Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

上海合作组织
Шанхайская организация сотрудничества

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
Secretariat Beijing, China
Working languages Chinese, Russian
Member states
Leaders
 -  Secretary-General Muratbek Sansyzbayevich Imanaliev
 -  Deputy Secretary-Generals Mikhail Alekseyevich Konarovskiy
Anvar Djamaletdinovich Nasyrov
Juyin Hong
Parviz Davlatkhodjayevich Dodov
Formation
 -  Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions 26 April 1996 
 -  Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation 15 June 2001 
Area
 -  Total 30,254,414 km2 
11,681,692  sq mi 
Population
 -  2008 estimate 1,526,000,952 
 -  Density 50.57/km2 
131/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate
 -  Total  
 -  Per capita $6,849 
GDP (nominal) 2008 estimate
 -  Total  
 -  Per capita $4,048 
Currency
Time zone (UTC+2 to +12)
Website
www.sectsco.org

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental mutual-security organisation which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation.

Contents

Official names

The official working languages of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation are Chinese and Russian. The official names of the organisation in the two languages, abbreviations in parentheses, are:

Chinese:

Russian:

Membership

Member States

Observer States

Dialogue Partners

Guest Attendances

Origins

Former Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Former Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov, the original leaders of the Shanghai Five.

The Shanghai Five grouping was originally created 26 April 1996 with the signing of the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions in Shanghai by the heads of states of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. 24 April 1997 the same countries signed the Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions in a meeting in Moscow.

Subsequent annual summits of the Shanghai Five group occurred in Almaty (Kazakhstan) in 1998, in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) in 1999, and in Dushanbe (Tajikistan) in 2000.

In 2001, the annual summit returned to Shanghai, China. There the five member nations first admitted Uzbekistan in the Shanghai Five mechanism (thus transforming it into the Shanghai Six). Then all six heads of state signed on June 15, 2001, the Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, praising the role played thus far by the Shanghai Five mechanism and aiming to transform it to a higher level of cooperation. In July 2001, Russia and the PRC, the organisation's two leading nations, signed the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation.

In June 2002, the heads of the SCO member states met in Saint Petersburg, Russia. There they signed the SCO Charter which expounded on the organisation's purposes, principles, structures and form of operation, and established it officially from the point of view of international law.

Its six full members account for 60% of the land mass of Eurasia and its population is a third of the world’s. With observer states included, its affiliates account for half of the human race.

At its fifth and watershed summit in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, in June 2005, when representatives of India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan attended an SCO summit for the first time, the president of the country hosting the summit, Nursultan Nazarbayev, greeted the guests in words that had never before been used in any context: “The leaders of the states sitting at this negotiation table are representatives of half of humanity.” [1]

By 2007 the SCO had initiated over twenty large-scale projects related to transportation, energy and telecommunications and held regular meetings of security, military, defense, foreign affairs, economic, cultural, banking and other officials from its member states. No multinational organization with such far-ranging and comprehensive mutual interests and activities has ever existed on this scale before.[2]

The SCO has now established relations with the United Nations, where it is an observer in the General Assembly, the European Union, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Organization of Islamic Conference.

Structure

Structure of the SCO.png

The Council of Heads of State is the top decision-making body in the SCO. This council meets at the SCO summits, which are held each year in one of the member states' capital cities. The current Council of Heads of State consists of:

The Council of Heads of Government is the second-highest council in the organisation. This council also holds annual summits, at which time members discuss issues of multilateral cooperation. The council also approves the organisation's budget.

The council of Foreign Ministers also hold regular meetings, where they discuss the current international situation and the SCO's interaction with other international organisations.[3]

As the name suggests, the Council of National Coordinators coordinates the multilateral cooperation of member states within the framework of the SCO's charter.

