Contemporary world politics make it necessary for nations to
integrate into international unions in the interest of their own
national security and economy. In these international unions,
which are usually based upon geographic location, such factors
as natural resources, trading blocs, and even cultural values
play an important role. Many neighboring countries combine their
resources under the auspices of such organizations, create
defensive alliances, and cooperate on a wide array of issues.
The goal of such unions is to preserve peace, control the arms
race, resolve disputes through diplomacy, promote socioeconomic
development, and protect fundamental human rights and democracy.
At the present time, NATO, the OSCE, the EU, NAFTA, OPEC, ASEAN,
the G-8, the D-8, and APEC are the foremost international
political, military, and economic unions. These institutions are
subject to organizational reforms because of new members or a
widening of scope. All of these organizations, formed in the
aftermath of the Secon