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International Bureaucracies as Constrained Entrepreneurs: The Budget Crisis of the OSCE

Author

Listed:
  • Cornelius Friesendorf
  • Ronny Patz

Abstract

International organizations (IOs) with permanent bureaucracies depend on funding and staff. But what do IO bureaucracies do when governments repeatedly fail to adopt a budget? Building on recent debates on IO resourcing and the role of IO bureaucracies in global policymaking, this article argues that international bureaucracies act entrepreneurially during budget crises but that conflict among states places constraints on entrepreneurialism. We explore constrained entrepreneurialism by studying the Organization for Security and Co‐operation in Europe (OSCE), focusing on the period after 2022, when the organization was operating without a regular budget due to the fallout from Russia's full‐scale invasion of Ukraine. Drawing on 80 interviews with OSCE officials and national diplomats, our findings show that while the OSCE bureaucracy engaged in entrepreneurial practices to sustain core operations and mobilize resources, deadlock between Russia and Ukraine's supporters, coupled with the OSCE's strict consensus rule, placed severe constraints on these efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Cornelius Friesendorf & Ronny Patz, 2025. "International Bureaucracies as Constrained Entrepreneurs: The Budget Crisis of the OSCE," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 16(5), pages 874-884, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:glopol:v:16:y:2025:i:5:p:874-884
    DOI: 10.1111/1758-5899.70056
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cornelius Friesendorf, 2022. "Supporting Democratic Policing in Central Asia: Limitations of the OSCE," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(8), pages 1433-1458, September.
    2. Luc Fransen & Brian Burgoon & Luc Fransen & Brian Burgoon, 2017. "Introduction to the Special Issue: Public and Private Labor Standards Policy in the Global Economy," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 8, pages 5-14, May.
    3. Marieke Louis & Lucile Maertens, 2021. "Why International Organizations Hate Politics : Depoliticizing the World," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03187782, HAL.
    4. repec:bla:glopol:v:8:y:2017:i:s5:p:5-14 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Marieke Louis & Lucile Maertens, 2021. "Why International Organizations Hate Politics : Depoliticizing the World," Post-Print hal-03187782, HAL.
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