By /

International Organisations
Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6 Notes

Here, we provide notes for the first chapter of Class 12 Political Science, “International Organizations.” This chapter explores the key features of international organizations.

These notes will be useful for students preparing for this year’s board exams. Presented in simple and organized language, this material will help them quickly revise the chapter and remember key points.

International organizations

International organizations are broad in their objectives. They play an important role in resolving disputes at the international level, establishing peace and security, and creating a harmonious environment between different countries.

The need for international organizations

(i) To establish international peace.

(ii) To ensure the security of all countries in the world.

(iii) To solve contemporary, economic, and humanitarian problems.

(iv) To ensure cooperation among all countries at the international level.

(v) To solve global problems through consensus.

The Rise and Growth of the United Nations

  1. The First World War took place between 1914 and 1998.
  2. After the First World War, the League of Nations was formed to establish peace.
  3. This League was created in 1920 to establish peace in the world.
  4. The Second World War took place from 1939 to 1945.
  5. After the Second World War, the United Nations was established to unite the world and establish peace, as a successor to the League of Nations.
  6. The United Nations was established on October 24, 1945.
  7. On June 26, 1945, 50 countries signed the United Nations Charter in San Francisco.
  8. Poland also signed it on October 15, 1945.
  9. On October 24, 1945, 51 countries signed as founding countries, forming the UNO, and India was also among its founding members.
  10. At present, UNO has 193 member countries and the 193rd country is South Sudan.

organs of the United Nations

1. General Assembly

  1. All 193 UNO members are also members of the General Assembly.
  2. Each member country has the right to cast one vote.
  3. It is required to meet annually.
  4. Decisions on important issues are taken by a 2/3 majority.
  5. The General Assembly elects judges of the International Court of Justice on the advice of the Security Council.
  6. Decisions on the UNO budget are made in the General Assembly.
  7. Each country can send up to 5 representatives to the General Assembly, but each country has only one vote.
  8. The General Assembly comprises representatives from all member countries, which is why it is also known as the Parliament of the World

2. Security Council

(1) The Security Council has a total of 15 members.

(2) Five of these are permanent members: the United States, France, Britain, Russia, and China.

(3) Ten members are temporary and rotate every two years.

(4) The Security Council’s primary function is to help resolve international disputes between countries.

(5) The Security Council can initiate military action against any criminal nation in the world through a peacekeeping force.

(6) A Security Council recommendation is required to become a member of the UNO.

(7) All five permanent members of the UNO have veto power.

(8) The Security Council’s role in the UNO is similar to that of the executive branch.

(9) The Security Council’s primary responsibility is to maintain international peace and security. For this reason, it is also known as the world’s policeman.

3. Economic and Social Council

  1. This council meets twice a year in New York and Geneva.
  2. The council has a total of 54 members.
  3. Of these 54 seats, 10 are reserved for Latin America, 18 for Western Europe, 14 for Africa, 11 for Asia, and 6 for Eastern Europe.
  4. Commissions and committees also operate within this council.
  5. Members of this council are elected by the General Assembly and serve a three-year term.
  6. Only one representative from each member country can serve on the council.
  7. This is a temporary body, with one-third of its members retiring annually.
  8. This council discusses education, health, medicine, and cultural practices. Decisions in this council are made by simple majority.

4. International Court of Justice

  1. The International Court of Justice consists of 15 judges, elected by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.
  2. The International Court of Justice was established in The Hague (Netherlands) on April 7, 1946.
  3. The Statute Book of the International Court of Justice consists of five chapters and 70 articles.
  4. Judges of the International Court of Justice are appointed for nine-year terms, and five judges retire every three years.
  5. No two judges can be from the same country.
  6. The official languages ​​of the International Court of Justice are French and English.

The International Court of Justice’s powers are divided into three categories:

i. Voluntary

ii. Advisory

iii. Compulsory Jurisdiction

The International Court of Justice hears global issues and disputes between two countries. This hearing is possible only if both parties agree to a hearing before the International Court of Justice. Any subsequent decision by the Court is binding.

