Global Socioeconomic Perspectives International Organizations

Global Socioeconomic Perspectives

International organizations whether the UN, NATO, World Bank, WTO, IMF and others are no more than the playgrounds of major powers who use these multilateral institutions to advance their own interests often at the expense of less-powerful countries. (Reference: The Globalizers.)

International organizations such as the U.N., NATO, the World Bank, WTO and IMF have long been accused of advancing their own interests often at the expense of less-powerful countries. Since about the early 1980s, the IMF and World Bank encouraged countries to become a part of the world economy, however some see them as bastions of capitalism and globalization (Woods 2007).

The U.N. appointed Libya as the head of human rights, for one, which was deemed completely irrational and many would argue that the U.N. hasn't done anything helpful when it comes to putting an end to genocide in the Sudan. Another event that came under much scrutiny was the U.N.'s scandalous "Oil for Food Program." The "Oil for Food" scandal is probably one of the biggest scandals in recent world history. It basically allowed Iraq to sell their oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine and other necessary humanitarian supplies, which were only for Iraqis. During the program, there was much speculation that money from its profits was going to the Iraqi government as well as to high-ranking U.N. officials.

Along the same lines, the World Bank, an offshoot of the United Nations, gives loans to third world countries. There have been loans given that are believed to have gone to dictators who used the money to finance their lavish lifestyles. But the real problem with the World Bank is that it just doesn't do what it was initially set up to do in the eyes of many critics: help poverty-stricken countries. Rather, in critics' opinions, the World Bank produces debt that gives corrupt and sometimes dictatorial governments loans to keep their people in a state of poverty (2007). In order for the World Bank not to look like a complete and utter failure, they give those same countries even more money so that it appears like they are paying back their debt, but really they are using debt to pay debt and thus creating more debt. For many, the World Bank doesn't make sense because it hasn't achieved what its goals were in the first place, and the biggest criticism is that it not only keeps poor countries poor, but it also makes poor countries poorer, in a sense, and it encourages corrupt governments to keep on being corrupt. The same thing goes for the IMF.

Question 22: What are some of the most important examples of types of transnational crime and organized groups that commit these crimes? How have the United States and other countries tried to combat transnational crime, and with what results? Why is transnational crime so difficult to eradicate? (Reference: ). International relations and world politics: Security, economy, identity).

Some of the most important examples of transnational crimes are: money laundering; illicit drug trafficking; corruption and bribery of public officials; fraudulent bankruptcy; insurance fraud; computer crime; theft of intellectual property; illicit trafficking of arms; terrorist activities (for example, 9/11); aircraft hijacking (see also 9/11); and, one that we are seeing more and more of recently -- sea piracy.