The essentials
Besides the UN, several other organisations shape world politics today.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank were created at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944. The IMF oversees the international financial system and gives financial and technical help to countries facing balance of payments problems. The World Bank works for human development, agriculture and rural development, environmental protection, infrastructure and governance, mainly by giving loans and grants to member countries. In both, voting power depends largely on each member's financial contribution.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was set up in 1995 as the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which had existed since 1948. It sets rules for global trade, and its decisions are normally taken by consensus.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), set up in 1957, promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and works to prevent its use for military purposes; its inspectors visit nuclear facilities.
Key points
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are not controlled by governments but act internationally.
- Amnesty International campaigns for the protection of human rights across the world and publishes reports on human rights.
- Human Rights Watch researches and reports on human rights abuses and works to draw international attention to them.
- Such organisations help bring issues to public attention and pressure governments to act.
Exam tips
Match each organisation with its purpose and founding year. A favourite question asks which organisation replaced GATT.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the IMF (financial stability and balance of payments) with the World Bank (development loans).
- Thinking NGOs such as Amnesty International are UN agencies.