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Regional Organizations

•  Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand to promote political and economic cooperation and regional stability. The member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. The ASEAN Community is comprised of three pillars, the Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. Every year following the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, ASEAN holds its Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) to which the Secretary of State is invited. In 1994, ASEAN took the lead in establishing the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which now has 27 members.

Main objectives

To promote the economic, social and Cultural Development of the region through cooperative programmers

To safeguard the political and economic stability of the region against big power rivalry; and

To serve as a forum for the resolution of intra-regional differences.

• Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 as an informal Ministerial-level dialogue group with twelve members. Today APEC has 21 member economies spread out over four continents. APEC Member Economies work together to sustain economic Growth through a commitment to open trade, Investment and economic reform. This is accomplished by progressively reducing tariffs and other barriers to trade. The participating APEC economies are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong-China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam. India is not member of Apec.

• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of nations in South Asia. Its member states include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's Population and 3.8% (US$ 2.9 trillion) of the global economy, as of 2015.

SAARC was founded in Dhaka on 8th December, 1985. Its secretariat is based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The organization promotes development of economic and regional integration. It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006. SAARC maintains permanent diplomatic relations at the United Nations as an observer and has developed links with multilateral entities, including the European Union.

• European Union (EU

The European Union (EU) is a political and Economic Union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has an area of 4,475,757 km² (1,728,099 sq mi), and an estimated population of over 510 million. The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, Services, and capital within the internal market, enact legislation in Justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, Fisheries-2/”>Fisheries, and regional development. Within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished. A monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002, and is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency.

• Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the British Commonwealth), also known as simply the Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of 52 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire. The Commonwealth operates by intergovernmental consensus of the member states, organised through the Commonwealth Secretariat and non-governmental organisations, organised through the Commonwealth Foundation.

Member states have no legal obligation to one another. Instead, they are united by language, history, culture and their shared values of Democracy, free speech, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law.

The Commonwealth covers more than 29,958,050 km² (11,566,870 sq mi), 20% of the world's land area, and spans all six inhabited continents; if all Commonwealth member states were to be united as a single land mass, the Commonwealth would be the largest country in the world by land area.

• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

SCO was formulated in 1996 with five countries- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, China, Tajikistan. Uzbekistan joined in the group in 2001. The primary motive behind the formation was to ensure stability along the borders. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

India and Pakistan joined SCO as full members on 9 June 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 35 member countries, founded in 1960 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. 

 It is a forum of countries describing themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy, providing a platform to compare policy experiences, seeking answers to common problems, identify good practices and coordinate domestic and international policies of its members. Most OECD members are high-income economies with a very high Human Development index (HDI) and are regarded as developed countries. OECD is an official United Nations Observer. The OECD's headquarters are in Paris, France.

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between several North American and European states based on the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949.

NATO constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. Three NATO members (the United States, France and the United Kingdom) are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with the power to veto and are officially nuclear-weapon states. NATO Headquarters are located in Haren, Brussels, Belgium, while the headquarters of Allied Command Operations is near Mons, Belgium.

NATO is an alliance that consists of 29 independent member countries across North America and Europe. An additional 21 countries participate in NATO's PARTNERSHIP for Peace program, with 15 other countries involved in institutionalized dialogue programs. The combined military spending of all NATO members constitutes over 70% of the global total Members' defence spending is supposed to amount to at least 2% of GDP

• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) 

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in several other languages is an intergovernmental organization of 14 nations as of May 2017, founded in 1960 in Baghdad by the first five members (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela), and headquartered since 1965 in Vienna. As of 2016, the 14 countries accounted for an estimated 44 percent of global oil production and 73 percent of the world's "proven" oil reserves, giving OPEC a major influence on global oil prices that were previously determined by American-dominated multinational oil companies.

 OPEC's members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (the de facto leader), United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela, while Indonesia is a former member. Two-thirds of OPEC's oil production and reserves are in its six Middle Eastern countries that surround the oil-rich Persian Gulf.

• Mercosur

Mercosur, is a sub-regional bloc. Its full members are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Venezuela is a full member but has been suspended since December 1, 2016.

Its associate countries are Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname. Observer countries are New Zealand and Mexico.

Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency. The official languages are Spanish, Portuguese and Guarani.

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Regional organizations are groups of countries that come together to cooperate on common issues. They can be formed for a variety of reasons, such as to promote Economic Development, to improve security, or to protect the Environment.

