The January study
trip to Brussels and the Hague was a large reason why I decided to
attend Oxford Brookes University. Since I recently graduated with a
Bachelors in Political Science and European Union Area Studies, I was
very excited by the thought of going to some of the world’s most
important and influential institutions when it comes to International
Relations. When our lecturer, Lucy Ford, announced that this year we
would be the first to visit NATO in Brussels, I became even more
enthusiastic about the trip.
During the four days in
Brussels and the Hague, we visited the International Criminal Court, the
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the DG for
Migration within the European Commission, the European Parliament, and
NATO. All of these organizations focus on various aspects of
International Relations, such as international law, politics, military,
migration, and economics/trade. Each meeting brought forward various
experts within their respective fields, new and fascinating talks, and a
sense of awe.
Although these organizations all focus
on different and essential aspects of International Relations, they all
discussed their reliance on the trust and cooperation between the member
states and how those virtues are essential to conducting their duties.
The representatives of the OPCW and NATO specifically stated that the
trust between their organizations and the 193 or 29 members,
respectively, is vital. The OPCW trusts that each member has destroyed
or is in the process of destroying any chemical weapons within their
possession, whereas, NATO trusts that each member state will provide any
resources necessary when the time comes, especially if Article V is
enacted.
The OPCW and NATO are not the only
organizations that rely on trust to operate. The ICC relies on the
cooperation of its member states, and sometimes others, to help conduct
investigations against defendants, arrest those who violate
international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and
even help staff the organization itself. It relies on its member states
to be able to enact the ICC’s mandate in maintaining international
order, International Human Rights Law, and International Humanitarian
Law. Without trust and cooperation, the ICC would be ineffective and
unable to follow its mandate.
The European Commission
and the European Parliament also depend on trust to conduct their
individual duties. The DG on Migration within and into the EU is
dependent on every member and some non-members to help take in as many
refugees as they can and help integrate them until it is safe to return
to their home nation(s). The level of trust and cooperation needed for
these highly sensitive cases is very high because it has to follow
through successfully without harming or putting the refugees or asylum
seekers in danger. The European Parliament also needs high levels of
trust and cooperation to be able to create and agree on policies that
have the best interests of every state in mind. The MEPs are not just
fighting for the opinions and interests of their constituents in their
hometowns but also their individual nations and the rest of the EU. The
decisions of the MEPs allows the EU to grow and change for the better.
The field of International Relations is extremely dependent on allies
and positive relationships between nations. It is how policies are
created, laws are upheld, economies boom, and peace endures. Without
trust and cooperation organizations like the International Criminal
Court, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, NATO,
the European Commission, and the European Parliament, will be unable to
operate under their given mandates and International Relations may not
be feasible. I loved meeting with every representative who took time out
of their busy schedules to educate us about their specific
organization, their respective roles within the organizations, and what
they have learned during their tenure.
It taught me that it is crucial to find ways to cooperate with various
states in a range of issues from migration to trade and from law to
military means. The trust and cooperation these organizations experience
is what allows them to continue to ensure peace, stability, and
economic and/or political success on a global level. It was amazing to
learn about it firsthand, and it has fostered my wish to work within the
discipline of International Relations.
