Multinational Multinational OrganizationsOrganizations

United NationsUnited Nations

Established in 1945Established in 1945 The purpose of the United Nations is The purpose of the United Nations is

to bring all nations of the world to bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and together to work for peace and development, based on the principles development, based on the principles of justice, human dignity and the of justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people. It affords well-being of all people. It affords the opportunity for countries to the opportunity for countries to balance global interdependence and balance global interdependence and national interests when addressing national interests when addressing international problems.international problems.

There are currently 192 Members of the United There are currently 192 Members of the United Nations Nations

They meet in the General AssemblyThey meet in the General Assembly which is the closest thing to a world parliament. which is the closest thing to a world parliament. Each country, large or small, rich or poor, has a single Each country, large or small, rich or poor, has a single

vote, vote, none of the decisions taken by the Assembly are none of the decisions taken by the Assembly are

binding. binding. However, the Assembly's decisions become However, the Assembly's decisions become

resolutions that carry the weight of world resolutions that carry the weight of world governmental opinion.governmental opinion.

The Principles of the United Nations:The Principles of the United Nations:

All Member States have sovereign equality. All Member States have sovereign equality. All Member States must obey the Charter. All Member States must obey the Charter. Countries must try to settle their differences by Countries must try to settle their differences by

peaceful means. peaceful means. Countries must avoid using force or threatening to Countries must avoid using force or threatening to

use force. use force. The UN may not interfere in the domestic affairs of The UN may not interfere in the domestic affairs of

any country. any country. Countries should try to assist the United Nations. Countries should try to assist the United Nations.

. The UN is not an independent, homogeneous . The UN is not an independent, homogeneous organization; organization;

it is made up of sovereign states, so actions by the it is made up of sovereign states, so actions by the UN depend on the will of Member States, to accept, UN depend on the will of Member States, to accept, fund or carry them out. fund or carry them out.

Especially in matters of peace-keeping and Especially in matters of peace-keeping and international politics, it requires a complex, often international politics, it requires a complex, often slow, process of consensus-building that must take slow, process of consensus-building that must take into account national sovereignty as well as global into account national sovereignty as well as global needs.needs.

The The United Nations Security CouncilUnited Nations Security Council ((UNSCUNSC) )

The Council seated five permanent members The Council seated five permanent members who were originally drawn from the victorious who were originally drawn from the victorious powers after World War II:powers after World War II:

France France China China RussiaRussia EnglandEngland USAUSA

Ten other members are elected by the General Ten other members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms starting on with five Assembly for two-year terms starting on with five replaced each year. replaced each year.

The members are chosen by regional groups and The members are chosen by regional groups and confirmed by the United Nations General Assembly. confirmed by the United Nations General Assembly.

The African bloc chooses three members; The African bloc chooses three members; the Latin America and the Caribbean, Asian, and the Latin America and the Caribbean, Asian, and

Western European and Others blocs choose two Western European and Others blocs choose two members each;members each;

the Eastern European bloc chooses one member. the Eastern European bloc chooses one member. Also, one of these members is an Arab country, Also, one of these members is an Arab country, alternately from the Asian or African bloc.alternately from the Asian or African bloc.

Veto power Veto power

Security Council decisions on all substantive Security Council decisions on all substantive matters require the affirmative votes of nine matters require the affirmative votes of nine members. A negative vote, or members. A negative vote, or vetoveto, by a , by a permanent member prevents adoption of a permanent member prevents adoption of a proposal, even if it has received the required proposal, even if it has received the required number of affirmative votes. Abstention is not number of affirmative votes. Abstention is not regarded as a veto regarded as a veto

Role of the Security Council Role of the Security Council

the Security Council "may investigate any dispute, or the Security Council "may investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead to international friction any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute". The Council may or give rise to a dispute". The Council may "recommend appropriate procedures or methods of "recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment" if it determines that the situation might adjustment" if it determines that the situation might endanger international peace and security. These endanger international peace and security. These recommendations are not binding on UN members. recommendations are not binding on UN members.

the Council has broader power to decide what the Council has broader power to decide what measures are to be taken in situations involving measures are to be taken in situations involving "threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, or "threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, or acts of aggression". In such situations, the acts of aggression". In such situations, the Council is not limited to recommendations but Council is not limited to recommendations but may take action, including the use of armed force may take action, including the use of armed force "to maintain or restore international peace and "to maintain or restore international peace and security". This was the basis for UN armed action security". This was the basis for UN armed action in Korea in 1950 during the Korean War and the in Korea in 1950 during the Korean War and the use of coalition forces in Iraq and Kuwait in use of coalition forces in Iraq and Kuwait in 1991. 1991.

