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