Definitions+and+details+about+international+organisations+e.g.+WTO,+EU.+ASEAN

=See also [|google doc] by class of 2010=

= = =WTO=


 * Aim:** The World Trade Organisation was established for the purpose of liberalizing trade and dealing with the rules of trade between nations at a global level. The WTO is essentially built on the concept of negotiation and consists of a forum for member governments to settle trade issues between themselves. The WTO stresses that its aim is not to pass judgement; rather, it is to settle disputes based upon strictly enforced rules and signed agreements. It also aims to help trade flow as freely as possible, without harmful effects. The organisation is run by its member governments and all major decisions are made by the membership as a whole.
 * History:** The WTO began on 1 January 1995. Its rules were provided by the former GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), established in 1947. GATT evolved through a series of negotiations and rounds, and its last and largest round in Uruguay (lasted from 1986-1994) led to the creation of the WTO. Whereas GATT had mainly dealt with trade in goods, the WTO and its agreements now cover trade in services, and in traded inventions, creations and designs (intellectual property).
 * Achievements:** GATT (1947-1994) had many successes mainly regarding tariff concessions and reductions. During its last round, the Uruguay Round, the range of trade negotiations was extended, leading to major reductions in tariffs (about 40%) and agricultural subsidies. An agreement was also established to allow full access for textiles and clothing from developing countries. The current WTO Doha Round (launched in 2001) has not yet been concluded. It is an effort to make globalisation more inclusive and help the world's poor, particularly by slashing barriers and subsidies in farming. So far, no agreements have been reached and there are still major disagreements on important issues such as agricultural subsidies.
 * Criticisms:** The aim of the WTO is to establish free trade, but some argue that free trade only increases the income gap between rich and poor. Some claim that it is bias towards MEDCs and MNCs. Others believe that LEDCs get little say in decision making and have not benefited from the WTOs previous so-called successes because market access in industry has not improved for them. Many have said that the WTO's decision-making system is unrepresentative and complicated (as every member must agree), and that a number of smaller organizations would be more effective.

IMF
With the end of WWII, the International Monetary Fund was founded in 1944 in order to rebuild national economies. Since their beginning, the IMF is charged with overseeing the international monetary system to ensure the exchange rate stability and encouraging members to eliminate exchange rate restrictions that block free trade. Now the IMF works to foster global growth and economic stability. It provides policy advice and financing to nations in economic difficulties as well as works with LEDCs to help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty. The IMF has been able to a certain degree been able to succeed in over-coming short term balance of payments crises and through that somewhat stabilize the world economy, however the cycle continues. The IMF is often criticized as being anti-developmental as they introduce sharp changes to the national economic policy (SAPs or structural adjustment programmes) that the people can barely afford. This is likely to send the domestic market into a recession as it lowers domestic demands, making costs for imported food higher (due to exchange rate devaluation), an increase in unemployment rates, and a hard impact of poor and middle income families. Moreover, the IMF is seen as an agent of MEDCs, whose short-term interests are maximizing profits and maintaining impoverishment in LEDCs.

=World Bank= The World Bank was created in 1944 and gave its first loan in 1946. It originally dealt with post war reconstruction but development has since become the bank’s main focus. It has 185 country members and is made up of two separate institutions: the [|International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)]  and the [|International Development Association (IDA)] . The IBRD focuses on middle income and credit worthy lower income country, while the IDA focuses on the poorest countries around the world. They provide low-interest loans, interest-free credits and grants to developing countries. It is aims to reduce world poverty and currently works towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals mostly by insure the recipient country is the driving factor in all projects. Most recent Bank lending to developing countries by IBRD/IDA totaled just under $25 billion. They also do much research into development of countries and provide much useful and reliable information. Some say the organization was started to support USA business and has actually hindered development- the president has always been an American citizen and America essentially had veto power with 16% shares in the bank and 85% needing to approve any given measure. =EU=

What is the EU? The European Union (EU) is a trade bloc consisting of twenty-seven member states that formerly made up what was once called the European Community (EC) or European Economic Community (EEC). The purpose of the EU is to maintain political, economic and social ties between all member states.

Who is part of the EU?

Member States: • Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • Cyprus (Greek Territory) • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Ireland • Italy • Latvia • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Malta • The Netherlands • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Aims:

To provide political, economic, and social support to all member states. In short, the EU intends to assemble all European nations to form a type of political, social, and economic fellowship.

History:

The EU was founded on November1st, 1993. However, it actually evolved from a trade organisation named the European Coal and Steel Community, created in 1950, and the European Economic Community (EEC), created in 1957. On September 19, 1946, Sir Winston Churchill calls for a “United States of Europe” at a speech in Zurich. The United Europe Movement is created with the endorsement of Sir Churchill. On May 9 of 1950, then French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman unifies the coal and steel industries of Western Europe in what becomes the European Coal and Steel Community. Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany join the party and become the founding members of what would much later be the EU. On March 25 of 1957, the EEC is established by the Six (the founding members of the future EU) in one of the many Treaties of Rome (there were several). The first plan to have one currency for the EU actually dates from April 24, 1972. With the official collapse of the Berlin Wall on October 3, 1990, many trade barriers are removed, causing an explosion in inter-European trade. By New Year’s Day of 1993, the EU single market is established, resulting in unified trade amongst EU members. Exactly six years later, the euro is introduced and Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain collectively begin using this new currency.

