International organization

An international organization (intergovernmental organization) is an organization established by a treaty or other instrument governed by international law and possessing its own international legal personality, such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and NATO. International organizations are composed of primarily Member states, but may also include other entities, such as other international organizations. Additionally, entities (including states) may hold observer status.

Those institutions currently struggle to adapt to a more complex environment, but still have a role to play. They are most effective when the interests of the major powers align on issues like peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance, where institutions and norms are well in place. Reforms of international and regional institutions move slowly, though, because of divergent interests among member states and organizations and the increasing complexity of emerging global issues. Some institutions and member countries continue to cope on an ad hoc basis, taking steps to partner with nonstate actors and regional organizations and preferring approaches targeting narrowly defined issues.

Competing interests among major and aspiring powers limit formal international action in managing disputes, while divergent interests among states in general prevent major reforms of the UN Security Council’s membership. Many agree on the need to reform the UN Security Council, but prospects for consensus on membership reform are dim.

In today's world, existing institutions wrestle with previously nontraditional issues such as genome editing, AI, and human enhancement because technological change continues to far outpace the ability of states, agencies, and international organizations to set standards, policies, regulations, and norms. Cyber and space also raise new challenges, especially as private commercial actors play a bigger role in shaping capabilities and norms of use.

Multilateral dynamics expand as formal international organizations work more closely with companies, civil society organizations, and local governments to address challenges. As experimentation with multi-stakeholder forums grows, new formats for debate have appeared, and private sector involvement in governance increases.