Security Council has the power toSecurity Council has the power to

Investigate any situation threatening international Investigate any situation threatening international peace; peace;

Recommend procedures for peaceful resolution of a Recommend procedures for peaceful resolution of a dispute; dispute;

Call upon other member nations to completely or Call upon other member nations to completely or partially interrupt economic relations as well as sea, partially interrupt economic relations as well as sea, air, postal, and radio communications, or to sever air, postal, and radio communications, or to sever diplomatic relations; and diplomatic relations; and

Enforce its decisions militarily, or by any means Enforce its decisions militarily, or by any means necessary. necessary.

Organization of the Petroleum Organization of the Petroleum Exporting CountriesExporting Countries ( (OPECOPEC) )

group of twelve statesgroup of twelve states made up of:made up of: IranIran IraqIraq Kuwait,Kuwait, QatarQatar Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia the United Arab the United Arab

Emirates, Emirates,

LibyaLibya AlgeriaAlgeria NigeriaNigeria AngolaAngola Venezuela Venezuela EcuadorEcuador

goal is the determination of the best means for goal is the determination of the best means for safeguarding their interests, individually and safeguarding their interests, individually and collectively; devising ways and means of collectively; devising ways and means of ensuring the stabilization of prices in ensuring the stabilization of prices in international international oil marketsoil markets

The World Trade Organization...The World Trade Organization... Designed to supervise and promote free tradeDesigned to supervise and promote free trade Deals with the rules of trade between nations Deals with the rules of trade between nations The WTO has 153 members, which represents The WTO has 153 members, which represents

more then 95% of total world trade more then 95% of total world trade The WTO is governed by a Ministerial The WTO is governed by a Ministerial

Conference, which meets every two years; a Conference, which meets every two years; a General Council, which implements the General Council, which implements the conference's policy decisions and is conference's policy decisions and is responsible for day-to-day administration; and responsible for day-to-day administration; and a director-general, who is appointed by the a director-general, who is appointed by the Ministerial Conference. Ministerial Conference.

The WTO's predecessor, the General The WTO's predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), was Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), was established after established after World War IIWorld War II in the wake of in the wake of other new multilateral institutions dedicated to other new multilateral institutions dedicated to international economic cooperation - notably international economic cooperation - notably the the BrettonBretton Woods institutions Woods institutions known as the known as the World BankWorld Bank and the and the International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund. .

CriticismCriticism

The stated aim of the WTO is to promote free The stated aim of the WTO is to promote free trade and stimulate economic growth. Some trade and stimulate economic growth. Some people argue that free trade leads to a people argue that free trade leads to a divergence instead of convergence of income divergence instead of convergence of income levels within rich and poor countries (the rich levels within rich and poor countries (the rich get richer and the poor get poorer).[ get richer and the poor get poorer).[

Other critics claim that the issues of labor Other critics claim that the issues of labor relations and environment are steadfastly relations and environment are steadfastly ignored ignored

World Bank World Bank

The World Bank was established in 1945, The World Bank was established in 1945, following the ratification of the Bretton Woods following the ratification of the Bretton Woods agreementagreement

Its an internationally supported bank that Its an internationally supported bank that provides financial and technical assistance to provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for development developing countries for development programs (e.g. bridges, roads, schools, etc.) programs (e.g. bridges, roads, schools, etc.) with the stated goal of reducing poverty. with the stated goal of reducing poverty.

. There are some criticisms of the results of the . There are some criticisms of the results of the World Bank's "development schemes" leading World Bank's "development schemes" leading to corruption and widespread exploitation of to corruption and widespread exploitation of the corporations who are given monopolies of the corporations who are given monopolies of developing nations' resources.developing nations' resources.

The Bank’s mission is to aid developing The Bank’s mission is to aid developing countries and their inhabitants achieve countries and their inhabitants achieve development and the reduction of poverty, development and the reduction of poverty,

World Bank sees the five key factors World Bank sees the five key factors necessary for economic growth and the necessary for economic growth and the

creation of an enabling business creation of an enabling business environment asenvironment as

Build capacity – Strengthening governments and Build capacity – Strengthening governments and educating government officials educating government officials

Infrastructure creation – implementation of legal and Infrastructure creation – implementation of legal and judicial systems for the encouragement of business, the judicial systems for the encouragement of business, the protection of individual and property rights and the protection of individual and property rights and the honoring of contracts honoring of contracts

Development of Financial Systems – the establishment of Development of Financial Systems – the establishment of strong systems capable of supporting endeavors from strong systems capable of supporting endeavors from micro credit to the financing of larger corporate ventures micro credit to the financing of larger corporate ventures

Combating corruption – Support for countries' efforts Combating corruption – Support for countries' efforts at eradicating corruption at eradicating corruption

Research, Consultancy and Training - the World Research, Consultancy and Training - the World Bank provides platform for research on development Bank provides platform for research on development issues, consultancy and conduct training programs issues, consultancy and conduct training programs (web based, on line, video/tele conferencing and class (web based, on line, video/tele conferencing and class room based) open for those who are interested from room based) open for those who are interested from academia, students, government and non-academia, students, government and non-governmental organization (NGO) officers etc. governmental organization (NGO) officers etc.