Significance of International Organizations Globally

What are the core ways NGOs are powerful according to Keck and Sikkink?
2) Are there differentiations between NGOS and IOs? How are they different both
definitionally and functionally?
3) Are there differentiations between Regional Institutions and Global IOs? How
are they different both definitionally and functionally?
4) What sort of benefits do Regional Institutions like the AU and EU provide?
5) How are multi layered forms of governance together (Global IOs, regional IOs,
NGOs) different than historical forms of governance in global politics?
Margaret E. Keck and Kathryn Sikkink, “Transnational Advocacy Networks in International and
Regional Politics,” International Social Science Journal 51, no. 159 (March 1999): 89–101.
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Eizenstat, Stuart E. “Nongovernmental Organizations as the Fifth Estate.” Seton Hall Journal of
Diplomacy and International Relations vol.5 no.2 (Summer/Fall 2004): 15-28.
NGOs have an impressive amount of influence and are an important check on government
● Strengths:
○ Transnational advocacy networks apply pressure to governments
○ Move faster and more efficiently that government organizations
○ Can provide services in corrupt states
○ Build institutions for democracies to function
○ Collect and distribute information to key decision makers
● Weaknesses:
○ Lack of NGO transparency and accountability
○ Too many stakeholders
○ Self appointed spokesperson
“Although the fifth estate is an increasingly powerful actor in policy debates around the world, at the end of the day
the burden remains with governments to balance out various competing interests and stake out a position that is in
the best interests of society as a whole” (26)
Murithi, Tim. 2012. “The African Union at Ten: an Appraisal.” African Affairs 51(2): 415-425.
● Assesses AU achievements and identifies shortcomings
● Norm entrepreneur
● Promoting governance and development norms
● AU as an international actor
● Problems
○ Most citizens are unaware of the AU
○ Slow to respond to crises
○ “An idea in principle but not a lived experience”
Murithi, Tim. 2012. “The African Union at Ten: an Appraisal.” African Affairs 51(2): 415-425.
Concept of Pan-Africanism
Kwame Nkrumah Ghanaian
independence speech 1957
Thomas Wright, “What If Europe Fails?,” The Washington Quarterly 35, no. 3 (August 1, 2012): 23–41.
● Two scenarios
○ Bare survival, leading to low growth and high unemployment
○ Disorderly collapse
● Solution – closer European integration
● Four triggers for a European collapse
○ Eurozone reforms are implemented but fail
○ Europe’s plan is rejected at a national level leading to fragmentation, ex Brexit
○ Pruning weaker states
○ Economic shock of the system
Thomas Wright, “What If Europe Fails?,” The Washington Quarterly 35, no. 3 (August 1, 2012): 23–41.
● Impact on the global economy
○ Disorderly collapse
■ Protectionism, bankruptcy and possible end of economic integration
○ Decline
■ Europe bears the costs
● The role of Germany
○ Germany as a righteous leader
■ Decline – Germany pressures states to honor commitments
■ Collapse – Germany will stabilize its own economy regardless of cost to others
● China and the Middle East
○ Economic collapse would lead to further political instability
● Western order
○ Threatens the transatlantic alliance
Justifies political risk taking and extraordinary steps to find a solution
Quiz 4
Are international institutions (IGOs) or non governmental institutions better
positioned to address the challenges of the 21st century? Why?
1) Use lecture notes
2) Demonstrate you have read by using examples from reading
3) You may discuss in section
4) 150-250 words
5) Due in one week from Monday’s lecture on Canvas
Midterm
● 5 open ended questions
○ Make an argument
○ Support with evidence from readings, lecture
● Form study groups
● Study guide
○ Puzzles from the beginning of each lecture
○ Quiz questions
○ Discussion questions
● 1 week to complete
Next Week
November 2 – Cities and Substate
Gavin Shatkin, “Global Cities of the South: Emerging Perspectives on Growth and Inequality,” Cities 24, no. 1 (February 1,
2007): 1–15.
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