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Managing the Evolution of Multilateralism

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  • Downs, George W.
  • Rocke, David M.
  • Barsoom, Peter N.

Abstract

One of the most prominent characteristics of multilateral organizations is that they do not “spring forth full blown†; they grow. Although this is well known, relatively few attempts have been made to explain it at a general level or to explore its implications. In this paper we show why states that desire to create a multilateral organization or agreement might be attracted to a strategy that involves admitting potential members sequentially based on their preferences. Such a “sequential construction†strategy can generate an unusual kind of structure-induced equilibrium that dramatically mitigates the breadth-depth trade-off and increases the level of cooperation a multilateral is able to attain. We evaluate these claims with data drawn from the history of the European Union and twenty environmental multilaterals.

Suggested Citation

  • Downs, George W. & Rocke, David M. & Barsoom, Peter N., 1998. "Managing the Evolution of Multilateralism," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(2), pages 397-419, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:intorg:v:52:y:1998:i:02:p:397-419_44
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    Cited by:

    1. Liesbet Hooghe & Gary Marks, 2015. "Delegation and pooling in international organizations," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 305-328, September.
    2. Hamanaka, Shintaro, 2022. "The World of overlapping regions," IDE Discussion Papers 835, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    3. Jon Pevehouse & Timothy Nordstrom & Kevin Warnke, 2004. "The Correlates of War 2 International Governmental Organizations Data Version 2.0," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 21(2), pages 101-119, April.
    4. Johannes Urpelainen, 2011. "Domestic reform as a rationale for gradualism in international cooperation," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 23(3), pages 400-427, July.
    5. Hamanaka, Shintaro, 2012. "Evolutionary paths toward a region-wide economic agreement in Asia," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 383-394.
    6. Alexander Ovodenko, 2016. "Regional Water Cooperation," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 60(6), pages 1071-1098, September.
    7. Christina L. Davis & Tyler Pratt, 2021. "The forces of attraction: How security interests shape membership in economic institutions," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 903-929, October.
    8. Daniel Blake & Autumn Payton, 2015. "Balancing design objectives: Analyzing new data on voting rules in intergovernmental organizations," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 10(3), pages 377-402, September.
    9. Mwita Chacha & Adil Nussipov, 2022. "The Breadth–Depth Trade‐Off and Varieties of Preferential Trade Agreements," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 821-844, May.
    10. Phillip M. Hannam & Vítor V. Vasconcelos & Simon A. Levin & Jorge M. Pacheco, 2017. "Incomplete cooperation and co-benefits: deepening climate cooperation with a proliferation of small agreements," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 65-79, September.
    11. Steven J. Brams & Michael A. Jones & D. Marc Kilgour, 2002. "Single-Peakedness and Disconnected Coalitions," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 14(3), pages 359-383, July.
    12. Christodoulos Kaoutzanis & Paul Poast & Johannes Urpelainen, 2016. "Not letting ‘bad apples’ spoil the bunch: Democratization and strict international organization accession rules," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 11(4), pages 399-418, December.
    13. Richard Stewart & Michael Oppenheimer & Bryce Rudyk, 2013. "A new strategy for global climate protection," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 120(1), pages 1-12, September.
    14. Karim Knio, 2022. "Rethinking the Multilateral Order Between Liberal Internationalism and Neoliberalism/Neoliberalisation Processes," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(2), pages 6-14.
    15. Alexander Thompson, 2020. "Emerging Powers and Differentiation in Global Climate Institutions," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 11(S3), pages 61-72, October.
    16. Flachsland, Christian & Marschinski, Robert & Edenhofer, Ottmar, 2009. "Global trading versus linking: Architectures for international emissions trading," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 1637-1647, May.
    17. Stefano Pagliari & Meredith Wilf, 2021. "Regulatory novelty after financial crises: Evidence from international banking and securities standards, 1975–2016," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(3), pages 933-951, July.
    18. Dupont, Cédric, 2011. "What role for regional economic organizations in a fragmented trade world? The case of ASEAN," Papers 242, World Trade Institute.
    19. Nikitas Konstantinidis, 2008. "Gradualism and uncertainty in international union formation: The European Community’s first enlargement," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 399-433, December.
    20. Johannes Urpelainen & Thijs Van de Graaf, 2015. "The International Renewable Energy Agency: a success story in institutional innovation?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 159-177, May.
    21. Hamanaka, Shintaro, 2018. "Theorizing regional group formation : anatomy of regional institutions from a membership perspective," IDE Discussion Papers 683, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization(JETRO).
    22. Brandon J Kinne, 2013. "IGO membership, network convergence, and credible signaling in militarized disputes," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 50(6), pages 659-676, November.
    23. Thomas Gehring & Sebastian Oberthür & Marc Mühleck, 2013. "European Union Actorness in International Institutions: Why the EU is Recognized as an Actor in Some International Institutions, but Not in Others," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(5), pages 849-865, September.
    24. Thomas Hale, 2020. "Catalytic Cooperation," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 20(4), pages 73-98, Autumn.

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