Supranationalism
Supranationalism is a method of decision-making in
international organizations, where power is held by independent appointed officials or by representatives elected by the legislatures or people of the member states. Member-state governments still have power, but they must share this power with other actors. Furthermore, decisions are made by majority votes, hence it is possible for a member-state to be
forced by the other member-states to implement a decision against its will; however, unlike a federal state, member states fully retain their sovereignty and participate voluntarily, being subject to the supranational government only so far as they decide to remain members.
An alternative method of decision-making in international organisations is
intergovernmentalism.
Few international organizations today operate on the basis of supranationalism; the main exceptions are the
European Union and the
South American Community of Nations, often called
supranational unions, as they incorporate both intergovernmental and supranational elements.
Some degree of supranationalism may exist in some
International organizations. Supporters of a
Federal World Government wish it to be extended. The
United Nations holds a limited degree of supranational power insofar as governing important matters of global security through the binding decisions of the
Security Council.
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Federation*
Devolution
