PS 420/520 International Organization Prof. Ronald B. Mitchell
Expected Learning Outcomes Understand how the political structure of international problems varies across the issues of security, trade, human rights, and environment. Recognize the ways in which the power and incentives that lead states to engage in behaviors that cause collective problems make some problems harder to resolve than others. Recognize the relationship between problem structure characteristics and the design of the international institutions that states create. Understand why certain design features will never be used to address certain types of problems. Know the difference between regulatory, procedural, programmatic, and generative regimes, when they are likely to be adopted, and the different core elements of any international institution. Be able to assess whether an international institution has influenced state behavior and identify the key factors that make it more or less likely that an international institution will succeed in doing so. Demonstrate critical thinking and communication skills, including the use of counterfactuals, through midterms and a final exam. Show the ability to using empirical evidence to assess theoretical claims about the design and effectiveness of international institutions.
Why do States Organize? See problems and want to solve them See opportunities and want to seize them Find themselves in anarchic context, with no government they can call on to do this for them so must create some form of governance, even if not government
Three major elements of International Organization The Structure of International Problems What types of problems do states face/how do they vary? What makes some harder to resolve than others? International Institutions and Other Responses How do states organize to mitigate those problems? How does design of institutions vary? Effects of International Institutions: Why do some institutions "work" while others fail? AND how do the answers to these questions differ by issue areas?
How International Governance Differs from Domestic Governance Anarchy makes governance surprising No constraints on behavior (no government) Atomistic actors (no altruism) Domestic vs. international governance Collective identity Establishing rules Expectation of compliance Enforcement
International OrganizationS vs. International Organization Established by national governments Bureaucratic entities Have physical locations, permanent staff, etc. Thousands in the world today. Examples? International Organization Efforts at governance Sometimes leads to formal international organizations But need not – sometimes involves treaties without organizations
Definition of Regimes / Institutions “Sets of implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules, and decision-making procedures around which actors' expectations converge in a given area of international relations” (Krasner, 1982, 186) “Pattern … of activity” or “particular human-constructed arrangement, formally or informally organized” (Keohane, 1988, 382}
Institutions, Regimes, Organization Will use terms interchangeably Effects Joiners necessarily better off than not joining But not necessarily better off than no institution And non-joiners may not be better off at all Key question is what type of organization Necessity not mother of invention in IO Non-state actors matter more and more
Reading for the course How to read the readings Readings due BEFORE class for which they are assigned Why I chose Young What you should get from: Shanks et al. Why do states join IOs Krasner’s 2 questions Impact of regimes on related behavior & outcomes Relationship of basic causal variables to regimes
General Walk through syllabus Problem Structure Institutional Design Institutional Effects and Effectiveness
Structure of course Problem structure Weeks 2, and 3 Institutional formation and design Weeks 4, 5, and 6 Institutional effects Weeks 7, 8, and 9 Iclickers Readings for next class Quiz next Thursday
Office Hours PLC-921 Tu/Th 11:30-1:00 Those who sign up at door given priority but walk-ins always welcome
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PS420 Pre-Test 20 minutes // 5 minutes per question *May* use progress from start-of-term Pre-Test to end-of-term Post-Test as part of grade Get out sheet of paper Put name on it
PS420/520 Pre-Test 20 minutes / 5 minutes each Problem Structure: What types of problems do countries face that require international cooperation? Describe at least two different kinds of problems that countries face. Institutional Design: Why is it hard for countries to cooperate internationally? What types of international institution do countries create to promote such cooperation? Describe at least two different kinds of institutions that countries create. If possible, identify how problems and solutions “go together.” Institutional Effects: How do we know an international institution has been effective? Identify 3 types of factors that make one institution “work” while another one fails. Issue Area Differences: Name at least three issue areas in which countries seek to cooperate internationally. Do the answers to the previous questions differ across these issue areas?