Supranational
Organizations
What are they and what is their
future?
What is a supranational
org.?
• association of 3 or more states
that work to benefit and promote
all members
–More than 60 in world today
–Participation helps keep peace, being
left out can be disastrous – Why?
Global:
League of nations
• U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson
proposed org. of all states in the
world after WWI to prevent
future war.
• 63 of 75 states
joined – U.S. did
not
• L. of N. Failed –
Why?
Global:
United Nations
• After WWII, new
organization formed to
promote peace in world
• 192 member countries
• Suborgs.:
– FAO (Food & Agr. Org)
– UNESCO (UN Ed, Sci.,
cult. Org)
– WHO (World Health
Org.)
Un Roles
• Promote “standards of behavior”
among member states
• Restrict, sanction member states
who violate standards
• Send peacekeeping troops
• Aid refugees
• Create Universal Declaration on
Human Rights
• All good?
Regional:
Benelux
• Regional can be
stronger than global
orgs. – why?
• Belgium, Netherlands,
Luxembourg
• During WWII, created
common tariffs and get
rid of quotas
Marshall Plan
• Following WWII,
U.S. Sec. of State,
George Marshall
proposed plan to
help Europe
recover and
rebuild
• U.S. gave Europe
$12 billion to
revive economies
• Also, created
cooperation
between European
countries
Regional:
The European Union
• Marshall Plan led to OEEC (Org. of
European Economic Cooperation)
• ECSC (European Coal and Steel
Community) • ECSC led to EEC (European Economic
Community)
• EEC led to EC (European Community) –
12 members by 1989
• EC becomes EU (European Union) - 1992
EU Roles
• 2002 – single
currency – the Euro UK still on pounds,
why?
• Richer countries
subsidize Poorer ones
–As Eastern European
states join, this adds
financial burden on
Western states
EU Concerns
• Growing poorer
countries joining –
Financial concern
• Germany’s strong
pop. & Financially –
Concern about
Balance of Power
• Turkey – Disagree
because of TRNC,
treatment of Kurds,
European enough?
Other Regional Orgs:
• NAFTA (North
American Free Trade
Agreement)
• ACS (Asso. Of
Caribbean States)
• ECOWAS (Economic
Community of West
African States)
• CIS (Commonwealth
of Ind. States)
Effects of
Supranationalism
• Some Europeans have more
attachment to region than their
country – Pros/Cons?
• Demand of nations to break away
from states – independence
• Nuclear Weapons
• Globalization – Econ. & Cultural
• Terrorism
• Religion