ASSESSMENT

IGOs And World Politics

Overview

Write 4-6 pages in which you analyze the roles an IGO plays in global politics and economies.

In this assessment, you will demonstrate your ability to explain the characteristics of IGOs and the roles they play in world politics and economies.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

Competency 1: Examine the role and formation of supranational organizations. Describe the key features of a particular intergovernmental organization.

Describe the relevance of a particular intergovernmental organization to world politics.

Competency 4: Examine the formation of world politics.

Describe the purpose of global and regional intergovernmental organizations.

Evaluate whether the world should be toward a system where supranational organizations exist and dominate.

Competency 7: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.

Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.

Context

Although the state is-and has long been-the primary actor in the international system, it is not the only one. Nor are states the only option for governance. Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are another type of international actor. An intergovernmental organization is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states (referred to as member states) or of other intergovernmental organizations. More importantly, IGOs provide a possible alternative to the traditional state­based system.

Critics of the traditional system say it is inadequate to meet the challenges of a globalizing world. They indicate that its emphasis on self­interested states operating in an anarchical international system is violence prone. From the perspective of those who advocate the empowerment of IGOs, a better approach on the world stage would be to heed to Shakespeare's counsel in Henry VI, act 4, scene 6, to "join your hands, and with your hands your hearts" (The Literature Network, 2014, para. 7). By empowering IGOs to increasingly regulate the behavior of states, we would reduce violence and provide a platform to address world problems.

Reference

The Literature Network. (2014). Act 4. Scene VI. Retrieved from http://www.online­ literature.com/shakespeare/henryVI3/20/

Questions to Consider

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

What is an intergovernmental organization?

Why do you think the number of intergovernmental organizations has increased so much in recent years?

What is the difference between intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations? Why would states choose to participate in intergovernmental organizations?

How are intergovernmental organizations beneficial?

How do supranational organizations (nongovernmental and intergovernmental) affect world politics?

Resources

Suggested Resources

The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.

Capella Multimedia

Click the link provided below to view the following multimedia piece:

Supernational Organizations Interactive Map | T ranscript.

Library Resources

The following e­books or articles from the Capella University Library are linked directly in this course:

Boehmer, C., & Nordstrom, T. (2008). I ntergovernmental organization memberships: Examining political community and the attributes of international organizations. International Interactions, 34, 282-309.

Brown, G. (2008). G lobalization is what we make of it: Contemporary globalization theory and the
future construction of global interconnection. Political Studies Review, 6, 42-53.

Grigorescu, A. (2007). T ransparency of intergovernmental organizations: the roles of member states, i nternational bureaucracies, and nongovernmental organizations. International Studies Quarterly, 51, 625-648.

Course Library Guide

A Capella University library guide has been created specifically for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the resources in the P OL­FP2000 - Globalization Library Guide to help direct your research.

Internet Resources

Access the following resources by clicking the links provided. Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the following links have been either granted or deemed appropriate for educational use at the time of course publication.

Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.euintheus.org/ GlobalSecurity.org. (2014). G

ulf Cooperation Council. Retrieved from

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/gcc.htm

United Nations. (n.d.). I ntergovernmental organizations: Permanent observers. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/en/members/intergovorg.shtml

United Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.un.org/

United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/

Bookstore Resources

The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the C apella

University Bookstore. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course ID with the specific -FP (FlexPath) course designation.

Rourke, J. T., & Boyer, M. A. (2010). International politics on the world stage: Brief (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw­Hill.

Chapter 7, "Intergovernmental Organizations: Alternative Governance," pages 168-206.

Assessment Instructions

An intergovernmental organization (IGO) is an agency set up by two or more governments to carry out projects and plans in pursuit of a common interest. IGOs, which are a type of supranational organization, have only emerged in about the past 50 years. However, they have made a tremendous impact on world politics and peacekeeping, alike.

There currently are more than 250 IGOs worldwide, and this number continues to rise. IGOs can be global, regional, and specialized. IGOs differ from nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in that their members come from various countries. IGOs provide an alternative to traditional systems by providing support over nations.

The growth in the number of IGOs is often attributed to the increased international contact among states and people as well as growing economic interdependence. In addition, the growth in number of IGOs may be linked to the importance of transnationalism and the inadequacy of the state­centered system in dealing with certain kinds of policy issues.

Preparation

In preparation for this assessment, use the Resources provided (or others you find) to research IGOs. It is important to understand the characteristics of these organizations and the role they play in world politics.

To prepare for this assessment, choose an IGO about which you would like to learn more. You may choose an IGO from the Resources, or you can select another that is particularly interesting to you. Explore the NGO's Web site. You may need to research more than just the Web site to complete this assessment.

Directions

For this assessment, complete the following:

Identify and briefly describe the IGO you selected while preparing for this assessment.

What is the organization's mission, founding and origination story, structure, membership, scope of activities, and overall success-or lack thereof?

Does the IGO you chose focus on issues of economics, human rights or the environment, or on a more widespread variety of issues?
Is the organization you chose a supranational organization?

Describe the relevance of the organization you are exploring in world politics. What is its role? Explain the purpose of global and regional IGOs in general.

Evaluate whether the world should be moving toward a system where supranational organizations exist and dominate.

While content is the most important aspect of your paper, also important are organization, readability, grammar, and spelling. The length of your paper should be determined by its content.

Ensure your paper follows APA format. Add headers as appropriate, include a reference page at the end of your paper, and be sure to properly cite and provide references for material you use in your paper, per APA guidelines. The paper you submit should be in a Word document or RTF format.

Additional Requirements

Written communication: Should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.

APA formatting: Your paper should be formatted according to current APA style and formatting guidelines. Include a title page and a reference page.

Length: A typical response will be 4-6 typed and double­spaced pages. Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

References: Use at least three references.