Institutions

Question 1

What are institutions?

Answer 1

Sets of rules set by and shared by the relevant community that structure interactions in specific ways

Question 2

Why do states form institutions?

Answer 2

1. Creating standards of behavior
2. Verifying compliance
3. Reducing costs of joint decision-making
4. Resolving disputes

Question 3

What are some strengths of institutions?

Answer 3

• makes cooperation easier and cheaper
• helps states pursue actions that are good for everyone (tries to get us out of the prisoner’s dilemma)

Question 4

What are some drawbacks of institutions?

Answer 4

• It is not possible to enforce cooperation due to anarchy
• They are often biased (rules are made by someone, often the most powerful)

Question 5

What is an example of an institution?

Answer 5

The NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons)