International organizations revisited

Abstract

International organizations (IOs) are an essential part of world politics. There would have been no global interconnected community without the work of IOs. They set norms and standards, formulate and implement international law, alleviate suff ering, assist failing states, contribute to resolving confl icts, and help ensure food security for millions. One could expand this list to double its length and still not cover all the crucial contributions that IOs make. Yet, they have their detractors. The contributors to this book rethink the practice and theory of IOs.The book draws attention to the pathologies and potential therapies that are inherent to the concept of IOs. These organizations operate worldwide on almost all issues imaginable, from peacebuilding to setting technical standards, from promoting literacy to public sanitation