Animated Map of EU Members starting from 1952 to 2007 (Includes candidates for EU membership): http://europa.eu/abc/history/animated_map/index_en.htm

Achievements:

In 2007, the EU successfully fought unemployment by providing more jobs to citizens of all 27 members. The EU has taken measures to fight against global warming through setting a target for reductions of greenhouse gases. See BBC article for details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7780700.stm

Ease of travel for citizens of the EU, uplifting former restrictions on travelling in Europe. Keeping a promise it made in 2006, the commission has also forced down the cost of using [|mobile phones] whilst travelling across Europe. According to the European Commision website: "Other successes this year include:
 * the promotion of democracy world-wide, as seen by the growing demand for [|EU election monitors]
 * households across the EU have been able to [|choose their electricity and gas supplier]
 * [|cheaper airfares] to the USA, through an 'open skies' agreement signed earlier this year
 * [|healthy eating] - promoted with September's reforms to the production and marketing of fruit and vegetables
 * [|safeguarding consumer interests] - EU competition policy prevents dominant companies using their market power to restrict competition."

Criticisms:

In 1995, an economist from the UK, Bernard Connolly, wrote a book criticising the EU's plan to create a uniform currency (euro) and wrote a book named //The Rotten Heart of Europe.// He was dismissed for having published such a book. In 2001, the European Court of Justice decreed that "the European Union can lawfully suppress political criticism of its institutions and of leading figures", which effectively meant that no one was allowed to criticize the EU. This was certainly controversial, considering the importance of freedom of ideas and the press in Europe.

Bibliography: Kirste, Burkhart. "European Union (EU, EC)." Institut für Chemie und Biochemie der FU Berlin - Benutzerseiten. 19 Jan. 2009 http://userpage.chemie.fu-berlin.de/adressen/eu.html "EUROPA - The EU at a glance - The History of the European Union." Europa - The European Union On-Line. European Union. 19 Jan. 2009 http://europa.eu/abc/history/index_en.htm "Top ten EU achievements in 2007." EUROPA - European Commission - Homepage. 12 Dec. 2007. European Union. 19 Jan. 2009 http://ec.europa.eu/news/eu_explained/071212_1_en.htm Evans-Pritchard, Ambrose. "Euro-court outlaws criticism of EU." Telegraph.co.uk 5 July 2001. The Daily Telegraph. 19 Jan. 2009 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1325398/Euro-court-outlaws-criticism-of-EU.html

**ASEAN**
ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic organization in Southeast Asia.
 * What is ASEAN?**

ASEAN was originally established to support decolonization in Southeast Asia. It is now an organization attempting to unite Southeast Asia economically and politically. One of the key policies of ASEAN is supporting human rights, mostly due to the wide variety of ethnic groups in Southeast Asia. The ASEAN region is also a free trade region, by not placing tariffs onto goods shiped between the ASEAN nations as a way to increase trade between them. ASEAN is also in support of a multicultural region, supporting what was previously mentioned. There are also 36 ASEAN Heritage Sites throughout Southeast Asia.
 * Who is a Member of ASEAN?**
 * **Full Members:**
 * Brunei
 * Cambodia
 * Indonesia
 * Laos
 * Malaysia
 * Myanmar (Burma)
 * Philippines
 * Singapore
 * Thailand
 * Vietnam
 * **Candidate States:**
 * Timor-Leste (East Timor)
 * **Observer States:**
 * Papua New Guinea
 * **ASEAN Plus Three Members:**
 * China
 * South Korea
 * Japan
 * **ASEAN East Asia Summit Members:**
 * Australia
 * India
 * New Zealand
 * **ASEAN Regional Forum**
 * Bangladesh
 * Canada
 * Mongolia
 * North Korea
 * Russia
 * EU Representative
 * USA
 * Pakistan
 * What does ASEAN do?**

NAFTA
//Aims// The main aim of the NAFTA trade agreement is to promote economic integration between the three countries involved (Mexico, USA and Canada). //History// NAFTA was formed in 1994 and includes Mexico, USA and Canada. Over the years it has encountered some criticism and praise. The agreements were signed on the 8th of December 1993. As of 2007 it is the largest trade bloc in terms of PPP in the world. //Achievements// NAFTA has had some positive effects on the region especially for Mexico. Mexico’s poverty rates have fallen and there has been a rise in income in the form of lower prices, this is especially true for food. NAFTA is also argued to have been beneficial to business owners and elites in Mexico, USA and Canada.

The negative impacts that NAFTA has had on the region is that US workers in manufacturing and assembly industries have lost jobs. A major criticism of NAFTA is that it has led to the rising levels of inequality in both the US and Mexico. NAFTA according to some economists has not brought an economic convergence or substantially reduced poverty rates

Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
-  Has no treaty binding members to obligations -  21 members (43% of world trade, 54.2% of world GDP, 40.5% of world population)

Established in 1989 when Australian Prime Minister wanted more economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. First meeting had political ministers from 12 countries who decided to have annual meetings. First APEC Economic Meeting was in 1993; this began the reduction of trade barriers and tariffs between Asian countries and the rest of the world. **Aims** - facilitate economic growth, cooperation, trade, and investment in Asian-Pacific region - to lower costs of production of services and goods -  “Bogor Goals” – free trade and investment in Asia-Pacific by 2020 for all countries -  Safe movement of goods and people -  implementing open markets, structural reform, reducing trade tariffs and policies, reducing subsidies -  protests against choices in reducing subsidies -  failing to clearing define itself with a useful purpose -  accomplishments are debatable: it is unclear how much progress or change APEC has really facilitated http://www.apec.org/apec/about_apec.html - APEC cite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific_Economic_Cooperation#History - wikipedia
 * History**
 * Achievements**
 * Criticisms**