Theories of IO

Question 1

Name the 5 theories

Answer 1

1. neorealism
2. liberal
3. neoinstitutionalism
4. social constructivism
5. critical theories

Question 2

Neorealism:

and IO role

Answer 2

• anarchy
• states as unitary relevant actors
• power: materialistic & national interests
• IO role: IO are instruments for hegemonies
• states make cost-benefit analysis to decide if they should cooperate
• relative gains

Question 3

Neoinstitutionalism:

Answer 3

• anarchy
• states as unitary relevant actors but interdependent
• IOs enable cooperation depending on interest constellations & reduce transaction costs

Question 4

Liberalism:

Answer 4

• states as plural relevant actors
• cooperate through learning, shared values (idealism) and economic interdependence
• state preferences
• IOs have divers role

Question 5

Social constructivism:

Answer 5

• metatheory: logic of action
• logic of appropriatness
• IOs as actors that shape world politics
• IOs are outcome of of these ideas
• non-state actors
• norms
• IOs as autonomous authority

Question 6

Critical Theories:

Answer 6

• wide range
• theories expose and attempt to overcome
• IOs: global capitalism and representative of hegemonic state
• transnational elites

Question 7

Principal-Agent Theory

Answer 7

states (principal) ——treaty——> IOs (agent)
delegation
complex delegation, can lead to limited delegation
(neo institutionalism)

Question 8

Factors driving centralization of IO

Answer 8

centralisation: concentration of authority to one area of the IO
- uncertainty of member behaviour
- large number of member states
- extent to which non-compliance is gotten away with

Question 9

First IGO

Answer 9

CCNR from 1815

Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine

Question 10

League of Nations : date, member info, treaty name

Answer 10

1919
active US role in creation but not member
GB, France, Italy helped creation
Germany, Italy and Japan withdrawal
The Covenant of the LoN

Question 11

LoN structure

Answer 11

Assembly: plenary organ
Council: executive organ
Permanent Secretariat: bureaucracy
Committees and Agencies: specific issues

Question 12

LoN reasons for failure

Answer 12

• no enforcement: couldn’t solve Sino-Japanese conflict
• no collective defense
• loss of credibility: dominance of powerful state interest
• easy membership withdrawal
• economic nationalism