The Secretariat of the SCO is the primary executive body of the organisation. It serves to implement organisational decisions and decrees, drafts proposed documents (such as declarations and agendas), function as a document depository for the organisation, arranges specific activities within the SCO framework, and promotes and disseminates information about the SCO. It is located in Beijing. The current SCO Secretary-General is Muratbek Imanaliev of Kyrgyzstan, a former Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs and professor at the American University of Central Asia.[4]

The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism. The Head of RATS is elected to a three-year term. Each member state also sends a permanent representative to RATS.[5]

Activities

SCO leaders at Peace Mission 2007. Hu Jintao, Vladimir Putin, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Islam Karimov

Cooperation on security

The SCO is primarily centred on its member nations' Central Asian security-related concerns, often describing the main threats it confronts as being terrorism, separatism and extremism. However evidence is growing that its activities in the area of social development of its member states is increasing fast.

At the June 16–17, 2004 SCO summit, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the Regional Antiterrorism Structure (RATS) was established. On 21 April 2006, the SCO announced plans to fight cross-border drug crimes under the counter-terrorism rubric.[6]

Grigory Logninov claimed in April 2006 that the SCO has no plans to become a military bloc; nonetheless he argued that the increased threats of "terrorism, extremism and separatism" make necessary a full-scale involvement of armed forces.[7]

In October 2007, the SCO signed an agreement with the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, to broaden cooperation on issues such as security, crime, and drug trafficking.[8] Joint action plans between the two organisations are planned to be signed by early 2008 in Beijing.[9]

Military activities

Over the past few years, the organization's activities have expanded to include increased military cooperation, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism.[10]

There have been a number of SCO joint military exercises. The first of these was held in 2003, with the first phase taking place in Kazakhstan and the second in China. Since then China and Russia have teamed up for large-scale war games in 2005, 2007 and 2009, under the auspices of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At the joint military exercises in 2007 (known as "Peace Mission 2007") which took place in Chelyabinsk Russia, near the Ural Mountains and close to Central Asia, as was agreed upon on April 2006 at a meeting of SCO Defense Ministers. More than 4,000 soldiers participated from China. Air forces and precision-guided weapons were likely to be used. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said that the exercises will be transparent and open to media and the public. Following the war games successful completion, Russian officials began speaking of India joining such exercises in the future and the SCO taking on a military role.

The SCO has served as a platform for larger military announcements by members. During the 2007 war games in Russia, with leaders of SCO member states in attendance including Chinese President Hu Jintao, Putin used the occasion to take advantage of a "captive" audience: “Russian strategic bombers, he said, would resume regular long-range patrols for the first time since the Cold War.”Starting today, such tours of duty will be conducted regularly and on the strategic scale," Putin said. Our pilots have been grounded for too long. They are happy to start a new life."

Economic cooperation

All SCO members but China are also members of the Eurasian Economic Community. A Framework Agreement to enhance economic cooperation was signed by the SCO member states on 23 September 2003. At the same meeting the PRC's Premier, Wen Jiabao, proposed a long-term objective to establish a free trade area in the SCO, while other more immediate measures would be taken to improve the flow of goods in the region.[11][12] A follow up plan with 100 specific actions was signed one year later, on September 23, 2004.[13]

On 26 October 2005, the Moscow Summit of the SCO, the Secretary General of the Organisation said that the SCO will prioritise joint energy projects; such will include the oil and gas sector, the exploration of new hydrocarbon reserves, and joint use of water resources. The creation of an Inter-bank SCO Council was also agreed upon at that summit in order to fund future joint projects. The first meeting of the SCO Interbank Association was held in Beijing on 21–22 February 2006.[14][15] On 30 November 2006, at The SCO: Results and Perspectives, an international conference held in Almaty, the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Russia is developing plans for an SCO "Energy Club".[16]. The need for this "club" was reiterated by Moscow at an SCO summit in November 2007. Other SCO members, however, have not committed themselves to the idea.[17] However on 28 August 2008 summit it was stated that "Against the backdrop of a slowdown in the growth of world economy pursuing a responsible currency and financial policy, control over the capital flowing, ensuring food and energy security have been gaining special significance."[18]

On 16 June 2009, at the Yekaterinburg Summit, China announced plans to provide a US$10 billion loan to SCO member states to shore up the struggling economies of its members amid the global financial crisis.[19][20] The summit was held together with the first BRIC summit, and the China-Russia joint statement said that they want a bigger quota in the IMF.[21]

At the 2007 SCO summit Iranian Vice President Parviz Davudi addressed an initiative that has been garnering greater interest and assuming a heightened sense of urgency when he said, “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a good venue for designing a new banking system which is independent from international banking systems.” [22]

The address by Russia’s Putin also included these comments: “We now clearly see the defectiveness of the monopoly in world finance and the policy of economic selfishness. To solve the current problem Russia will to take part in changing the global financial structure so that it will be able to guarantee stability and prosperity in the world and to ensure progress.”

