International Regimes Collaboration or Coordination? James Napier

Introduction Why Study Regimes? It’s taken for granted that regimes exist and are useful and influential in world politics. But what theorists want to understand is how they are created and how and they change. Who benefits from regimes?

Find the terrorist(s)?

Norms and Expectations Defining Elements Norms and Expectations “…implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules and decision-making procedures around which actors' expectations converge in a given area of international relations."

Defining Elements Broad category for regimes Implicit Regimes Explicit Regimes Broad category for regimes Based on ideological principles and norms Narrow category for regimes Based of formalized agreements and negotiations

Defining Elements Principles -> Ideological (implicit) Norms -> Behavioural Rules /Decision Making Procedures -> Formalized (explicit)

International Organizations? Is regime theory just a complicated way of explaining international organizations ? No... International organizations are formal structures that develop out of regimes.

International Organizations? Post WWII American Liberalism (implicit) (organizations) (explicit)

International Organizations? International Regimes -> International Organizations Institutions -> Organizations Ex: Education/schools Law/courts

Hegemony Theory

Hegemonic Regime Theory Both sides agree the postwar American hegemony created many of the regimes we still see today. -> Which country’s currency became the world reserve currency? Liberals - once states realize that collaborating is to their benefit they will maintain the regimes in the absence of a hegemon Realists – hegemons use their power to sustain regimes that promote their long term interests

Explaining Regimes Hegemonic creation Liberalism Realism Hegemonic creation Microeconomics/gametheory approach Allows states to collaborate towards maximum outcomes Hegemonic creation Pareto Frontier/power politics States are coordinating towards their best interests

Liberalism Prisoner’s Dilemma The shadow of the future Reciprocity Benign view of the hegemon

Realism Regimes are an arena of political coordination Developing/developed world have incompatible goals States use/work within regimes to maintain power (Pareto frontier/relative gains)

Social Constructivism Took a sociological rather than economic approach Political authority rests on legitimate social purpose No one minds England having Nuclear weapons, but North Korea?

Questions/Comments? Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Accord are two examples of failed regimes. Why do you think it’s so hard for environmental regimes to be put in place? Do you think regimes allow countries to achieve maximum outcomes?