ABSTRACT
The following Chapter functions as a source of background on the history leading up to the creation of modern constructs of international organizations. This is, necessarily, an essential element for understanding the laws that govern international organizations, the ways in which these organizations are used nationally and internationally, and the ways in which they may evolve to face the future needs and challenges of the international community. After opening with a discussion of the history of international organizations, the Chapter then examines the Charter of the United Nations in terms of overall meaning and specific provisions. Finally, the Chapter discusses two essential treaties for the interpretation of the foundational texts – and indeed any texts or instruments – of international organizations: the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations. While these treaties are often considered to represent gap-fillers in the event of ambiguity or silence in relevant instruments, they also serve an important role in the ways in which legitimate frameworks for international organizations are fashioned and can potentially be refashioned in the future.
