upgrade

📜intro to political science review

IGOs

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

IGOs, or Intergovernmental Organizations, are international organizations that are composed of and governed by member states. They are formed through treaties or other agreements between national governments and serve as platforms for cooperation, coordination, and collective decision-making on global issues and challenges.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. IGOs provide a framework for countries to cooperate on a wide range of issues, including security, economics, social welfare, and the environment.
  2. Membership in IGOs is voluntary, and countries can choose to join or withdraw from these organizations based on their national interests.
  3. IGOs can have both global and regional scopes, with the former addressing issues of worldwide concern and the latter focusing on issues specific to a particular geographic region.
  4. The decision-making processes within IGOs typically involve voting and consensus-building, with member states having varying degrees of influence based on factors like economic power and population size.
  5. IGOs can play a crucial role in setting international norms, standards, and rules, and in monitoring and enforcing compliance with these agreements.

Review Questions

  • Explain the key features and purpose of IGOs.
    • IGOs, or Intergovernmental Organizations, are international organizations composed of and governed by member states. They are formed through treaties or agreements between national governments and serve as platforms for cooperation, coordination, and collective decision-making on global issues and challenges. The key features of IGOs include their voluntary membership, their ability to address a wide range of issues, and their role in setting international norms, standards, and rules. The primary purpose of IGOs is to facilitate cooperation among countries and promote the collective pursuit of shared goals and solutions to common problems.
  • Describe the relationship between IGOs and national sovereignty.
    • The relationship between IGOs and national sovereignty is complex. While countries maintain their sovereignty as independent states, they can choose to partially cede some of their decision-making power to IGOs through treaties and agreements. This allows for coordinated, multilateral approaches to addressing global issues. However, the degree of authority and influence wielded by IGOs can vary, and member states may retain the ability to opt-out of certain decisions or policies. The balance between national sovereignty and the collective decision-making of IGOs is an ongoing challenge that reflects the evolving nature of international cooperation and governance.
  • Analyze the role of the United Nations as a prominent example of a global IGO.
    • The United Nations (UN) is the largest and most well-known IGO, founded in 1945 with the primary goals of promoting international cooperation, maintaining international peace and security, and addressing global issues. As a global IGO, the UN provides a platform for countries to come together and collectively address a wide range of concerns, from security and human rights to economic development and environmental protection. The UN's decision-making processes, which involve voting and consensus-building among its member states, reflect the complex dynamics of balancing national interests and the pursuit of shared global objectives. The UN's ability to set international norms, standards, and rules, as well as its role in monitoring and enforcing compliance, make it a crucial player in the evolving landscape of international governance and cooperation.