This paper summarizes and analyzes three chapters from Karns and Mingst's International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance (2009), covering the historical foundations of global governance, the central role of the United Nations, and the growing influence of regional organizations. The paper traces international cooperation from early state systems to contemporary multilateral institutions, examines the UN's structure and guiding principles, and considers ongoing debates about reform and accountability. Drawing also on Dwivedi (2012), the paper reflects on how transparency, cultural diversity, and the pace of global change shape the effectiveness of international governance bodies today.
The foundations and core ideas of global governance are examined in International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance (Karns & Mingst, 2009). The following paper summarizes and then analyzes three chapters from this text: Chapter 3, "Foundations of the Pieces of Global Governance"; Chapter 4, "The United Nations: Centerpiece of Global Governance"; and Chapter 5, "Regional Organizations." Each chapter is addressed in turn before a broader analytical discussion draws on additional scholarly literature.
Chapter 3 develops a historical basis for international cooperation, beginning as far back as Confucius, and leading into a discussion of the state system (Karns & Mingst, 2009, p. 64). The current complexity of international organizations evolved first out of the state system and then from developing international rules—a slow progression from early recorded history to the present. As the authors note, Pierre Dubois proposed political alliances of leaders "against violators of the prevailing norm," with arbitration by the Pope should disputes arise. The Italian city-states are discussed as early models of governance during the 14th and 15th centuries (Karns & Mingst, 2009).
During the 19th century, inter-governmental developments began to occur, leading to significant political advancements. When Napoleon was defeated in 1815, five major European powers emerged—Austria, Britain, France, Prussia, and Russia—and this large political realignment produced relative peace among the predominant players of the period (Karns & Mingst, 2009). The notion that individual states possessed an absolute right to act however they wished was not universally accepted, and a shift toward a wider, more cooperative perspective gradually gained acceptance.
International organizations in the 20th century began to have a measurable impact. Bodies such as the World Health Organization, the Universal Postal Union, and the Food and Agriculture Organization seriously affected their member countries. It is generally accepted that much of this globalization was driven by the influence of the United Nations (Karns & Mingst, 2009).
Chapter 4 discusses the United Nations in detail as "the central place of global governance" (Karns & Mingst, 2009). The role and importance of the UN in international politics has varied since its founding. According to Karns and Mingst (2009), the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Summit had a major global impact, raising the profile of the United Nations considerably. Additionally, the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize—awarded jointly to the United Nations and Secretary-General Kofi Annan "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world"—had an enormous global impact (Nobel Prize, 2014).
The central governing principle of the United Nations is the "sovereign equality of member states" (Karns & Mingst, 2009). In practice, this means that individual factors such as wealth, geographic size, population, military power, or nuclear capability have no bearing on the basic equality of member states. Member states are guided by two core principles: they must avoid "the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," and they are required to "settle their international disputes by peaceful means" (Karns & Mingst, 2009). The basic structure of the United Nations comprises the Secretariat, the Security Council, the International Court of Justice, the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, and the Economic and Social Council.
Despite many positive aspects of the United Nations, many observers feel that reform is necessary (Karns & Mingst, 2009), particularly with respect to structural weaknesses and financing issues. As global society becomes more interconnected, the UN itself needs to adapt; while reform is broadly accepted as necessary, the precise nature and direction of that reform remain unclear (Karns & Mingst, 2009). Historic reform efforts—such as the 1970s focus on improved coordination of social and economic programs and the 1980s focus on UN financing—indicate that the organization has long fallen short of its full potential. The precise path forward remains uncertain, yet the United Nations remains the only available global governing body, regardless of its shortcomings.
"Rise of regionalism and diverse political systems"
"Legitimacy, accountability, and structural weaknesses of international bodies"
Karns, M. P., & Mingst, K. A. (2009). International organizations: The politics and processes of global governance (2nd ed.). Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Dwivedi, S. (2012). International organizations and global governance. International Journal of Social Science & Interdisciplinary Research, 1(12). Retrieved December 27, 2014, from http://www.indianresearchjournals.com/pdf/IJSSIR/2012/December/18.pdf
Nobel Peace Prize. (2001). Retrieved December 27, 2014, from
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