International Progress Organization

The International Progress Organization (IPO) is an Austria-based international non-governmental organization and think tank concerned with world affairs, international law and the political, cultural and economic structures of the international system. Founded in Innsbruck in 1972 by students from Austria, Egypt and India, the organization emerged from concerns about North-South relations, development partnership and the need for a more equitable framework for international cooperation. It subsequently developed a broad program linking peaceful coexistence, dialogue among civilizations, human rights, international rule of law and reform of global institutions. The organization is headquartered in Vienna and has members in more than 70 countries across all continents. It holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and is associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information. Its work is conducted primarily through conferences, expert meetings, lectures, monitoring missions, policy initiatives and publications rather than through commercial products. The IPO has convened or supported discussions involving the United Nations, UNESCO, universities, civil-society networks and specialists in international law and political philosophy. A recurring theme in the IPO's work is the democratization of international decision-making. Since the mid-1980s, it has advocated changes to the United Nations system, especially the composition and powers of the Security Council. It has also addressed the international legal status of terrorism, the effects of economic sanctions, collective security, the relationship between cultural identity and international politics, and the implications of globalization. Its activities on civilizational dialogue began in the 1970s, before the phrase became prominent in international policy debates, and included meetings in Europe and the Muslim world. The IPO became particularly visible in the nuclear-disarmament debate through its 1987 Lawyers' Appeal Against Nuclear War, organized in cooperation with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Seán MacBride. The appeal contributed to a worldwide civil-society effort supporting a United Nations General Assembly request for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of nuclear weapons. The organization has also undertaken monitoring work related to human rights and the rule of law. In 2000, two IPO officials were nominated by the United Nations Secretary-General as international observers at the Lockerbie trial held in the Netherlands. The organization's principal publication series is Studies in International Relations, issued since 1978, alongside monographs and conference proceedings on international-relations theory and global affairs. Hans Köchler, an Austrian philosopher and international-law scholar associated with the University of Innsbruck, has served as its president. The IPO remains a relatively specialized institution whose influence is expressed through research, expert networks, international conferences and advocacy concerning the legal and institutional order of global governance.

The International Progress Organization was established in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1972 by students from Austria, Egypt and India. Its founding context was the debate over unequal North-South relations, development and the structure of international cooperation. The founders sought an organization that could examine global political problems through a combination of philosophical inquiry, international law and practical dialogue across cultural and regional boundaries. Early supporters reportedly included Austrian President Rudolf Kirchschläger, Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal and Indian President Gyani Zail Singh. From 1974 onward, the IPO organized lectures and conferences on the cultural dimension of international affairs. Early meetings in Amman, Innsbruck, Vienna, Rome and Nicosia explored how national cultures, religion and civilizational identities affected international relations. These activities anticipated later international-policy discussions about dialogue among civilizations. The organization worked with academic institutions and bodies such as UNESCO, while also building contacts in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and other regions. The IPO broadened its agenda during the late 1970s and 1980s. It examined the philosophical and sociocultural consequences of the proposed New International Economic Order, legal aspects of the Palestine question and Jerusalem, non-alignment, international communications, democracy in international relations, representative government and terrorism. Since 1985, United Nations democratization, especially reform of the Security Council, has been a consistent subject of its work. In 1987, its cooperation with Seán MacBride produced the Lawyers' Appeal Against Nuclear War. The appeal became part of an international campaign seeking a General Assembly request for an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legality of nuclear arms. During the late Cold War and post-Cold War periods, the organization continued to convene meetings on prisoners of war, human rights, sanctions and the changing international order. Its 1991 conference on a more democratic United Nations was held at the United Nations Office at Vienna. Subsequent events examined the effect of sanctions on development, the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, international democracy, globalization and the relationship between civilizations and world politics. The IPO has also addressed terrorism from an international-law perspective since 1987, repeatedly proposing that the United Nations General Assembly develop a legal definition. Rather than treating terrorism solely as a security issue, its work has emphasized the need for common legal standards and institutional legitimacy. Since 1980, it has undertaken monitoring missions concerning human rights and the rule of law. Its role in the Lockerbie proceedings became a notable example: in 2000, two organization officials were nominated as international observers at the trial in the Netherlands. The organization publishes Studies in International Relations, a series begun in 1978, as well as monographs and conference proceedings. Its publication and event programs have connected international-relations theory with questions of law, development, cultural dialogue and United Nations governance. Hans Köchler, a philosopher and chairman of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Innsbruck, has served as president. The IPO is headquartered in Vienna, maintains members in more than 70 countries and operates as a specialized international NGO and think tank rather than a commercial enterprise.

