Book VI International Organizations, 25 The G8, G20, WTO, OECD, IMF, and IBRD

25.1 The six nations originally involved became known as the G6, and later the G7 and G8 after the respective entries of Canada (1976) and Russia (1998). Though the G8 was originally conceived as a forum for discussing economic and trade matters, politics intruded, despite French resistance, as early as the late 1970s. The G8 relies for its influence on the economic strength of its members whose agreements carry no legal weight. The workings of the G8 are far removed from the ‘fireside chats’ of the early 1970s. Security has become a major concern after violent...