IOs, liberalism, and neoliberal institutionalism

Question 1

According to ABBOTT, KEN AND DUNCAN SNIDAL 1998.
* Why do states use IOs as vehicles of cooperation?
* Why do they act through formal institutions (and not
through informal arrangements)?

Answer 1

+ Centralization: concrete and stable organizational structure and a supportive administrative apparatus = gains in efficiency
+ Independence: ability to act with a degree of autonomy within defined spheres = gains in efficiency + legitimacy

Question 2

According to ABBOTT, KEN, AND DUNCAN SNIDAL (1998), how does centralization help support State interactions?

Answer 2

• Stable negotiation forum (MFN: In effect, a country that has been accorded MFN status may not be treated less advantageously than
  any other country with MFN status by the promising country)
• Fast response (UNSC)
• Neutral, depoliticized forum (IAEA)
• Constitutionalization (IAEA board of governors, more influence for powerful states but also protection for weak states)
• Secretariat or administrative apparatus (supportive functions (organizations of summits, background research, reports, statistics, OECD)

Question 3

How does centralization, according to ABBOTT, KEN, AND DUNCAN SNIDAL 1998, Manage substantive operations?

Answer 3

• Operational activities
• Pooling of activities, assets, or risks (IFIs, WHO smallpox)
• Joint production (NATO)
• Norm elaboration and coordination (to address the problem of missing terms, non-binding recommendation can become de facto coordination equilibria, EU directives regulations etc.)

Question 4

According to ABBOTT, KEN, AND DUNCAN SNIDAL (1998), IO as an independent and neutral actor has many valuable functions. What are those?

Answer 4

enhances the efficiency and legitimacy of actions and decisions
* Support for state interactions
* Initiating policies, set the agenda
* Developments of new ideas (IOs as epistemic
communities)
* Implementation and monitoring of policies
* Managing substantive operations
* Laundering (IFIs, Security Council, IAEA technical
assistance preferred over national support)
* Neutrality
* Neutral information provider (PKOs)
* Trustee
* Arbiter (dispute settlement, good offices etc.)
* Allocator

Question 5

According to ABBOTT, KEN, AND DUNCAN SNIDAL (1998), can be seen as COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE (CONSTRUCTIVISM), how?

Answer 5

• Embodiment of community of states
• Inclusive institutions
• Representative institutions
• Development and expression of community norms (e.g.,
  UNGA, but also international courts))
• Education of the community