International Organizations in World Politics

This book analyzes the most influential international organizations, including the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and the European Union, and the key role they play in global governance.

International organizations (IOs) are essential and controversial actors in global governance, working on just about every imaginable issue that states cannot easily address individually. The Second Edition of International Organizations in World Politics offers a comprehensive overview of major IOs and regional organizations and their role in global governance. Tamar Gutner presents a variety of theoretical approaches to analyzing the roles and impact of large IOs, including the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization, and examines their historical development, governance structure, activities, and performance. For each IO, a detailed case study illuminates the constraints and challenges it faces in areas of contemporary global challenges like conflict resolution, development, the environment, trade, and financial crisis. The Second Edition includes updated coverage of IOs′ responses to major world issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and other geopolitical tensions.