International Organizations

This area studies international organizations, regimes, and law — the institutions that structure cooperation and order among states.

Scope

It covers international institutions and regimes, the design and effects of organizations, international norms, and global rule-making.

Core questions

• Why and how do states build international institutions?
• How do institutions affect state behaviour?
• How do international norms emerge and spread?
• How effective is international governance?

Key concepts

• International regimes
• Institutional design
• Norm life cycle
• Compliance
• Global governance
• Legalization

Key theories

Institutions and cooperation

Keohane showed how international institutions reduce transaction costs and sustain cooperation.

Norm dynamics

Finnemore and Sikkink theorized how international norms emerge, cascade, and become internalized.

History

The study of international institutions developed regime theory (Keohane) and constructivist norm research (Finnemore & Sikkink), central to understanding global governance and law.

Debates

Do institutions matter?

Whether international institutions independently shape behaviour or merely reflect state power.

Key figures

• Robert Keohane
• Martha Finnemore
• Kathryn Sikkink

Seminal works

• keohane-1984
• finnemore-sikkink-1998

Frequently asked questions

What is the norm life cycle?

Finnemore and Sikkink's model of how international norms emerge, reach a tipping point and cascade, and become internalized.