Creating and Modifying Institutions: The Role of Bargaining, Linkages, and Nesting

Vinod K. Aggarwal

Internationalization, Economic Dependence, and National Security, 2000

The post-Cold War era is likely to increase the difficulty of crafting and reconciling international institutions. Similar to the 1940s and 1970s era of changing relationships among major powers, current power shifts in the international system have created stresses for a variety of institutions. In particular, changing power relationship in the international security system, marked by the demise of the Soviet Union and the rise of China, has challenged the post-WW II consensus among Western powers. The future role of NATO and its relationship to the United Nations and European institutions has become a subject of controversy. Within the Asia-Pacific area, the role of the U.S. and the possible need for security institutions has become a matter of debate. In the economic realm, long delays in the negotiation of the Uruguay Round and the creation of regional accords in trade such as NAFTA and APEC have fostered concerns about undermining the World Trade Organization. In the heavily institutionalized European arena, efforts to move toward monetary union have created dissension in the European Union. In short, the problem of institutional reconciliation, particularly through the nesting of institutions, is likely to become an increasingly important issue in international bargaining.

View More

Interested in donating to BASC?

Donate Now