International Organizations: Introduction
There are two types of international organizations: governmental and non-governmental.
- International governmental organizations (or IGOs) are associations of
states established by a treaty to pursue the common aims of their member states.
An intergovernmental organization has a legal personality separate from its
member states, and can enter into legally binding agreements with other IGOs
or with other states. The United Nations and the Organization
of American States are examples of international governmental organizations.
- The other category of international organization is the non-governmental
organization (or NGO). NGOs are made up of private citizens. NGOs do not enter
into treaties or other international agreements. The World
Wildlife Fund,
Greenpeace and Amnesty
International are examples of non-governmental organizations.