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Shadow bureaucracies and the unilateral control of international secretariats: Insights from UN peacekeeping

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  • Hylke Dijkstra

Abstract

While formal decision power in most international organizations rests with the member states, the member states often delegate the preparation of decisions to international secretariats. To prepare decisions, secretariats gather and analyze information and subsequently provide the member states with an assessment on the alternative courses of action. In this process, secretariats may accumulate an information surplus over the member states. They can use this advantage to suggest options close to their own interests. This article argues that, to counter such agency problem, the member states unilaterally invest in shadow bureaucracies with the aim to reduce informational asymmetries. Shadow bureaucracies are, however, costly. Member states have to weigh agency costs against the costs of domestic administrative capability. Strong states with outlier preferences are most likely to invest in shadow bureaucracies. They have most to gain. The use of shadow bureaucracies not only reduces agency costs. It also allows states more control over policy in international organizations. This article uses insights from peacekeeping in the United Nations to illustrate the argument. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Hylke Dijkstra, 2015. "Shadow bureaucracies and the unilateral control of international secretariats: Insights from UN peacekeeping," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 23-41, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:revint:v:10:y:2015:i:1:p:23-41
    DOI: 10.1007/s11558-014-9203-7
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    1. Jessica Di Salvatore & Magnus Lundgren & Kseniya Oksamytna & Hannah M. Smidt, 2022. "Introducing the Peacekeeping Mandates (PEMA) Dataset," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 66(4-5), pages 924-951, May.
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    3. Klaus H. Goetz & Ronny Patz & Steffen Eckhard & Hylke Dijkstra, 2017. "Contested Implementation: The Unilateral Influence of Member States on Peacebuilding Policy in Kosovo," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 8(s5), pages 102-112, August.
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    8. Parizek, Michal & Stephen, Matthew D., 2021. "The Increasing Representativeness of International Organizations’ Secretariats: Evidence from the United Nations System, 1997–2015," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 65(1), pages 197-209.
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