Essay: Discuss: It is advantageous for nations to be a part of a transnational organization.

Transnational organizations, or Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), have taken a leading aspect in a modern countries role in the geopolitical stage. Extending not only the reach and power or country, in the political sense, but also extending a member-states economic stance in the increasingly global economy. These benefits are not automatically gained however, most intergovernmental organizations provide these resources when the member-state gives up something. This is mainly through a monetary payment via Gross Domestic Product percentage or by entering a union that allows free movement like is enshrined within the European Union’s founding treaty. This balance has tipped over however, citizens of these organizations want complete control of its countries handlings without perceived intergovernmental bureaucracy getting in the way. Although the basis of citizen wants for control is rational, transnational organizations are in an integral part of dealing through global situations with diplomacy rather than war and allow for economic stability and global economic strength within the current political stage. Thus, to generate a stable political basis the already existing transnational organizations need to be sustained, however, a living organization with the breath and ability to change with the needs of the people in mind also needs to be established.
As 68,000 transnational organizations exist, focusing on the largest and most impactful will allow for the overall discussion of these organizations’ places within the world sphere. Thus, the intergovernmental organizations that are going to be discussed within this essay include the United Nations – including its significant branches – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union, the African Union, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). These seven organizations provide a focal point for global affairs and show the reach of obdurate transnational organizations as they exist, both politically and economically. Also, these organizations have faults that the people under these organizations have to follow that seem unjust and are a cause for protest. However, before a broad and advanced understanding of transnational organizations and their capacity can be achieved, a basic level of comprehension must be achieved. An intergovernmental organization is an organization that is composed principally of sovereign states or other intergovernmental organizations (Denniston, 2017). Thus, it is contained of multiple countries working as a collective to reach a common good, be it political, economic, or even social. After understanding that intergovernmental organizations focus on a commonality to tackle global issues, how they go about complete that task is the next issue at hand. These organizations tackle issues by joining the resources given to them by the member states into one concerted and shared fund. The largest transnational organization, the United Nations, collects funds through both voluntary and assessed contributions, according to the United Nations Library. This means that, based on a country’s GDP, a certain amount of money goes to the United Nations after an assessment. This assessment includes how stable the country the country is overall and of it has the actual ability to supply the money. After collecting these funds, the UN puts these funds into its main organs, including, but not limited to, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Security Council, which impact and support global change along with global cooperation. This same method is used by the major intergovernmental organizations; however other organizations add more on top of this to create robust along with effective change. Additions include protecting other nations, as seen in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, entering a free movement and currency structure, as seen in the European Union with the Euro, and trade implications, which is seen within the North American Free Trade Agreement. These additions have been proven to foster a sense of global cooperation. This is because these intergovernmental organizations were born to combat the changes of a polarized, war torn world. For instance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in 1949, in response to the Soviet Union’s aggression in the European continent (Lindley-French, 2006). After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization became a signal of governments cooperating and protecting each other from any threats faced in the modern age. The same foundational elements are seen in the development of the European Union. Founded after World War II and the Cold War on November 1st, 1993, to prevent another bloody war that would tear Europe apart, a Union was formed to keep nation-states at bay and instead of focusing all economic and political power and war, focus all of it on cooperation in a global sense. (Dinan, 1999) These same founding principles are seen within the African Union, save for the right of free-movement and currency. Founded after the imperialist scramble and the eventual removal of European powers, the African Union is a clear symbol of unity. (African Union, 2018) Along with these political intergovernmental organizations exist economic organizations based with the foundational principle of helping the economically poor, globally. These principles of economic support are seen in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, along with local deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement. The IMF and World Bank secure funding for global projects along with giving out loans to the countries in need globally. (World Bank Group, 2014) For instance, according to the World Bank, 75 countries borrow to fund themselves and their projects. Along with these loans, the International Monetary Fund increases funding for projects worldwide. Plus, when Greece was going through an economic disaster, the European Union came together and loaned Greece with Euros to stabilize themselves (Mazower, 1991) All in all, the formation of transnational organizations have provided a basis for global cooperation for the world over. However, distrust and opposition of these organizations have increased and thus their perspective must be looked at
