International decision makingThe use of Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)to maintain power.

Objectives:1. How much of an influence do superpowers

have in international decision making?2. What part do intergovernmental

organisations play in the mechanisms of maintaining power?

3. Do Intergovernmental organisations create a ‘glass ceiling’ for emerging powers?

The Key Intergovernmental organisations Starter: Use your knowledge from AS to match the correct

symbol and description to each organisation name

4. World Trade Organisation

5. International monetary fund

3. United Nations

2. G8

1. North Atlantic Treaty organisation

6. Organisation for economic co-operation and development

Monitors economic and financial development, lending money to countries in financial difficultiesThe 8 of the 10 largest global economies try to improve food and energy security

Forecasts, analyses and researches into development

A military alliance between the US and EU countries

Promotes free trade by settling trade disputes and creating trade policies and agreements.

An international Peacekeeper

Ext: Could you divide these organisations into categories? What would the categories be?

Objective 1. How much of an influence do superpowers have in international decision making?

Membership of Inter-governmental organisations

WTO member

G20Richest 20 nations

UN Security Council

G8Richest 8 nations

NATO IMF (over 5% of votes)

USA 17%UK 5%EU 30%China

Russia

India

Brazil

Japan 6%

Task 1: a] Who are the key players in intergovernmental decision making? b] Members are not equal in some of these IGOs. What are the likely reasons for this? Participant=

The key features of Intergovernmental OrganisationsMake key decisions about

World economy Conflicts Environmental issues/ resources

Small number of dominant key players such as USA, EU encouraging focus on their interests

Often created by superpowers post war as a way to promote cooperation and reduce conflict

Big overlap in membership of IGOsOften have a vetoLot of mutual support – has effect of a block vote USA and EU work together to promote or block policies

they favour- bilateral actionCritics say created ‘by superpowers for superpowers’

Objective 2. What part do IGOs play in the mechanisms of maintaining power?

Iraq, oil and the UN: The 1st Gulf WarTask 2: Read the article and use the information to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of countries acting as part of the UN instead of alone.

Ext: Whose power has been maintained in this example?

China and the UN Task 3 Watch the Filma) Summarise the role

China is alleged to have played in Sudan

b) How strong an Influence has China’s veto of the UN embargo on Sudan been?

c) Whose power is threatened? Whose is maintained in this?

Objective 3. Do Intergovernmental organisations create a ‘glass ceiling’ for emerging powers?

Task 4: Look back at the starter table and decide where on this graph each IGO goes.

Mem

bers

Beneficiaries

Local National International Global

LEDCs

MEDCs

NICs

BRICs

Discuss: Who is exempt from much decision making ?

Ext: Will it harm the power development of excluded countries?

Plenary: In whose interests?1. The IMF pressurised the Nigerian government to

privatise public assets that were bought up by MNCs and promote free trade.

2. The UN set up the Kyoto protocol to begin global action on the causes of global warming. Carbon caps were high for MEDCs but more lenient for LEDCs/NICs.

3. The USA wanted to invade Iraq in 2003 because of the possibility of Weapons of mass destruction being harboured there as well as Osama Bin Laden. UN security council refused to back the invasion. The USA and UK invaded Iraq. The G8, UN and NATO all participated in the restoration of the Iraqi economy and other peacekeeping activities after the invasion.

Objectives:1. How much of an influence do superpowers

have in international decision making?2. What part do intergovernmental

organisations play in the mechanisms of maintaining power?

3. Do Intergovernmental organisations create a ‘glass ceiling’ for emerging powers?

Homework: Evaluate the need for superpowers to play a

key role in international decision making to maintain their status.