UN security council

Why International Organizations Hate Politics: The case of the ILO and UNEP

By Marieke Louis and Lucile Maertens – “We don’t do politics!” is often heard within international organizations (IOs) from international bureaucrats, governmental delegates or civil society representatives engaged in multilateral action. Taking these apolitical claims seriously can unveil the politics of depoliticization within IOs, such as the ILO and UNEP, and sheds new light on the legitimacy of global governance institutions.

Trade and Labour: Friends, Foes, or Frenemies?

By Maria Mexi & Andrew Silva – Exceptional events, like the Covid-19 pandemic, and broader trends, like the acceleration of new technologies and growth of trade in services, are raising further questions about the relationship between trade and labour. This piece revisits our understanding of and the possible institutional mechanisms to forge positive linkages between trade and labour.

Where is the ILO going with the Centenary Declaration?

By Velibor Jakovleski – The ILO’s Centenary Declaration seeks a reinvigorated role for the organization in the global governance of work. But it could end up as just another example of compromised adaptation to rapidly changing circumstances.