• 2000

  Observers nominated for Lockerbie trial

  [1]International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org

  Two IPO officials were nominated by the United Nations Secretary-General as international observers at the Lockerbie trial in the Netherlands.

• 1991

  CAMDUN-2 held in Vienna

  [1]International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org

  The IPO convened the Second International Conference on a More Democratic United Nations at the United Nations Office at Vienna.

• 1987

  Lawyers' Appeal Against Nuclear War initiated

  [1]International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org

  Working with Seán MacBride, the IPO launched a legal campaign concerning the international legality of nuclear weapons.

• 1985

  United Nations democratization becomes a continuing priority

  [1]International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org

  The IPO began sustained advocacy for democratization of the United Nations, particularly reform of the Security Council.

• 1978

  Studies in International Relations begins

  [1]International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began publishing its Studies in International Relations series.

• 1974

  International conference program begins

  [1]International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org

  The IPO began organizing lectures and conferences on the cultural dimension of international affairs, including meetings in Amman and Innsbruck.

• 1972

  Organization founded in Innsbruck

  [1]International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org

  Students from Austria, Egypt and India established the organization to pursue a new approach to North-South relations and development partnership.

An independent, internationally networked civil-society think tank that combines political-philosophical analysis, international-law advocacy and dialogue among cultures and civilizations.

• Research publication series · 1978

  Studies in International Relations

  A publication series issued by the IPO since 1978. It presents research and analytical work on international-relations theory and related questions of world order, international law, political philosophy and global governance.

• Scholarly publications

  Conference proceedings and monographs

  The organization publishes monographs and proceedings documenting its conferences and expert meetings. Topics have included United Nations reform, terrorism, sanctions, civilizational dialogue, development, collective security and international democracy.

• Human-rights and rule-of-law activity · 1980

  International monitoring missions

  Since 1980, the IPO has undertaken monitoring missions relating to human rights and the rule of law. Its best-known documented assignment involved observers connected with the Lockerbie trial in the Netherlands.

• 1987Lawyers' Appeal Against Nuclear War

  International · United Nations member states

  The IPO and Seán MacBride organized a worldwide legal and civil-society appeal addressing whether nuclear weapons were compatible with international law. The campaign supported a request for an International Court of Justice advisory opinion.

  Outcome. The initiative contributed to broader civil-society pressure that led to a United Nations General Assembly request for an advisory opinion on the legality of nuclear weapons.

  Source
• 1985United Nations democratization initiative

  United Nations system · International civil society

  The IPO began sustained advocacy for a more democratic United Nations, with particular attention to the composition and authority of the Security Council.

  Outcome. The organization continued to develop proposals and conferences on United Nations reform over subsequent decades.

  Source

• 1987

  Adopted a sustained international-law focus on terrorismStrategy

  Background

  As international terrorism became a central subject of global debate, the IPO began addressing the issue through the framework of international law and United Nations legitimacy.

  Action taken

  The organization repeatedly proposed that the United Nations General Assembly establish a legal definition of terrorism.

  Aftermath

  The proposals and related discussions were documented through IPO conferences and publications.

  Source

• 1987

  Made nuclear-weapons legality a major advocacy issueStrategy

  Background

  The organization sought to connect nuclear disarmament with legal accountability rather than treating it only as a strategic or diplomatic question.

  Action taken

  It worked with Seán MacBride on the Lawyers' Appeal Against Nuclear War and supported international legal consideration of nuclear weapons.

  Aftermath

  The campaign formed part of the civil-society effort behind the International Court of Justice advisory-opinion process.

  Source

1. 1International Progress Organizationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Progress Organization official websitei-p-o.org