Multilateral Organizations (UN)

Multilateral organizations are groups of countries that work together on shared problems, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and NATO. They set rules, settle disputes, organize peacekeeping, and pool money and effort. The United States takes part through its diplomats and through Congress, which funds that participation.

People usually ask how these bodies are organized, what power they really have over member countries, and how the United States joins, shapes, or leaves them. They also ask how peacekeeping differs from peace enforcement and how alliances such as NATO fit into the picture.