agencies of the UN, and
dealt with food, art, health, science

Important Features of PIU

• Permanent Secretariats
• Periodic Conferences
• Majority Voting, Weighted Voting
• Proportionate Financial Contributions
• Administrative Co-Operation

Succession of Right and Duties

In Re- South West Africa Namibia case
When the nature of predecessor and succeeding organization is same
Ex – PCIJ to ICJ