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9.6: Conclusion

  • Page ID
    210176
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    Note

    The author adapted and remixed the following section from one existing source:

    Abidin, S.Z. (2016). “International organizations.” In S. McGlinchey (Ed.), International Relations (pp. 71-77) [CC BY-NC 4.0]. E-International Relations.

    This chapter demonstrates the important role played by IOs in global politics. The proliferation of IOs, particularly in the 20th century when the concept of global governance came of age, means that nearly every aspect of life is regulated in some way at the global level.

    While realists view IOs with skepticism, reminding us that IOs have little independent power because powerful states shape them to serve their interests, liberals and constructivists view IOs with more optimism. Liberals see IOs as capable of reducing conflict by improving communication, building trust, creating processes for peaceful conflict resolution, reducing transaction costs to facilitate economic cooperation, and promoting interdependence. Constructivists view IOs as transformative, having the ability to change state behavior by spreading new norms and shaping new identities.

    This chapter shows that each theoretical perspective has some merit. IOs, in their vast array of forms, complement and sometimes positively challenge the role of the state. Despite their growing importance, the authority of IOs is still constrained by the interests of member states. This tension defines much of international politics today, where IOs push to promote global norms and solve transnational problems, while states continue to protect their sovereignty. Understanding this dynamic is key to understanding the present day structure of the international system. Going back to the airport example used in the opening of this chapter, we may not always be aware of how IOs affect even the most mundane things in our lives, but our lives would be materially different without them.


    This page titled 9.6: Conclusion is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jamilya Ukudeeva.

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