35 Examples of International Organizations


The International organizations they are, as organisms, associations that bring together a multiplicity of members who have one or more objectives in common. For example: World Bank, Eurozone, Andean Parliament.

However, in particular those that are called international are those that contain as members to Nation States, that is to say, to a country that by effect of some Law or Decree belongs to the organization, thus acquiring the obligations and rights conferred by being a part.

Organizations of this type may have full competencies (making decisions over the countries), semi-full when they require the subsequent decision of each member, or consultation whose resolutions are not directly binding.

Evolution of international organizations

The existence of this class of organisms is fundamentally reflected in the fact that although the world is subdivided into a large number of countries, the relationships between them have become progressively more dynamic and constant.

In this sense, the war violence As a means of resolving disputes, it was losing its preponderance, especially after the Second World War, which seemed to be too much in this way of resolving disputes.

Solutions to disputes between countries They seemed to have to come through agreements and consensus, and that gave rise to the beginning of international organizations.

Implications of being a member

Membership in the different international organizations had different implications Over the years, because during the second half of the 20th century the division of the world between the capitalist pole and the socialist Soviet Union made the decision to belong to international organizations represent a position in favor of one side or the other.

Once this dispute in favor of the West was over, the mere fact of belonging to an international organization to which the United States also belonged began to be understood as a support, and in absolute hegemony this country led all the organizations of which it was part .

In the 21st century, the geopolitical change In favor of countries formerly called Third World countries, it is made manifest almost exclusively within the framework of this type of organization.

Characteristics of international organizations

International organizations may have general or particular objectives, and in the same sense they can have the vocation to last a certain time, or be founded to exist permanently.

The decision to belong or not is always the responsibility of the countries in question, but the possibility of joining It is given in some occasions by belonging to a certain continent, in others by the possession of a certain asset or strategic resource, and in other cases simply by the concordance of interests with those of the organism in question.

Importance of international organizations

Almost all the countries are members of several organizations of this type, which also serves as a communication with the outside for other purposes: even if the objectives are not established in advance, whenever meetings of international organizations are held, the emissaries discuss issues relating to investment or economic cooperation.

The implications that these memberships bring to countries are always a matter of discussion, and there are supporters of joining them, as well as some who advocate rejecting them: to support these organizations it is necessary to give a ideological leap Well, under the categories more typical of the past times, and understanding the world in constant disputes between imperialisms, it does not make much sense to go towards a cooperation in this class of organizations.

Examples of international organizations

  1. Andean Community
  2. Economic Council for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
  3. Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
  4. Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS)
  5. World Bank (WB)
  6. Intergovernmental Authority on East African Development (IGAD)
  7. Eurozone
  8. Human Rights Organization (UN)
  9. Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
  10. Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
  11. European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
  12. Mercosur (Southern Common Market)
  13. Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA)
  14. Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)
  15. European Space Agency (ESA)
  16. Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA)
  17. Gulf Cooperation Council
  18. Andean Parliament
  19. NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
  20. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
  21. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
  22. Pacific Islands Forum
  23. Conference of Audiovisual and Cinematographic Authorities of Ibero-America (CAACI)
  24. Southern African Development Community (CDAM)
  25. Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI)
  26. Organization of American States (OAS)
  27. European Union (EU)
  28. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
  29. New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
  30. Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM)
  31. United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
  32. Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)
  33. Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
  34. Southern African Development Community (SADC)
  35. Central American Parliament (PARLACEN)