member states and beyond ... future of IOs --- I had a feeling you would relate to this passage in the text. No need to apologise, I think you raise a very important point, Ying-Chu. Both East and West Germany joined later that decade. But as you mention the issue remains. On the one hand, there is a sense that not only states should participate in the process. The UN SDGs are a great example of wider participation. On the other hand, member states of international organisations (IOs) enjoy a privileged position. These member states in turn decide on new member states as well as the rules of the procedure. If we look at the UN, the UN Security Council for example, this means that reforms can be blocked. It also means that new memberships can be blocked. Now, I'm not telling you anything new, but I think it's worth raising this point with regard to the future of IOs.

Source author: Katharina Höne KatharinaH@diplomacy.edu