An international organization (also known as an international institution or intergovernmental

organization) is a stable set of norms and rules meant to govern the behavior of states and other
actors in the international system. Organizations may be established by a treaty or be an
instrument governed by international law and possessing its own legal personality, such as the
United Nations, the World Health Organization and NATO. International organizations are
composed of primarily member states, but may also include other entities, such as other
international organizations. Additionally, entities (including states) may hold observer status.

FUNCTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

International organisations function in the following ways:
1. Articulation and aggregation
2. Norms creation
3. Recruitment
4. Socialisation
5. Rule-making
6. Rule-application
7. Rule-adjudication
8. Information
9. Operations
10. Articulation and Aggregation
International organisations can function for the aggregation and articulation of the national
interests of its members into the international system. Thus, they bring the interested states into
the same framework to articulate their interests into the world society. Just like interests groups
in the national systems articulate and aggregate their common interests by forming institutions,
associations, and interest-groups such as unions for better wages and working conditions, or
green peace for cleaner environment, states do the same by articulating and aggregating their
common interests onto the international political system through the international organisations.
To achieve this, they form coalition, co-operation, alliance. For example, OPEC is a organisation
for the aggregation and articulation of the oil exporting countries, to raise the oil prices, or to
increase their power by using oil as a weapon. UNCTAD is sub-organ of the UN to articulate the
interests of the developing countries, and to augment their voice in the system. On the other
hand, there are some INGOs for the same objective, such as World Zionist Organisation,
International Chamber of Shipping, etc.
1. Norms
They can function as the makers of norms and law for the operation of international relations. In
other words, they make law for the states to follow. Their activities are grouped into three
groups:
On political issues: They produced several documents or treaties in improving human rights, for
example 1948 UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1982 Law of Sea,
On economic issues, they make arrangements to improve trade and economic relations among
the nations. For example, GATT developed important norms for free international trade and
commerce by lowering the custom tariffs and bringing some standards for the running of the
world trade.
On security issues, the UN and other regional organisations developed some norms in the filed of
disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, ban the use of force, de-legitimisation of
colonaialization, etc.
1. Recruitment
They function as the forces to recruit new actors into the international system. Especially the U
encouraged the colonial powers to free their colonies, and the colonies to join into the
international system by joining the organisation. So in the 1950-60s, many new states became
members to the UN. As a result, the number of the UN members sharply increased from to 50s to
the 100s.
1. Socialisation
They adapt the states into the international system by socialising them. Just like in the national
system there are institutions such as military, schools, foundations to socialise the citizens into
the national system, international organisations educate and train them in such a way. It takes
place at two levels:
* By direct means, any organisations provide educational, social, psyhcological environment to
the citizens of the member countries. Thus they create a "community sprit" In that some INGOs
play a great role by affecting the people in different ways.
* By formal and diplomatic ways, state representatives or diplomats can be "socialised" to act in
certain ways that is acceptable to the rest of the "international community". They learn new
thinking and alternative ways of living. As a result they are persuaded in a way in line with the
general norms of international system.
1. Rule-Making
They make rules for the arrangements of relations between its members. Rules can take form of a
decision, a resolution, a recommendation, a conference declaration, or a treaty or agreement.
For example, the EU makes rule for its member states, civil groups or citizens to follow. The UN
takes resolutions or recommendations on different issues. But in most cases, these rule should be
taken by the consensus of the members to be effective.
1. Rule-Application
Rule – application means putting the rule into effect In most cases, the rules are expected to be
put into effect by the member governments because the international organisations may not
have the resource or means to put them into effect. But for the rules to be applied widely, they
should be accepted by the members states as useful for their interests. Otherwise, they can
remain as papers.
For example, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions to several aggressors, but only a few of
them were put into practice, such against Iraq, but not against Israel.
1. Rule - Adjudication
Rule – adjudication means the legal solution of the problems by the judicial courts. In nation-
states, the rule-adjudication is carried out by the judiciary- law courts, arbitration panels,
tribunals, an so on. In international level, this is done by some institutions such as International
Court of Justice inn the case of the UN, and the Permanent Court of International Justice in the
case of the League of Nations, or the European Court of Justice in the Case of the European
Union.
But the decisions of these courts are boundary only for those who accept its authority.
1. Information
They collect, keep, and disseminate information to the states which need them. For example, the
WHO, WMO, FAO, and many other functional international organisations have wide array of
information in their own special field. And states uses their own interests.
1. Operations
Their operations vary depending on the field of the international organisation. Thus some deal
with providing credit (IMF-World Bank), some with helping refugees (UNHCR), some with health
problems (WHO) and so on.

The WTO
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the
rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by
the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to ensure that
trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

The overall objective of the WTO is to help its members use trade as a means to raise living
standards, create jobs and improve people’s lives. The WTO operates the global system of trade
rules and helps developing countries build their trade capacity. It also provides a forum for its
members to negotiate trade agreements and to resolve the trade problems they face with each
other.

Improving people’s lives

The fundamental goal of the WTO is to improve the welfare of people around the world. The
WTO’s founding Marrakesh agreement recognizes that trade should be conducted with a view to
raising standards of living, ensuring full employment, increasing real income and expanding
global trade in goods and services while allowing for the optimal use of the world’s resources.
Negotiating trade rules
The WTO was born out of five decades of negotiations aimed at progressively reducing obstacles
to trade. Where countries have faced trade barriers and wanted them lowered, the negotiations
have helped to open markets for trade. Conversely, in some circumstances, WTO rules support
maintaining trade barriers – for example, to protect consumers or the environment.
Overseeing WTO agreements
At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading
nations. Essentially contracts, these documents provide the rules for international commerce and
bind governments to keep their trade policies within agreed limits. Their goal is to help producers
of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business, with a view to raising
standards of living, while allowing governments to meet social and environmental objectives.
Maintaining open trade
The system’s overriding purpose is to help trade flow as freely as possible – provided there are no
undesirable side effects – because this stimulates economic growth and employment and
supports the integration of developing countries into the international trading system. Its rules
have to be transparent and predictable, to ensure that individuals, companies and governments
know what the trade rules are around the world, and to assure them that there will be no sudden
changes of policy.
Settling disputes
Trade relations often involve conflicting interests. Agreements, including those painstakingly
negotiated in the WTO, often need interpreting. The most harmonious way to settle these
differences is through a neutral procedure based on an agreed legal foundation. That is the
purpose behind the dispute settlement process written into the WTO agreements.