The Participation of States in International Organisations: The Role of Human Rights and Democracy (Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law, Series Number 71)

The admission of a state to membership is an important decision for an international organisation. In making this determination, organisations are increasingly promoting the observance of human rights and democratic governance as relevant principles. They have also applied the same criteria in resolving the question of whether existing members should be excluded from an organisation's processes. Through a systematic examination of the records, proceedings and practice of international organisations, in this book Alison Duxbury examines the role and legitimacy of human rights and democracy as membership criteria. A diverse range of examples is discussed, including the membership policies and practice of the League of Nations and the United Nations; the admission of the Central and Eastern European states to the European Union; developments in regional organisations in Africa, Asia and the Americas; and the exclusion of members from the UN specialised agencies. The Admission Of A State To Membership Is An Important Decision For An International Organisation. In Making This Determination, Organisations Are Increasingly Promoting The Observance Of Human Rights And Democratic Governance As Relevant Principles. They Have Also Applied The Same Criteria In Resolving The Question Of Whether Existing Members Should Be Excluded From An Organisation's Processes. Through A Systematic Examination Of The Records, Proceedings And Practice Of International Organisations, Alison Duxbury Examines The Role And Legitimacy Of Human Rights And Democracy As Membership Criteria. A Diverse Range Of Examples Is Discussed, Including The Membership Policies And Practice Of The League Of Nations And The United Nations; The Admission Of The Central And Eastern European States To The European Union; Developments In Regional Organisations In Africa, Asia And The Americas; And The Exclusion Of Members From The Un Specialised Agencies-- International Organisations Are Increasingly Promoting Human Rights And Democratic Governance As Principles Relevant In Deciding Applications For Admission By Non-member States. In The 1990s The Importance Of These Standards Was Underlined By Suggestions That A State's Membership Of Institutions Such As The United Nations And Its Involvement In Regional Security Measures Should Be Based On Adherence To Certain Fundamental Values, Including Democracy. Not Only Have Human Rights And Democracy Norms Been Utilised In Determining The Admission Of A Potential Member To An International Organisation, But They Have Also Been Taken Into Account In Resolving The Question Whether Existing Members, Or Their Representatives, Should Be Excluded From An Organisation's Processes. Such Determinations Have Been Made In The Commonwealth, The Organization Of American States And In Decisions To Deny Accreditation To Delegations In The General Assembly Of The United Nations. When Organisations Have Ignored These Principles In Their Membership Policies Their Choices Have Been Criticised - As Was The Case When The Association Of Southeast Asian Nations Admitted Burma In 1997-- The Move To Institutions In The Age Of Rights -- The Challenge Of Universality: The League Of Nations And The United Nations -- Rights, Regionalism And Participation In Europe -- Restricting The Ranks: Excluding States From Closed Organisations -- The Relationship Between Powers, Purposes And Participation In Specialised Organisations -- Legitimacy, Democracy And Membership -- Conclusion. Alison Duxbury. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 318-334) And Index. Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 14 Acknowledgements......Page 16 Table of cases......Page 18 Table of treaties......Page 20 List of abbreviations......Page 24 Introduction......Page 28 I Introduction......Page 40 II The move to institutions: international institutional law......Page 41 III International organisations and the concept of legitimacy......Page 54 IV The age of rights: international law, human rights and democracy......Page 72 I Peace, democracy and universality......Page 87 II Admission to the League of Nations......Page 90 III Admission to the UN......Page 110 IV Exclusion from membership and the two principles of universality......Page 131 V Conclusion......Page 148 I Introduction......Page 151 II Human rights, democracy and participation in Europe......Page 153 III Admission and exclusion in the European organisations......Page 164 IV Creating a united Europe?......Page 181 V Functions and the role of rights......Page 189 I Sovereignty, democracy and exclusion......Page 192 II Regional integration: the desire to unite and the pressure to exclude......Page 195 III Balancing cooperation and confrontation in informal organisations......Page 228 IV Problems with suspension as a sanction for breaches of democracy and human rights......Page 241 I Introduction......Page 249 II The specialised agencies of the UN......Page 251 III International trade organisations......Page 273 IV Conclusion......Page 290 I Introduction......Page 292 II The roles of human rights and democracy in determining participation......Page 293 III The legitimacy of the practice......Page 297 IV Democracy and the membership process of international organisations......Page 310 V Membership and the protection of democracy and human rights......Page 325 Conclusion......Page 338 Select bibliography......Page 345 Index......Page 362 CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW......Page 377 "International organisations are increasingly promoting human rights and democratic governance as principles relevant in deciding applications for admission by non-member states. In the 1990s the importance of these standards was underlined by suggestions that a state's membership of institutions such as the United Nations and its involvement in regional security measures should be based on adherence to certain fundamental values, including democracy. Not only have human rights and democracy norms been utilised in determining the admission of a potential member to an international organisation, but they have also been taken into account in resolving the question whether existing members, or their representatives, should be excluded from an organisation's processes. Such determinations have been made in the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States and in decisions to deny accreditation to delegations in the General Assembly of the United Nations. When organisations have ignored these principles in their membership policies their choices have been criticised - as was the case when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations admitted Burma in 1997"-- Provided by publisher "International organisations are increasingly promoting human rights and democratic governance as principles relevant in deciding applications for admission by non-member states. In the 1990s the importance of these standards was underlined by suggestions that a state's membership of institutions such as the United Nations and its involvement in regional security measures should be based on adherence to certain fundamental values, including democracy. Not only have human rights and democracy norms been utilised in determining the admission of a potential member to an international organisation, but they have also been taken into account in resolving the question whether existing members, or their representatives, should be excluded from an organisation's processes. Such determinations have been made in the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States and in decisions to deny accreditation to delegations in the General Assembly of the United Nations. When organisations have ignored these principles in their membership policies their choices have been criticised - as was the case when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations admitted Burma in 1997"-- Résumé de l'éditeur "The admission of a state to membership is an important decision for an international organisation. In making this determination, organisations are increasingly promoting the observance of human rights and democratic governance as relevant principles. They have also applied the same criteria in resolving the question of whether existing members should be excluded from an organisation's processes. Through a systematic examination of the records, proceedings and practice of international organisations, Alison Duxbury examines the role and legitimacy of human rights and democracy as membership criteria. A diverse range of examples is discussed, including the membership policies and practice of the League of Nations and the United Nations; the admission of the Central and Eastern European states to the European Union; developments in regional organisations in Africa, Asia and the Americas; and the exclusion of members from the UN specialised agencies"-- Résumé de l'éditeur Machine generated contents note: Introduction; 1. The move to institutions in the age of rights; 2. The challenge of universality: the League of Nations and United Nations; 3. Rights, regionalism and participation in Europe; 4. Restricting the ranks: excluding states from closed organisations; 5. The relationship between powers, purposes and participation in specialised organisations; 6. Legitimacy, democracy and membership; Conclusion. In this book Alison Duxbury provides international lawyers and international relations specialists with the first examination of the role of human rights and democracy in determining membership of a broad range of universal, regional and specialised organisations at both the admission and exclusion stages.