ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of international law, international organizations (IGOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in global politics. International law consists of principles and rules derived from custom and treaties that states and other groups are obliged to observe in dealing with one another. An international organization is an institution that is created by sovereign states and established by, and given legal recognition in, a treaty. Such organizations can be universal in scope as is the United Nations or regional as is the European Union (EU). They may also be either multifunctional and pursue a variety of goals like the UN or be specialized like the World Health Organization (WHO) that seeks to improve health conditions globally. NGOs are organizations whose members are individuals who do not represent any government.
