Study Guides/Civics/International Organisation — Class 12 Notes
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International Organisation — Class 12 Political Science Notes

An international organisation is an organisation whose members are different countries (states), set up to help them work together on common problems. The chapter 'International Organisations' in Class 12 Political Science explains why such organisations are needed, focuses mainly on the United Nations (UN) and its working, and discusses other important global organisations and the demand for their reform. These notes give a simple summary of the key points for revision.

Question (Click to Flip)

What is an international organisation?

Answer

An international organisation is a body whose members are sovereign states (countries), set up to help them work together on common problems such as peace, health, trade and development. It provides a platform for discussion and cooperation, makes rules that countries can follow, and helps settle disputes by talks rather than war. The United Nations is the best-known example.

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Key Facts

An international organisation has different countries as its members.

International organisations help countries cooperate and settle disputes peacefully.

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945; its headquarters is in New York.

The UN replaced the earlier League of Nations.

The Security Council has 5 permanent members with veto power and 10 non-permanent members.

Other key bodies: WHO, IMF, World Bank, WTO and IAEA.

India is a founding member of the UN and demands a permanent seat in the Security Council.

Meaning and Need for International Organisations

An international organisation is a body whose members are sovereign states, formed to deal with matters that affect more than one country.

Why are international organisations needed? • They help countries cooperate and solve common problems (like war, poverty and disease). • They provide a platform for discussion so that disputes can be settled by talks instead of war. • They make rules and agreements that countries can follow. • They help in areas such as health, trade, environment, human rights and development.

An international organisation cannot force a country to do something, but it gives a way for nations to work together and reduces the chances of conflict.

The United Nations (UN) and Its Organs

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945, after the Second World War, to maintain international peace and security. Its headquarters is in New York, USA. It replaced the earlier League of Nations.

The main organs of the UN are:

  1. General Assembly — where all member countries meet and discuss issues; each member has one vote.
  2. Security Council — responsible for maintaining peace and security. It has 5 permanent members (USA, Russia, UK, France and China) with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members.
  3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) — deals with economic and social matters.
  4. International Court of Justice (ICJ) — settles legal disputes between countries; located at The Hague.
  5. Secretariat — does the day-to-day work, headed by the Secretary-General.
  6. Trusteeship Council — (now inactive) looked after trust territories.

Other Organisations, UN Reform and India

Other important international organisations: • WHO (World Health Organization) — health • IMF (International Monetary Fund) and World Bank — finance and development • WTO (World Trade Organization) — trade • IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) — atomic energy • Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch — human rights (NGOs)

Demand for UN reform: Many countries feel the UN, especially the Security Council, should be reformed to reflect today's world. There are demands to increase the number of permanent and non-permanent members. India has been demanding a permanent seat in the Security Council.

India and the UN: India is a founding member of the UN and supports its aims of peace, development and cooperation. India wants reform of the Security Council and a greater role for developing countries.

Questions and Answers

What is an international organisation?+

An international organisation is a body whose members are sovereign states (countries), set up to help them work together on common problems such as peace, health, trade and development. It provides a platform for discussion and cooperation, makes rules that countries can follow, and helps settle disputes by talks rather than war. The United Nations is the best-known example.

Why are international organisations needed?+

International organisations are needed because many problems — such as war, poverty, disease, trade and the environment — affect more than one country and cannot be solved by a single nation alone. They help countries cooperate, provide a platform for discussion so disputes can be settled peacefully, make common rules, and work in areas like health, human rights and development.

What are the main organs of the United Nations?+

The main organs of the UN are: the General Assembly (where all members meet), the Security Council (which maintains peace and has 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members), the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, the Secretariat (headed by the Secretary-General), and the Trusteeship Council (now inactive).

Why does India want reform of the UN Security Council?+

India, like many countries, feels that the UN Security Council reflects the world of 1945 and not today's world. It wants the Council to be reformed by increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent members so that it is more representative. As a large, founding member of the UN, India has been demanding a permanent seat in the Security Council.

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