Supranational Organizations

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