The United States stands as a superpower and a beacon of freedom in the world community.  American culture has spread to every corner of the world.  While our economic and military might gives us significant influence, there are also limits.  Whether pursuing "mutual trust" with China, trying to help our neighbor to the South, Mexico, countering terrorism, winding down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or addressing the revolutions that started in the Middle East in the first part of 2011, the United States must weigh carefully our interactions and involvement with other nations.


FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The White House-Foreign Policy


U.S. Department of State

USAID

Peace Corps

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs 


CIA: The World Factbook



GLOBAL MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
United Nations

"The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 191 countries."
-Strengthening the UN
-ReformtheUN.org (World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy)
-Millennium Development Goals
-Group of 77

The World Bank

"Working for a World Free of Poverty...IBRD and IDA provide low-interest loans, interest-free credit and grants to developing countries for education, health, infrastructure, communications and many other purposes."

International Monetary Fund

"...international organization of 184 member countries...established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment."

World Trade Organization

"deals with the rules of trade between nations at a global or near-global level."

UNESCO

'to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

INTERPOL

"the world’s largest international police organization, with 188 member countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime."

G8 via G8 Information Centre (University of Toronto)

"an informal group of advanced economies, which meets once a year at a Summit of Heads of State and Government. It has essentially a role of guidance and political impetus."
via "an unofficial forum of the heads of the leading industrialized democracies" 

G20

"established in 1999 to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy." 


NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Amnesty International

"... a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights." 

Human Rights Watch

"...the largest human rights organization based in the United States."

Freedom House

"...an independent non-governmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world."

also interesting: The Economist Intelligence Unit publishes a Democracy Index.  Its 2010 report found "full democracies" in 26 countries. 53 "flawed democracies," 33 "hybrid regimes" and 55 "authoritarian."

The National Endowment for Democracy

"...a private, nonprofit organization created in 1983 to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts."

Transparency International

"the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption." 

Sister Cities International

"a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities. We strive to build global cooperation at the municipal level, promote cultural understanding and stimulate economic development."

U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

"a broad-based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic and community leaders in all 50 states who support a smart power approach of elevating diplomacy and development alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world."

World Federalist Movement

"promoting international democracy, justice and the rule of law. Our primary focus is on strengthening the structures and capacities of international organizations to work effectively in these areas, while promoting the development of norms, policies and practices that allow meaningful global action on specific issues."

Global Policy Forum

"an independent policy watchdog that monitors the work of the United Nations and scrutinizes global policymaking. GPF works particularly on the UN Security Council, the food and hunger crisis, and the global economy. We promote accountability and citizen participation in decisions on peace and security, social justice and international law.

World Association of Nongovernmental Organizations


Fortune-Global 500
UNCTAD-Largest Transnational Corporations


Kidon Media-Link



THINK TANKS 

Foreign Policy Association

"a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. Founded in 1918, the Foreign Policy Association serves as a catalyst for developing awareness, understanding of, and providing informed opinions on global issues."

Council on Foreign Relations

"...an independent, national membership organization, nonpartisan research center, and publisher. Founded in 1921, CFR is dedicated to producing and disseminating ideas so that individuals and corporate members, as well as policymakers, journalists, students, and interested citizens, can better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other governments."

Center for Strategic & International Studies

"provides strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers committed to advancing global security and prosperity. Founded in 1962 by David M. Abshire and Admiral Arleigh Burke, CSIS is a bipartisan, non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C with more than 220 employees."

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

"the world's oldest international affairs think tank.  The Endowment, founded in 1910, is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States."

Migration Policy Insitute

"an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in Washington, DC dedicated to analysis of the movement of people worldwide."

American Enterprise Institute-Foreign Policy and Defense Studies
Brookings Institution-World
Cato Institute-Foreign Policy and National Security

Center for American Progress-Regions & Countries

Heritage Foundation-Issues
Rand Corporation-International Affairs



REGIONAL AND MORE MULTINATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
African Union

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
The Commonwealth

European Union

Gulf Cooperation Council

League of Arab States
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Organization of American States




PARTY PLATFORMS
Democrats, Republicans and Major Third Parties