1. Yearbook of International Organizations. Brussels, Union of International Associations, 1986, 23rd edition.

2. Michael Wallace and J. David Singer. "Inter-governmental organization in the global system, 1815-1964; a quantitative description". International Organization, 24, 2, Spring 1970, p.239-287.
3. UN/ECOSOC Resolution 1296 (XLIV), June 1968.

4. Kjell Skjelsback. "The growth of international non-governmental organization in the twentieth century". International Organization, 25, 3, Summer 1971, p.420-442.

This section in many ways raises more questions than it answers. Hopefully it clarifies the variety of bodies which at some stage can be usefully brought within a coherent classification scheme. This is an interesting challenge. The confusion over the nature and quantity of international/transnational organization is at the moment only partially clarified by simplistic definitions of the entities which are thus selected for study.

5.1 Borderline categories

As was noted in a cautionary remark concerning the specific examples cited in the previous sections, the organizations are included there to show that a body could be "international" according to some characteristics. Some of the bodies, however, would tend not to be identified as presenting a sufficient degree of "internationality" at this time - for reasons other than those for which they were cited as examples.

4.6.1 Commemorative organizations: Some international bodies are specifically conceived to commemorate or celebrate past or future events.

• International Auschwitz Committee
• World Association for Celebrating Year 2000

Others give recognition to a major worker or leader in their special field when an organization is formed to develop that or related work.

A number of bodies which may be called "international" can be usefully characterized by peculiarities in their geographic orientation or distribution of membership. These may be grouped as follows:

4.5.1 Geographically focused: This group is distinguished by mention of a specific, and generally small, geographic feature in the name of the organization.

4.5.1.1 Region: In this case a region is named, generally an area where three frontiers meet.

It is interesting to split off from the complete range of international organizations those bodies which can usefully be grouped in terms of some general preoccupation (as contrasted with a more conventional classification by subject).

4.4.1 Defence and national security: This is a well-defined group of bodies:

Many international organizations may be usefully characterized by the emphasis they give to a particular mode of action. The emphasis may even be reflected in the actual name of the organization, thus distinguishing it from the majority of organizations (possibly to the point of raising the questions as to whether it really should be considered as an organization).

A number of international bodies may be usefully characterized by peculiarities in their structure. These may be grouped as follows. (The sub-headings indicate broad classes of structural peculiarity).

4.2.1 Hybrid character: This group is distinguished by the manner in which conventional international organization categories (IGO, INGO, multinational) are blurred in some way. Although not uncommon, little attention has been given to them.

4.1 Organization terminology

Before entering (in the next section) into a detailed discussion of the international organizations in all their variety, it is appropriate to review the types into which such organizations are allocated in this Yearbook of International Organizations. These types have been defined in such a way as to provide an empirical means of ordering many kinds of organizations. They have proved to be a convenient working tool. Reference is made to these types in the subsequent discussion.