1. International decision making
The use of Intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)to maintain power.

2. 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?

3. The Key Intergovernmental organisations
Starter: Use your knowledge from AS to match the correct symbol and description to each organisation name
1. North Atlantic Treaty organisation
Monitors economic and financial development, lending money to countries in financial difficulties
The 8 of the 10 largest global economies try to improve food and energy security
2. G8
Ext: Could you divide these organisations into categories? What would the categories be?
3. United Nations
Forecasts, analyses and researches into development
4. World Trade Organisation
A military alliance between the US and EU countries
5. International monetary fund
Promotes free trade by settling trade disputes and creating trade policies and agreements.
6. Organisation for economic co-operation and development
An international Peacekeeper

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

5. Task 1: a] Who are the key players in intergovernmental
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=
Membership of Inter-governmental organisations
WTO member
G20
Richest 20 nations
UN Security Council G8
Richest 8 nations
NATO
IMF
(over 5% of votes)
USA
17% UK 5% EU
30%
China
Russia
India
Brazil
Japan 6%

6. The key features of Intergovernmental Organisations
Make 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 IGOs
Often have a veto
Lot of mutual support – has effect of a block vote
USA and EU work together to promote or block policies they favour- bilateral action
Critics say created ‘by superpowers for superpowers’

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

8. Iraq, oil and the UN: The 1st Gulf War
Task 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?

9. China and the UN Task 3 Watch the Film
Summarise the role China is alleged to have played in Sudan
How strong an Influence has China’s veto of the UN embargo on Sudan been?
Whose power is threatened? Whose is maintained in this?

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

11. Task 4: Look back at the starter table and decide where on this graph each IGO goes.
MEDCs
Discuss: Who is exempt from much decision making ?
Ext: Will it harm the power development of excluded countries?
BRICs
Members
NICs
LEDCs
Local National International Global
Beneficiaries

12. Plenary: In whose interests?
The IMF pressurised the Nigerian government to privatise public assets that were bought up by MNCs and promote free trade.
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.
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.

13. 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?

14. Homework:
Evaluate the need for superpowers to play a key role in international decision making to maintain their status.