There are many different regional organizations around the world. Some of the most well-known include the African Union (AU), the Arab League (AL), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Union (EU), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

Each regional organization has its own unique set of goals and objectives. The AU, for example, was founded in 2002 with the goal of promoting peace and security, democracy, and development in Africa. The AL was founded in 1945 with the goal of promoting Arab unity and cooperation. ASEAN was founded in 1967 with the goal of promoting economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in Southeast Asia. CARICOM was founded in 1973 with the goal of promoting economic integration and cooperation among Caribbean countries. SICA was founded in 1951 with the goal of promoting economic integration and cooperation among Central American countries. The CIS was founded in 1991 with the goal of promoting economic cooperation and political coordination among the former Soviet republics. The CoE was founded in 1949 with the goal of promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe. The EU was founded in 1957 with the goal of promoting economic integration and cooperation among European countries. The GCC was founded in 1981 with the goal of promoting economic cooperation and political coordination among Gulf Arab states. The OSCE was founded in 1975 with the goal of promoting security and cooperation in Europe. The PIF was founded in 1971 with the goal of promoting economic cooperation and political coordination among Pacific Island countries. SAARC was founded in 1985 with the goal of promoting economic growth, social progress, and cultural development in South Asia. UNASUR was founded in 2008 with the goal of promoting integration and cooperation among South American countries.

Regional organizations can play an important role in promoting peace and security, economic development, and social progress. They can also help to protect the environment and promote human rights. However, regional organizations can also be controversial. Some critics argue that they can be used to promote the interests of powerful countries or to suppress dissent. Others argue that they can be inefficient and bureaucratic.

Despite these criticisms, regional organizations remain an important part of the international system. They provide a forum for countries to cooperate on common issues and to address regional challenges. They can also help to promote peace and stability in regions that are prone to conflict.

In conclusion, regional organizations are an important part of the international system. They can play a vital role in promoting peace and security, economic development, and social progress. However, they can also be controversial. It is important to carefully consider the pros and cons of regional organizations before deciding whether or not to support them.

What is a regional organization?

A regional organization is an intergovernmental organization that is composed of member states from a particular geographic region. Regional organizations can be formed for a variety of purposes, such as to promote economic cooperation, to coordinate Foreign Policy, or to resolve disputes.

What are the benefits of regional organizations?

Regional organizations can provide a number of benefits to their member states. These benefits can include:

• Increased economic cooperation: Regional organizations can help to promote economic cooperation among their member states by reducing trade barriers, harmonizing regulations, and providing financial assistance.
• Coordinated foreign policy: Regional organizations can help to coordinate the foreign policy of their member states, which can lead to greater cooperation on issues such as trade, security, and Climate change.
• Dispute resolution: Regional organizations can provide a forum for their member states to resolve disputes peacefully.

What are the challenges of regional organizations?

Regional organizations can face a number of challenges, including:

• Lack of consensus: Regional organizations can be difficult to manage if there is a lack of consensus among their member states on key issues.
• Lack of Resources: Regional organizations can be underfunded, which can limit their ability to carry out their activities.
• Lack of legitimacy: Regional organizations can lack legitimacy if they are not seen as being representative of their member states.

What are some examples of regional organizations?

Some examples of regional organizations include the European Union, the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

What is the future of regional organizations?

The future of regional organizations is uncertain. Some experts believe that regional organizations will become increasingly important in the years to come, as they provide a way for countries to cooperate on issues that cannot be solved by individual countries. Others believe that regional organizations will become less important, as countries become more integrated into the global economy.

Question 1

Which of the following is not a regional organization?

(A) The United Nations
(B) The African Union
(C) The European Union
(D) The Organization of American States

Answer
(A) The United Nations is a global organization, not a regional organization.

Question 2

Which of the following is the headquarters of the African Union?

(A) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
(B) Nairobi, Kenya
(C) Lusaka, Zambia
(D) Abuja, Nigeria

Answer
(A) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the headquarters of the African Union.

Question 3

Which of the following is the headquarters of the European Union?

(A) Brussels, Belgium
(B) Strasbourg, France
(C) Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
(D) The Hague, Netherlands

Answer
(A) Brussels, Belgium is the headquarters of the European Union.

Question 4

Which of the following is the headquarters of the Organization of American States?

(A) Washington, D.C., United States
(B) Mexico City, Mexico
(C) Buenos Aires, Argentina
(D) Brasilia, Brazil

Answer
(A) Washington, D.C., United States is the headquarters of the Organization of American States.

Question 5

Which of the following is not a goal of the African Union?

(A) To promote peace and security on the African continent
(B) To promote economic development on the African continent
(C) To promote democracy and Good Governance on the African continent
(D) To promote human rights on the African continent

Answer
(D) To promote human rights on the African continent is not a goal of the African Union. The African Union’s Constitutive Act does not mention human rights.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a goal of the European Union?

(A) To promote peace and security in Europe
(B) To promote economic development in Europe
(C) To promote democracy and good governance in Europe
(D) To promote the rule of law in Europe

Answer
(D) To promote the rule of law in Europe is not a goal of the European Union. The European Union’s Treaty on European Union does not mention the rule of law.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a goal of the Organization of American States?

(A) To promote peace and security in the Americas
(B) To promote economic development in the Americas
(C) To promote democracy and good governance in the Americas
(D) To promote human rights in the Americas

Answer
(D) To promote human rights in the Americas is not a goal of the Organization of American States. The Organization of American States’ Charter does not mention human rights.