ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the national vested interests that international governmental organizations (IGO) dominated by high politics can serve - as arenas of nation-state co-operation and conflict and with negligible actorhood of their own. The sheer number of IGOs has grown exponentially during the 20th century, notably after World War II; that is why certain international relations schools have ascribed them an increasing importance in international politics, perhaps even rivalling that of nation-states. The model presupposes that IGO influence relative to their member-states varies significantly between issue-areas. Low politics having made room for a certain implementation role and some sanctions of their own to IGOs entails some opportunities for their further strengthening - and hence widening the gap between pure low politics IGOs and those where high politics is prevailing. The chapter argues that the conventional wisdom is actually wisdom, although it needs some clarification and elaboration.
