International Organisations and Global Governance

What the resources cover

Most of the page is mind maps, and many of them focus on the United Nations. Several maps simply called United Nations sit beside United Nations System and The United Nations. The UNITED NATIONS map sets out purposes and goals, including keeping worldwide peace and developing friendly relations among nations. The Peace and Conflict map looks at the UN formed at the end of WWII, the Security Council, sanctions and the authorising of force by member states.

Regional bodies get their own maps. The ASEAN maps introduce the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, formed on 8 August 1967, and its aims.

Definitions and types

To understand what an international organisation is, try INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, which describes an entity created by treaty between two or more nations. The INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS map lists roles and functions, such as forum, instrument and actor, along with rule making and adjudication. The flashcard deck IGOs, International Law, and NGOs extends this to non-governmental bodies.

Suggested order

1. Start with the definitions in INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS and INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
2. Move to the United Nations maps and the The United Nations flashcards.
3. Look at regional and specific bodies: ASEAN, the EU notes, World Bank notes and the climate change and COP21 notes.
4. Check yourself with the Self test quiz - United Nations and the UNHCR/REFUGEES quiz.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then take a quiz without looking. Any question you miss tells you which branch to reopen. Turn those branches into flashcards for a quick second pass. UK-focused material, such as the slides on the UN, Commonwealth, NATO and the World Trade Organisation, may suit those preparing for A-level Politics or GCSE Citizenship.

Where it fits

This unit belongs to the Global Governance and Political Economy strand of Political science. It suits school students, university students and professional candidates, and teachers can use the maps as ready-made starting points. Open a map today and see which topic to tackle first.