THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE PROCESS OF RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS: HISTORICAL TRADITIONS, LEGAL FUNDAMENTALS AND GEOPOLITICAL REALITIES

Abstract

Conflicts are an essential and ever present aspect of global policy. Every actor in international relations has, in one way or another, been involved in the conflict settlement processes since its inception. From the dawn of the 20th century, the role of international organisations, along with states, has come to the fore in the process of conflict resolution worldwide; their role in the settlement process has changed depending on the historical scenarios, as well as the nature and scale of conflicts. The main purpose of this article is to analyse the historical role of international organisations in the conflict settlement process and to determine the legal basis for the participation of international organisations in conflict settlement, while assessing it against  the background of geopolitical realities. The current research refers to the theories of both idealism and realism depending on
the historical timespan. Comparative analysis, a systematic approach, and analytical entry are the main methods used in this research. Moreover, content analysis of documents of international organisations was conducted to determine the legal framework for the participation of international organisations in the regulatory processes.According to the analysis, the first international organisations that emerged at the beginning of the 19th century were not tasked with the issue of resolving political conflicts. However, since the beginning of the 20th century, the issue of conflict resolution has been at the forefront of the activities of almost all international organisations worldwide. The legal basis for participation in the conflict settlement process is reflected in the founding agreements and charters of a number of organisations. Some organisations, in the
context of expanding their activities, have been forced to adopt documents that directly relate to the settlement of conflicts or to define the relevant provisions in the adopted documents. Amidst the current geopolitical realities, the effectiveness of organisations’ participation in the settlement processes has significantly decreased. In this regard, there have been calls for reform in many international organisations.