Since the 1970s, institutions are in a renaissance within the social sciences and neoliberal institutionalism, founded and championed by political scientists as Robert Keohane, Joseph Nye, Robert Axelrod, Ronald Coase, Volker Rittberger and others.The relevance of international institutions for social behavior matters in the sense of international relations theories. Within the schools of thought in political sciences, neoliberal institutionalism is in a conflict with especially neorealist theory.
In this work, the concept of neoliberal institutionalism will get discussed in the sense of the establishment of international organizations. The work shall show, that neoliberal institutionalism may explain this establishment in the way of the actors motives (why are international organizations establishing?), but has some problems to explain, how (in which way concrete it comes to international organizations?). The rational preferences of the actors explain the motivation to establish international organizations, not the interaction to establish them.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Neoliberal Institutionalism and the question of institutionalization
3. Problems of the theory & solution with recourse to constructivism
4. The establishment of the ICC through the lense of neoliberal institutionalism
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Thematic Focus
This essay explores the explanatory power and limitations of neoliberal institutionalism regarding the formation of international organizations. By analyzing the rationalist foundations of the theory and contrasting them with the constructivist perspective, the work examines whether neoliberal institutionalism can adequately account for the establishment of international bodies in situations defined by distrust and conflicting interests.
- The theoretical underpinnings of Neoliberal Institutionalism in international relations.
- Rational choice and the role of institutions in reducing transaction costs.
- Limitations of rationalist theories in explaining cooperative breakthroughs.
- The interplay between discourse, normative framing, and the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Excerpt from the Book
The establishment of the ICC through the lense of neoliberal institutionalism
The example of the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is quite interesting, because there was a lot of resistance against this international organization since the election of George W. Bush from the side of the US-administration. “Moreover, the institutional design of the ICC entails enormous sovereignty costs for states but only uncertain benefits” (Deitelhoff 2009: Abstract).
Normally, one would have to argue, that there is no way to bring the most powerful actors in international relations - many states, which do fear the possible impact of such an organization to their “hard politics” - to accept something, which is against their sovereignty. But the ICC was adopted and ratified by most of the states and neoliberal institutionalism fails to explain why, it fails to explain how this organization could get established against the resistance by USA and others.
This can be well explained by constructivist theories, by which discursive persuasion and normative accordance through (formal) equal treatment of all participants lead to the establishment of this organization, starting 1998 by the Rome Statute (the ICC began functioning in 2002):
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the key proponents of neoliberal institutionalism and situates the theory within the context of international relations, specifically highlighting its conflict with neorealism.
Neoliberal Institutionalism and the question of institutionalization: This section defines the premises of the theory, focusing on rationalist actors, the importance of institutions in managing anarchy, and the role of the "shadow of the future" in promoting cooperation.
Problems of the theory & solution with recourse to constructivism: This chapter identifies the logical gaps in rationalist explanations for cooperation and introduces constructivist theory as a necessary supplement to understand how cooperation occurs under distrust.
The establishment of the ICC through the lense of neoliberal institutionalism: This section applies the theoretical framework to the specific case of the ICC, demonstrating why rationalist models struggle to explain the court's adoption despite significant state resistance.
Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that while neoliberal institutionalism effectively explains the motivation for cooperation, it is limited in explaining the actual establishment of organizations, necessitating a constructivist perspective.
Keywords
Neoliberal Institutionalism, International Organizations, Anarchy, Rational Choice, Cooperation, Transaction Costs, ICC, Constructivism, Discursive Persuasion, Sovereignty, Rome Statute, Prisoner-dilemma, Normative Frames, State Behavior, Global Governance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this essay?
The essay examines the capacity of neoliberal institutionalism to explain the creation of international organizations, evaluating its reliance on rationalist assumptions versus the need for social and normative explanations.
Which theoretical schools of thought are compared?
The work primarily contrasts neoliberal institutionalism, rooted in rational choice theory, with constructivist approaches that emphasize the role of discourse and normative change.
What is the primary research objective?
The objective is to determine if neoliberal institutionalism can explain the establishment of international organizations, particularly when core rationalist conditions—such as common interests and trust—are absent.
Which scientific method is utilized in this study?
The research uses a theoretical analysis combined with a qualitative case study of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to test the explanatory limits of neoliberal institutionalist theory.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the core tenets of neoliberal institutionalism, the critique of its rationalist "logical gaps," the introduction of constructivist theory, and an application of these frameworks to the ICC’s formation.
How would you describe the key characteristics of this work?
It is a critical theoretical inquiry that challenges the adequacy of utilitarian state-interest models in explaining complex international cooperation, favoring a constructivist lens for normative developments.
Why does the author argue that neoliberal institutionalism fails to explain the ICC case?
The author argues that because the ICC was formed despite significant resistance from powerful actors and lack of clear mutual "profit" for many, the rationalist "shadow of the future" model is insufficient to account for its successful establishment.
How does the concept of "discourse" solve the theoretical limitations mentioned?
The text suggests that discursive persuasion and the reframing of justice as a prerequisite for global security helped overcome rationalist dilemmas, allowing states to change their preferences and align with normative principles.
- Quote paper
- Maximilian Hohenstedt (Author), 2017, The usefulness of Neoliberal Institutionalism. Establishment of international organizations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/385718
