Role of International Organizations free essay sample

Hurd explains â€Å"The World Bank and IMF are both designed to help avoid the situation in which the economic problems of one country lead to a generalized crisis in the international system. Both institutions are therefore built on the recognition that extreme poverty and extreme financial instability are potentially contagious and that they have negative externalities that are easier to remedy earlier in their development rather than later†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Hurd 88). The IMF is designed to oversee the international monetary system, provide advisement for countries on the maintenance of stable exchange rates, and provide emergency lending to its members in the threat of financial and social instability. The World Bank was designed to pool resources and lend money to its members as well, but its objective is more explicitly mandated to finance reconstruction and development. Zoellick adds, â€Å"Much of the World Bank’s history has been associated with the Third World. Developing countries are the World Bank’s clients†¦ Clients have vastly different needs† [ (Zoellick 2,3,8) ]. We will write a custom essay sample on Role of International Organizations or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Although it was once the source of capital for all developing countries, the importance of private sectors has grown. Hurd points out both institutions limited enforcement capacity, stating â€Å"Both also have leverage in the sense that they can control countries’ access to future capital through the mechanism of credit rating. However, states†¦ may find leverage over the Bank or Fund, most dramatically by threatening to default† [ (Hurd 89) ]. A non-governmental organization is a professional organization, which operates independently of a governmental entity. NGOs can act as an agent for change, helping keep important issues on the table that are sometimes ignored by global governments. They are conventionally non-profit, with individuals as acting members, and engage in private international transactions. Oxfam America is an example of an NGO. Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Oxfam†¦ follows a rights-based approach† [ (America 2) ]. As part of its mission, Oxfam assists with the rehabilitation efforts of developing countries, helping their local communities better respond to future challenges. Although â€Å"poverty is not gender neutral† [ (America 5) ], Mallaby argues, â⠂¬Å"NGOs claim to campaign on behalf of the poor people, yet many of their campaigns harm the poor. Campaigning NGOs, distinct from those with real development programs, almost have to be radical or†¦ nobody will send them cash or quote them in newspapers†¦ Of course there will be grown-up group like Oxfam, World Vision, or the World Wildlife Fund†¦ But they will be exceptions, and they may cooperate only cautiously† [ (Mallaby 52,55) ]. While it may be true that certain NGOs exists solely as self- interest groups, spreading inaccurate information, there are still legitimate NGOs in existence which attempt to fill the gap in government services and keep supporters informed and motivated. Multinational corporations are for-profit organizations, which operate in two or more countries. MNCs have enormous influence over entire economies, as they possess the power to control many resources and directly affect foreign direct investment. While MNCs are capable of providing opportunities for developing countries through job creation, new technology, and capital inflows, they also possess the power to take profits back to their home country without investing locally, exploit and mistreat workers, and cause nvironmental damage. Milton Friedman wrote â€Å" the only social responsibility of business† is to increase its profits [ (Manby 8) ], but Brownen Manby argues, â€Å"The concept that companies have responsibilities to community at large other than to make money, has gained increasing currency† [ (Manby 1) ]. Over the years, MNCs have sparked much controversy on the real contributions of multinational to the developing countries in which they inhabit. One such debate is the â€Å"debate over the role played by oil multinationals in Nigeria† [ (Manby 1) ]. Shell was accused of engaging in many illicit activities, including colluding with the Nigerian police force and military, negotiating the import of arms, and interfering with legal processes. Multinationals have a corporate social responsibility, which holds them accountable for any actions that may, directly or otherwise, affect the host country. Partnerships must be forged through the cooperation of international organizations. These partnerships will have a positive effect on projects like the Millennium Development Goals, whose future goals include objectives that will â€Å"halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. If countries are to achieve the objectives of Millennium Development Goals, their actions need to be supported by strong international partnerships and a more enabling international economic environment for development† [ (Millenium Development Goals) ]. Works Cited America, Oxfam. Empowering the Global South: A Rights-Based Approach to Development. n. d. Hurd, Ian. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Hurd, Ian. International Organizations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 66-96. Mallaby, Sebastian. NGOs: Fighting Poverty, Hurting the Poor. Foreign Policy September/October 2004. Manby, Bronwen. Shell in Nigeria:Corporate Social Responsibility and the Ogoni Crisis. 2000. www. guisd. org. Oct 2012 lt;http://guisd. org/page_3_product. cfm? ProductID=170amp;MenuCategory=2gt;. Millenium Development Goals. 15 October 2012 lt;http://www. endpoverty2015. org/gt;. Zoellick, Robert. Why