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International decision making

The leaders of the world's superpowers and emerging powers are frequently on the international stage making key decisions about the world economy, conflicts or environmental issues
Global economic and political power is in the hands of a small number of players in the form of inter-governmental organisations (IGOs)
IGOs have largely been created by global powers
Many IGOs date from the Bretton Woods conference in 1944, when the allies set about creating postwar institutions that would prevent future wars and ensure the world economy ran more effectively than in the pre-war period
Critics of IGOs argue that they were set up by superpowers, for superpowers
IMF
1. 1944
2. Washington DC
3. To monitor the economic and financial development of countries and to lend money when countries are facing financial difficulties
World Bank
1. 1944
2. Washington DC
3. To give advice, loans and grants for the reduction of poverty and the promotion of economic development
UN
1. 1945
2. New York
3. To prevent war and to arbitrate on international disputes. It has since developed a wide range of specialist agencies dealing with matters such as health and refugees
WTO
1. 1995
2. Geneva
3. Trade policy, agreements and settling disputes. It promotes global free trade. Formerly known as GATT (between 1947 and 1944)
NATO
1. 1949
2. Brussels
3. A military alliance between European countries and the USA. Recent new members include Poland
OECD
1. 1961
2. Paris
3. Analysis of economic development. Forecasting and researching development issues. Most developed-world countries are members
G8
1. Some global organisations are less formal and have a very restricted membership
2. It is a forum for the world's richest and most powerful nations
3. Annual summits are held, although these are informal meetings about the global policy direction the Western democracies should take
4. When the G8 leaders meet they represent:
  1. 65% of global GNP, but only 14% of the world's population
  2. The holders of most of the world's nuclear weapons, with combined annual military spending of US$859 billion in 2007
5. Russia was first invited to a G7 meeting in 1997, thus forming the G8
6. This inclusion was an acceptance of Russia's importance as a nuclear and energy resource power
Powers in IGOs
1. There is a significant overlap in membership of IGOs which gives some powers, especially the EU and the USA, the ability to focus global policy and decision making in their own interests
2. Most IGOs operate some form of veto policy, and powers such as the EU and the USA tend to vote with each other
  1. This gives them powers such as the EU and the USA tend to vote with each other
    1. This gives them the opportunity to block policies they do not like, and force through their own policies
3. Few countries are capable of taking large-scale unilateral actions today
  1. The Iraq War saw the USA effectively 'go it alone', with some support from the UK and other countries
  2. More often IGOs are used, for instance:
    1. The NATO-led peacekeeping in former Yugoslavia in 1995-96 and from 2001 in Afghanistan
    2. G8-led attempts to focus on the issue of debt and poverty reduction in Africa
    3. EU attempts to force through deep carbon emissions cuts targets at the Bali summit in 2007
Emerging powers
1. While the 'old' powers of the EU and the USA still have considerable clout, there are signs that emerging powers are gaining ground
2. In November 2008 the G20 Leaders' Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy was held in Washington DC
  1. This summit discussed responses to the 2008 global financial crisis
Davos Group
1. The World Economic Forum (WEF or Davos Group) is a Swiss-based non-profit making foundation with the motto 'entrepreneurship is in the global public interest'
2. Its focus is on business and profit
3. The WEF holds an annual invitation only meeting in Davos, Switzerland
4. Those regularly attending meetings at Davos include
  1. Business CEOs
  2. Academics
  3. Political leaders
  4. IGO representatives
  5. The media
5. The forum has come under fire from anti-globalisation campaigners and those who see capitalism as creating inequality
6. Some observers are suspicious of the Davos Group because it has no 'official' status yet is attended by presidents and prime ministers

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International decision making

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	Created by Jodie Goodacre almost 11 years ago