Secretariat

  1. The Secretariat is the administrative organ of the United Nations.
  2. The Secretariat manages the day-to-day operations of the United Nations.
  3. The Secretariat selects staff according to the organization’s needs.
  4. Currently, it employs approximately 10,000 employees.
  5. The Secretary-General is the highest-ranking officer of the Secretariat. The Secretary-General is also known as the Administrative Officer of Parliament.
  6. The Secretary-General is appointed for a five-year term on the recommendation of the Security Council.
  7. The Secretariat has nine departments.
  8. The Secretary-General presents an annual report on the work of the United Nations to the General Assembly.
  9. The Secretariat also writes and publishes the proceedings of UN bodies.
  10. The Secretary-General draws the attention of the Security Council to matters that threaten world peace and security.

United Nations agencies

1. International Monetary Fund (IMF)

  1. The International Monetary Fund was established in 1944 and is a financial agency of the United Nations.
  2. The IMF is headquartered in Washington, D.C. (USA). Currently, it comprises 190 countries.
  3. The main objective of establishing the International Monetary Fund is to address international monetary problems.
  4. Its main function is to ensure expansion of international trade, high employment, balanced growth, and financial stability.
  5. The IMF also works to maintain stability in the exchange rates of the currencies of member nations.
  6. India is ranked 126th among the 190 richest countries in the IMF’s list.

2.WTO [World Trade Organization)

  1. It is an international organization.
  2. It sets rules for world trade.
  3. It was established in 1945 after World War II.
  4. Currently, the WTO comprises 164 countries.
  5. The WTO’s objectives are to reduce tariffs and establish trade relations between countries.
  6. The WTO’s functions are to resolve trade disputes within the World Trade Organization.

3. International Labour Organization

  1. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a body of the United Nations.
  2. It was established in 1919 in Geneva, Switzerland.
  3. The organization operates in 193 countries.
  4. It is a member of the International Labour Organization.
  5. It became the first specialized agency affiliated with the United Nations in 1946.
  6. In 1969, it was awarded the Nobel Prize for World Peace.
  7. It aims to improve the working and interpersonal conditions of the world’s working class.
  8. The International Labour Organization helps member countries solve social and labor problems.
  9. The first office of the International Labour Organization in India was established in New Delhi in 1928.

4. WB (World Bank)

The World Bank was established in 1944 during World War II.

Its activities focus on developing countries.

It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

It works to promote human development, education, health, agriculture and rural development, government services, and environmental protection, including pollution reduction.

Infrastructure (roads, urban regeneration, electricity, and governance, including anti-corruption and the development of legal institutions).

It provides loans and grants to member countries. Thus, it exerts considerable influence on the economic policies of developing countries.

5. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

  1. The International Atomic Energy Agency was established in 1957.
  2. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
  3. Its primary function is to implement US President Dwight Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” proposal.
  4. It works to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent its use for military purposes.

NGOs

1. Amnesty International

  1. Amnesty International is a non-profit organization.
  2. It is an international organization whose mission is to defend human values ​​and human freedom, to eradicate discrimination, and to campaign for the protection of all human rights.
  3. It was founded in London in 1961 by Peter Benenson.
  4. It prepares and publishes reports on human rights.
  5. Amnesty’s mission is to secure the rights of children, women, minorities, and indigenous peoples.

Amnesty’s other functions:

(i) Ending persecution

(ii) Abolition of the death penalty.

(iii) Refugee rights.

(iv) Protection of human dignity.

2. Human Rights Watch

  1. Human Rights Watch is another international non-governmental organization involved in human rights research and advocacy.
  2. It is the largest international human rights organization in the Americas.
  3. It draws global media attention to human rights abuses.
  4. It has helped campaigns to ban landmines, stop the use of child soldiers, and establish the International Court of Justice.
This Chapter in Hindi Medium

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top