Theories of International Regimes

by Andreas Hasenclever , Peter Mayer , Volker Rittberger

• ISBN13: 9780521591454
• ISBN10: 0521591457
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-10-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

International regimes have been a major focus of research in international relations for over a decade. Three schools of thought have shaped the discussion: realism, which treats power relations as its key variable; neoliberalism, which bases its analysis on constellations of interests; and cognitivism, which emphasizes knowledge dynamics, communication, and identities. Each school articulates distinct views on the origins, robustness, and consequences of international regimes. This book examines each of these contributions to the debate, taking stock of, and seeking to advance, one of the most dynamic research agendas in contemporary international relations. While the differences between realist, neoliberal and cognitivist arguments about regimes are acknowledged and explored, the authors argue that there is substantial scope for progress toward an inter-paradigmatic synthesis.

Table of Contents

List of figures and tables	viii	(1)
Acknowledgments	ix
1 Introduction: three perspectives on international regimes	1	(7)
2 Conceptual issues: defining international regimes	8	(15)
3 Interest-based theories: political market failure, situation and problem structures, and institutional bargaining	23	(60)
4 Power-based theories: hegemony, distributional conflict, and relative gains	83	(53)
5 Knowledge-based theories: ideas, arguments, and social identities	136	(75)
6 Conclusion: prospects for synthesis	211	(14)
References	225	(17)
Index	242