Intergovernmental Organizations

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International Politics

Important political events happen each day around the world. Fortunately, you don't have to travel the globe to learn about international politics; the Internet has the resources you need to stay current. We'll point you to the best sources for news, commentary and blogs about international politics and foreign relations. This International Politics Web Guide also offers help researching nations and intergovernmental organizations.

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World News

Reading international news is the best way to know what's happening around the globe. The Internet ... read more »

Country Facts

These sites provide access to the vital facts that shape international news and can contextualize ... read more »

Intergovernmental Organizations

Individual nations aren't the only players in international politics. Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) also have significant political influence on international relations. It is helpful to understand the missions and actions of these organizations in order to fully grasp political, economic, and social situations worldwide.

Dulcinea's Insight

To learn about the history and past actions of IGOs, visit BeyondIntractability.org. The group is committed to offering free knowledge on issues related to conflict resolution.

IGOs often exercise political power. Read an article in The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics about OPEC, a trading IGO, for elaboration on the powers of IGOs.

Dulcinea's Picks

For IGO databases …

Northwestern University Library provides a comprehensive, alphabetized list of IGOs with links to their Web sites. You can also read the library's selection criteria if you're curious as to why a particular organization was included or omitted.

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Stanford University’s Jonsson Library of Government Documents is a synthesis of the two sites listed above. Whereas the Duke site allows you to search through topics and the Northwestern site lets you look at organizations themselves, Stanford offers a fully equipped search engine that lets you type in a topic or organization you want to research. The library then finds documents and Web sites that relate to your question.

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For IGOs …

The United Nations offers a few resources that keep you in touch with international affairs, including The United Nations Chronicle, which provides in-depth coverage of UN debates. The site also features a database of facts and figures for the world’s nations. Read an account of the U.N.'s history to learn more about the purpose of the organization.

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NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), originally an alliance between North American and European countries uniting to defend themselves against possible Soviet aggression, has a Web site devoted to reporting on worldwide peacekeeping efforts. Visit for multimedia news, photos, updates on NATO, or to peruse its virtual library.

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The European Union , more than a cooperative treaty organization, but less than a federation of states incorporates more than 25 countries. The EU Web site is the best place to look for a detailed definition of this entity.

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The African Union 's site provides news and updates on the activities of the group, which came into being in 1999. There are more than 50 member countries at present. Their aim is to speed up integration between African countries to allow them to play a larger role in the world economy.

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OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) unites countries in the Middle East and Asia, primarily. Click on "Multimedia" in the left-side bar to get special reports, read interviews, and review commentary.

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The World Trade Organization (WTO) offers news and relevant documents on its Web site. Comprising 150 member nations, the WTO arbitrates and negotiates international trade agreements. Created in 1995, the WTO has become a symbol of globalization and a target for political activists.

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The IMF (International Monetary Fund) Web site offers news, articles, country information, and data and statistics related to the organization, which was created in 1945 to help avoid any repeat of the Great Depression. With a membership of almost 200 countries, the IMF works to maintain stable currency exchange and economic development.

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The World Bank aims to reduce poverty by offering financial assistance to developing nations. Like the IMF, it was created in 1945 and has almost 200 members. Its Web site provides a tremendous amount of thorough—if dry—information about countries and projects.

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APEC (Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation) provides basic APEC news as well as "Leaders’ Declarations" and "Ministerial Statements." APEC held its first meeting in 1993. Recently, it has tried to influence North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

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