To start off, this trust dilemma has occurred mainly within the United Kingdom and the European Union. All of this, culminating into the development of the British Exit of the European Union colloquially known as ‘Brexit.’ Thus, it will be the main focus of distrust of transnational organization and a reflection on how advantageous these transnational organizations really are. On June 23, 2016, in an act that stunned many, by a 51 percent to 49 percent margin, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. (Goodwin, 2016) This vote was preceded by two campaigns, one to stay within the European Union, the other to leave the European Union. With the ‘Vote Leave’ winning, the people of the United Kingdom have made their minds up about the European Union and its ways, especially the control of the United Kingdom’s own border. The citizens of the United Kingdom felt strongly that they should have control of who enters their country. The majority of citizens who voted felt this way as becoming a European Union member-state allows for any citizen born in a member-state access into any other country, which the United Kingdom disliked very much so as seen from the vote. Plus, the Leave Campaign, whose key pillar was to prevent unwanted immigrants coming into the United Kingdom from the European Union, posted advertisements describing an invasion from the European continent, especially with regards to Muslim refugees from Syria, which whipped up xenophobia and xenophobic citizens within the Kingdom. (Hobolt, 2016) In summation, the citizens of the United Kingdom believed that the intergovernmental organization known as the European Union failed them. This then allowed for a reflection on the advantages of transnational organizations all over the world.
A key example of this global reflection was the President of the United States, Donald Trump’s opinion on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its foundational belief. This belief being that if one member-state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is attacked, it shall be equivalent to an attack on all the nations within the organization, a belief enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Treaty. It was invoked once, seen when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the United States, on September 11th, 2001. The President has repeatedly stated that the soldiers of the United States of America should not fight for another member-state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Along with casting doubt on the original intentions of the intergovernmental organization, the President of the United States has also commented that member-states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should increase the amount of money that they pay into the organization. (Starr, 2018). Along with doubts cast on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the President of the United States has also said that the North American Free Trade Agreement should be reworked for the betterment of, specifically, the United States. This agreement is currently being reworked into the United States Mexico Canada Agreement. This pact overturns some of the provisions put into place by the North American Free Trade Agreement and strengthen them. For example, to not qualify for tariffs, a car now has to be 75 percent made in the United States, Canada, or Mexico rather than 66 percent under the North American Free Trade Agreement. Overall, due to the position and power of the President of the United States, along with the British Exit of the European Union, doubt has been cast on whether or not these intergovernmental organizations like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement are still important in the global world we know today. (Tankersley, 2018) However, this doubt by both Brexit along with the current administration within the White House, of intergovernmental organizations is ill placed and is being portrayed accurately.
In all actuality, member-states of transnational organizations have advantages that expand from just political and economic. These organizations have fostered and grown global cooperation from as long as they have existed. Plus, intergovernmental organizations provide advantages that would not be experienced if a single nation came up with the proposal. This is seen in trade deals around the globe, specifically in Europe. For example, instead of Japan trying to broker a deal with each European country individually, they can process the trade deals with the entirety of the European continent, which benefits both sides of the trade deal. (Petroff, 2018) More goods are being exchanged which allows for more total cooperation globally, as a trading partner would not go to war with each other. Also, judicially, countries each have the right to trial via the United Nations via the International Court of Justice. This way instead of using force, violence, and war against each other, a nation accusing another of injustice can bring about via a court of law sponsored by the United Nations.
In summation, the transnational organizations that have been founded throughout history have provided a groundbreaking resolve for diplomacy worldwide. Cooperation of countries has increased overall in the wake of these advancements in the geopolitical sense. While there still continues to doubt within the world of how truly advantageous these organizations are, without a doubt, in the end, these organizations have been proven advantageous by history and have would stand the test of time. From the North Atlantic Treaty Organization which still continues to be a major force worldwide, to the United Nations, these intergovernmental organizations have provided the world with tools and resources that could not have been achieved via individual country empowerment. Rather these organizations have provided nations and member-states a collective good and goal to work toward as time progresses. Thus, yes, it is overall advantageous for nations, of all regions, to be apart of a transnational organization.
28.2.2019