International Organisations — Class 12 Political Science

This chapter explains why the world needs international organisations and focuses on the United Nations after the Cold War. International organisations are not super-states; they are created by states to help resolve conflicts peacefully and to tackle shared problems like disease, global warming and trade that no single country can solve alone. The UN was founded in 1945 as a successor to the failed League of Nations, with the aim of preventing war and promoting development. Its key bodies include the General Assembly, where every member has one vote, and the Security Council, whose five permanent members (US, Russia, UK, France, China) hold the veto. The Secretary-General is its most visible figure. After the Cold War, demands grew to reform the UN — especially to enlarge the Security Council and reconsider the veto — to reflect new realities. India supports such reform and seeks permanent membership, citing its population, democracy, peacekeeping record and growing economy, though some countries object. The chapter argues the UN cannot fully balance US power but provides a vital forum for dialogue. It also profiles the IMF, World Bank, WTO, IAEA, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.