“The world is seeing the emergence of a qualitatively different geo-political situation, with the emergence of new centers of economic growth and political influence.

“We will witness and take part in the transformation of the global and regional security and development architectures adapted to new realities of the 21st century, when stability and prosperity are becoming inseparable notions.” [23]

Cultural cooperation

Cultural cooperation also occurs in the SCO framework. Culture ministers of the SCO met for the first time in Beijing on 12 April 2002, signing a joint statement for continued cooperation. The third meeting of the Culture Ministers took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 27–28 April 2006.[24][25]

An SCO Arts Festival and Exhibition was held for the first time during the Astana Summit in 2005. Kazakhstan has also suggested an SCO folk dance festival to take place in 2008, in Astana.[26]

Summits

Summit of Bishkek (Kirghizistan) in 2007.

According to the Charter of the SCO, summits of the Council of Heads of State shall be held annually at alternating venues. The locations of these summits follow the alphabetical order of the member state's name in Russian.[27] The charter also dictates that the Council of Heads of Government (that is, the Prime Ministers) shall meet annually in a place previously decided upon by the council members. The Council of Foreign Ministers is supposed to hold a summit one month before the annual summit of Heads of State. Extraordinary meetings of the Council of Foreign Ministers can be called by any two member states.[27]

List of Summits

Heads of State
Date Country Location
2001  China Shanghai
2002  Russia Saint Petersburg
2003  Russia Moscow
2004  Uzbekistan Tashkent
2005  Kazakhstan Astana
2006  China Shanghai
2007  Kyrgyzstan Bishkek
2008  Tajikistan Dushanbe
2009  Russia Yekaterinburg
2010  Uzbekistan Tashkent[28]
2011  Kazakhstan Astana[29]
Heads of Government
Date Country Location
2001  Kazakhstan Almaty
2002  Russia Saint Petersburg
2003  China Beijing
2004  Kyrgyzstan Bishkek
2005  Russia Moscow
2006  Tajikistan Dushanbe
2007  Uzbekistan Tashkent
2008  Kazakhstan Astana
2009  China Beijing[30]
2010  Kyrgyzstan TBA[31]

Future membership possibilities

In June 2010, the SCO approved the procedure of admitting new members, though new members have yet to be admitted.[32] Several states, however, participate as observers, some of whom have expressed interest in becoming full members in the future.

Current observers

Leaders present at the SCO summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia in 2009.
Putin with representatives from Iran and Mongolia, observers in the SCO, at a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government in 2005.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai at an SCO summit in 2004.

Pakistan and Iran have been lobbying for full membership, while India and Mongolia have not shown strong interest in becoming official members.[41]

Dialogue Partner

The position of Dialogue Partner was created in 2008 in accordance with Article 14 of the SCO Charter of 7 June 2002. This article regards Dialogue Partner as a state or an organisation who shares the goals and principles of the SCO and wishes to establish relations of equal mutually beneficial partnership with the Organisation.[42]

Other countries

Relations with the West

Although the declaration on the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation contained a statement that it "is not an alliance directed against other states and regions and it adheres to the principle of openness", many observers believe that one of the original purposes of the SCO was to serve as a counterbalance to NATO and the United States and in particular to avoid conflicts that would allow the United States to intervene in areas bordering both Russia and China.[48][49] And although not a member state, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has used his speeches at the SCO to make verbal attacks against the United States.[50]

The United States applied for observer status in the SCO, but was rejected in 2005.[51]

At the Astana summit in July 2005, with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq foreshadowing an indefinite presence of U.S. forces in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the SCO urged the U.S. to set a timetable for withdrawing its troops from SCO member states. Shortly afterwards, Uzbekistan asked the U.S. to leave the K-2 air base,[52].

Recently the SCO has made no direct comments against the U.S. or its military presence in the region. However, several indirect statements at the past summits, including the 2007 summit in Bishkek, have been viewed by some as "thinly veiled swipes at Washington".[53]

Geopolitical aspects of the SCO

There have been many discussions and commentaries about the geopolitical nature of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Iranian writer,Hamid Golpira, had this to say on the topic: “According to Brzezinski’s theory, control of the Eurasian landmass is the key to global domination and control of Central Asia is the key to control of the Eurasian landmass....Russia and China have been paying attention to Brzezinski’s theory, since they formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2001, ostensibly to curb extremism in the region and enhance border security, but most probably with the real objective of counterbalancing the activities of the United States and NATO in Central Asia.”[54]

At a 2005 summit in Kazakhstan the SCI issued a Declaration of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which addressed their "concerns" and contained an elaboration of the organization’s principles. It included: “The heads of the member states point out that, against the backdrop of a contradictory process of globalization, multilateral cooperation, which is based on the principles of equal right and mutual respect, non-intervention in internal affairs of sovereign states, non-confrontational way of thinking and consecutive movement towards democratization of international relations, contributes to overall peace and security, and call upon the international community, irrespective of its differences in ideology and social structure, to form a new concept of security based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and interaction.[55]

In November 2005 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is working to establish a rational and just world order” and that “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization provides us with a unique opportunity to take part in the process of forming a fundamentally new model of geopolitical integration.” [56]

A Chinese daily expressed the matter in these terms: “The Declaration points out that the SCO member countries have the ability and responsibility to safeguard the security of the Central Asian region, and calls on Western countries to leave Central Asia. That is the most noticeable signal given by the Summit to the world.”[57]

As published on StopNATO.org, [the above mentioned declaration] also recognized that no single, standardized model of political, economic, social, cultural and ethical development and practices could be forced on the 88% of humanity that lives outside the Euro-Atlantic world, not a parliamentary system devised in the British Isles centuries ago nor a consumerist culture and pseudo-civilization designed on Madison Avenue and in Hollywood.[2]

Validating that same school of thought, a study published by China’s Academy of Military Science criticizes Washington’s “overbearing strategy of encirclement and suffocation.”

That may not be Washington’s intent. But from Beijing’s vantage point, the United States is arrayed along China’s periphery, with a long-term presence in Japan and South Korea, strong ties with Thailand and the Philippines, a blossoming partnership with India and a growing role in Central Asia.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has concluded that the United States is maneuvering “to preserve its status as the world’s sole superpower and will not allow any country the chance to pose a challenge to it.” [58]

Russia is not a fan or supporter of NATO or of any of its former Soviet states joining it, as seen in this explicit statement made in 2006 by Russian Ambassador to Ukraine, Viktor Chernomyrdin, “when a neighboring country becomes a member of the North-Atlantic Military bloc, then I’m sorry—then this strategic partnership [with Russia] should be viewed from a different angle and [it should be reviewed] whether this strategic partnership relationship should continue to exist at all”.

An article in The Washington Post in early 2008 reported that President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia could aim nuclear missiles at Ukraine if Russia’s neighbor and former fraternal republic in the Soviet Union joins the NATO alliance and hosts elements of a U.S. missile defense system. "It is horrible to say and even horrible to think that, in response to the deployment of such facilities in Ukrainian territory, which cannot theoretically be ruled out, Russia could target its missile systems at Ukraine," Putin said at a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, who was visiting the Kremlin. “Imagine this just for a second.”[59][60]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kazinform, July 5, 2005
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/150/
  3. ↑ Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers from Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Embassy of the Russian Federation in Malaysia
  4. ↑ SCO Secretariat in Brief SCO Website
  5. ↑ Information on Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO Website
  6. ↑ SCO to intensify fight against cross-border drug crimes Xinhua.net
  7. ↑ SCO gets ready for joint military exercise World Student Press Agency
  8. ↑ Security alliances led by Russia, China link up Daily Times
  9. ↑ Kazakhstan Notes Afghanistan's Emerging Security Agenda Eurasia Daily Monitor
  10. ↑ http://www.cfr.org/publication/10883/
  11. ↑ Central Asian powers agree to pursue free-trade zone
  12. ↑ "China Intensifies Regional Trade Talks". Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. http://web.archive.org/web/20071024121832/http://www.ictsd.org/weekly/03-10-01/story3.htm.  International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)
  13. ↑ Joint Communique of the Council of the Governmental Heads (Prime Ministers) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Member States University of Hawaii
  14. ↑ Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Eyes Economic, Security Cooperation The Jamestown Foundation
  15. ↑ SCO Ministers of Foreign Economic Activity and Trade to meet in Tashkent National Bank of Uzbekistan
  16. ↑ Russia's Foreign Ministry develops concept of SCO energy club Gazeta.kz
  17. ↑ Russia Urges Formation of Central Asian Energy Club Eurasianet
  18. ↑ Chronicle of Main Events of "Shanghai Five" and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
  19. ↑ (Xinhua)
  20. ↑ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ghofWsw6596hiWFv-WS4u6L84TGAD98RLUG80
  21. ↑ Yan (June 18, 2009). "China, Russia sign five-point joint statement". http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/18/content_11558133.htm. Retrieved June 23, 2009. "They also said that a new round of the IMF quota formula review and the reform schemes of the World Bank should be completed on time and that the emerging markets and developing countries should have a bigger say and broader representation in the international financial institutions." 
  22. ↑ Mehr News Agency, October 31, 2008
  23. ↑ Russia Today, October 30, 2008
  24. ↑ Culture Ministers of SCO Member States Meet in Beijing People's Daily
  25. ↑ SCO Culture Ministers to Meet in Tashkent Gazeta.kz
  26. ↑ Kazakhstan Backs Promotion of SCO Cultural Ties Embassy of Kazakhstan in India
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO Website
  28. ↑ Joint Communiqué of Meeting of the Council of the Heads of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SCO Website
  29. ↑ SCO vows to strengthen cooperation with its observers, dialogue partners Xinhua
  30. ↑ http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-14-voa14.cfm
  31. ↑ SCO Heads of Government Council meets in Beijing
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Wu Jiao and Li Xiaokun (2010-06-12). "SCO agrees deal to expand". China Daily. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-06/12/content_9968565.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-15. 
  33. ↑ Shanghai Cooperation Organisation - Towards New Dynamism - Mainstream Weekly
  34. ↑ EurasiaNet Eurasia Insight - India: The New Central Asian Player
  35. ↑ Asia Times Online :: South Asia news - India makes a soft landing in Tajikistan
  36. ↑ [1]
  37. ↑ [2]
  38. ↑ keen on joining SCO
  39. ↑ Iran applies for membership Press TV
  40. ↑ http://geo.tv/10-14-2009/50915.htm
  41. ↑ SCO Fails to Solve Its Expansion Dilemma Central Asia-Caucasus Institute
  42. ↑ Regulations on the Status of Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
  43. ↑ Sri Lanka gains partnership in SCO members welcome end to terror in country
  44. ↑ The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation acquires military character Kommersant
  45. ↑ Sri Lanka gains partnership in SCO members welcome end to terror in country
  46. ↑ Bedi, Rahul (2007-06-02). "Sri Lanka turns to Pakistan, China for military needs". IANS (Urdustan.com Network). http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html. Retrieved 2007-06-02. 
  47. ↑ SCO, Afghanistan need to deepen cooperation, secretary general People's Daily
  48. ↑ Tannock, Charles (February 18, 2008). "Backing Kazakhstan's 'great game'". Guardian Weekly. http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/charles_tannock/2008/02/backing_kazakhstans_great_game_.html. 
  49. ↑ Fels, Enrico (2009), Assessing Eurasia's Powerhouse. An Inquiry into the Nature of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Winkler Verlag: Bochum, p. 23-27.
  50. ↑ Ahmadinejad stresses need for a new world order Press TV
  51. ↑ Shanghai surprise Guardian Unlimited
  52. ↑ Central Asia: China and Russia up the ante The Hindu
  53. ↑ Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summiteers Take Shots at US Presence in Central Asia Eurasianet
  54. ↑ Tehran Times, November 20, 2008
  55. ↑ The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, July 13, 2005, http://www.sectsco.org/news_detail.asp?id=407&LanguageID=2
  56. ↑ UzReport, November 28, 2005
  57. ↑ People's Daily, July 8, 2008
  58. ↑ American Legion Magazine, March 1, 2010
  59. ↑ Maheen Mirza, Shanghai Corporation Organization (SCO): A New Platform – TRCB, TRCB.com — Article Marketing for Massive Exposure and Reward, http://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/international/shanghai-corporation-organization-sco-a-new-platform-2531.htm (accessed April 7, 2010).
  60. ↑ Peter Finn, “Putin Threatens Ukraine on NATO – Russian Raises Issues of U.S. Missile Shield”, www.washingtonpost.com, February 13, 2008, archives 2010.

External links

Discussion

Media

Articles and research

Central Asian regional organizations
Central Asia plus Japan · Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program · Commonwealth of Independent States (Collective Security Treaty Organisation and Eurasian Economic Community) · Economic Cooperation Organization · Shanghai Cooperation Organisation · Turkic Council
Power in international relations
Types of power
Philosophical power · Soft power · Hard power · Smart power · National power · Political power (Machtpolitik • Realpolitik) · Food power
Types of power status
Middle power · Regional power · Great power  · Superpower (Potential superpowers) · Hyperpower
Geopolitics
British Century · American Century · Chinese Century · Asian Century
Theory and history
Balance of power · Historical powers · Polarity · Military power projection · Power transition theory · Second Superpower · Sphere of influence · Superpower collapse · Superpower disengagement
Studies
Composite Index of National Capability · Comprehensive National Power · National Power Index
Organizations and groups
G7 · G8 · G8+5 · G20 · G77 · African Union · ANZUS · APEC · Arab League · ASEAN · BRIC · CSTO · CIS · Commonwealth of Nations · European Union · IBSA · MSG · NATO · N-11 · Non-Aligned Movement · OAS · OECD · SAARC · SCO · Union for the Mediterranean · Union of South American Nations · United Nations
World government
History
Holy Roman Empire · League of Nations · Permanent Court of International Justice · Nuremberg Trials · Tokyo trials · Permanent Court of Arbitration · Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
Concept
(proposal)
United Nations Parliamentary Assembly · Central Asian Union · Commonwealth Union · Pacific Union · North American Union · East African Federation · Arab Union · Federal Europe · East Asian Community · United States of Africa · United States of Europe
Theory
(practice)
Alter-globalization  · Commonwealth  · Confederation · Cosmopolitanism · Federalism · Global governance · Globalization · Intergovernmentalism · Mundialization · Supranationalism · Pax · Planetary management
Global body
Regional body
Antarctic Treaty System  · Economic Cooperation Organization · European Union · Latin Union · Council of Europe · Caribbean Community · Arab League · African Union · Union of South American Nations · Shanghai Cooperation Organisation · Association of Southeast Asian Nations · Association of Caribbean States · Central American Integration System · Commonwealth of Independent States · Melanesian Spearhead Group · Organization of American States · South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation · Pacific Islands Forum · North Atlantic Treaty Organization · Mercosur
International
parliament
European Parliament · Arab Parliament  · Pan-African Parliament · Latin American Parliament · South American Parliament · Mercosur Parliament · Inter-Parliamentary Union
International
court
International Criminal Court · International Court of Justice · International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea · International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia · International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda · African Court of Justice · Caribbean Court of Justice · Inter-American Court of Human Rights  · European Court of Justice · European Court of Human Rights
Law and treaty
International law (Public · Private · Supranational) · International legal theory · United Nations Charter · Universal Declaration of Human Rights · Geneva Conventions · Rome Statute of the ICC · Kyoto Protocol · European Union treaties · European Union law · Treaty of Chaguaramas
Movements
Federal Union · World Federalist Movement
Category · Portal