ABSTRACT
The definition of an international organization as a formal, continuous structure established by agreement between members, whether governmental representatives or not, from at least two sovereign states with the aim of pursuing the common interest of the membership, covers a wide range of institutions even if profit-making associations are excluded. Although useful observations can be made even about the total genus of international organizations, a more helpful and informative study is possible if various types of international organizations, with common features separating them from other international organizations, can be identified.
