Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
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3.4 Theories <strong>of</strong> International Organizations<br />
38<br />
Though <strong>the</strong> chemistry <strong>of</strong> each organization- structure, function <strong>and</strong> approach- is unique but at <strong>the</strong><br />
same time <strong>the</strong>re also exist some similarities when seen through <strong>the</strong> lenses <strong>of</strong> aims, actions <strong>and</strong><br />
approaches <strong>of</strong> IGOs. Here many questions arise: how <strong>and</strong> why are IGOs formed? What forces<br />
lead to <strong>the</strong> formation <strong>of</strong> IGOs? Who are <strong>the</strong> stakeholders? And, to whom IGOs serve? In order<br />
to answer <strong>the</strong>se questions <strong>and</strong> to underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> philosophy <strong>and</strong> chemistry <strong>of</strong> IGOs many <strong>the</strong>ories<br />
have been put forward. Theorists <strong>and</strong> practitioners have employed a number <strong>of</strong> conceptions <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational organization to underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>and</strong> function <strong>of</strong> IOs (Thompson & Snidal,<br />
2000). As <strong>the</strong> human knowledge is progress<strong>in</strong>g so <strong>the</strong> circle <strong>of</strong> study <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
organization is also exp<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g. Today <strong>the</strong>re exist different schools <strong>of</strong> thought, which have<br />
<strong>the</strong>orized <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> IGOs <strong>in</strong> different ways <strong>and</strong> have attempted to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> answer <strong>of</strong> above<br />
given questions. There are many schools <strong>of</strong> thought <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world, some major schools are: realist,<br />
liberal, idealist <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutionalist schools.<br />
3.4.1 Realism<br />
Realism is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dom<strong>in</strong>ant schools <strong>of</strong> thought <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational organizations,<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational relations <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational politics. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to this school, <strong>the</strong> external world is<br />
physical <strong>in</strong> nature <strong>and</strong> material objects <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir qualities exist <strong>in</strong>dependently <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
perceived (The American Heritage Dictionary). Realist sees <strong>the</strong> political world as made up <strong>of</strong><br />
events, mechanisms <strong>and</strong> actors where states are self centered <strong>and</strong> competitive so states give<br />
priority to <strong>the</strong>ir national <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>and</strong> security over ideologies, moral obligations, <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
norms <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>ternational actors. Likewise states create, promote <strong>and</strong> support<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational organizations to protect <strong>and</strong> to maximize <strong>the</strong>ir own <strong>in</strong>terests. Though sovereign<br />
states are <strong>in</strong>dependent actors <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>ternational system, powerful states have high <strong>in</strong>fluence or<br />
control over <strong>in</strong>ternational politics, likewise <strong>in</strong>ternational organizations are also under <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>of</strong> big powers, consequently IOs do not has absolute liberty. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to this <strong>the</strong>ory,<br />
ra<strong>the</strong>r IOs are “power stage” where states compete to protect <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>the</strong>ir own <strong>in</strong>terests<br />
because states, behave like human be<strong>in</strong>g, have an <strong>in</strong>nate desire to dom<strong>in</strong>ate. Realists see power<br />
as a pivot <strong>of</strong> politics <strong>and</strong> a driv<strong>in</strong>g force <strong>in</strong> all political affairs (McLean & McMillan, 2003). Due<br />
to <strong>the</strong>se limitations realists, as compared to idealists, are less optimistic about <strong>the</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong>