SHIFTING AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES, THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE EVOLVING INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

The actions of international actors, particularly states, can be authoritative within self-determined scope and bounds because they play the central role in the creation of international law itself. International organizations, in turn, operate within the bounds set for their foundational charters, which outline their goals and missions. Accountability is normally brought into the context of international relations in cases of failures to act on duties or action beyond authority. Under international law, an international organization may also be legally accountable if it acts or makes decisions which interfere negatively with the rights of third parties. This principle was based on a commitment to justice and the rule of law. There is considerable debate among international experts and scholars regarding the need to strengthen the oversight mechanism with a view to drawing up the lines of responsibility more distinctly on the part of international organizations. The authority's scope and, subsequently the sphere of responsibility, differs enormously depending on each organization's purpose and structural make-up. For example, while in some regional organizations the transfer of sovereignty is not envisaged, in those international actors with a sui-generis structure, such as the European Union, the Member States are said to share powers with the main actor and these would include the right to opt out of certain decisions, formally establish the illegality of a decision, withhold membership contributions, withdraw from the organization, demand a majority or appeal to the International Court of Justice. International organizations, authority and responsibility in the international system, international law.