International Organizations As Self-Directed Actors

This exciting new text illustrates and advances the argument that International Organizations (IOs) need to be taken seriously as actors in world affairs.
Bringing together an international line-up of distinguished contributors, the text examines recent theories that suggest how IOs are able to set their own policies and implement them in meaningful ways. The chapters review these theoretical positions and then present a series of case studies which focus on how these theories play out when IOs are charged with solving global problems: including development, peacekeeping and environmental policy coordination.
Examining and analysing both positive and negative examples of this independence, this text is a valuable resource on the topic of the internal workings of IOs, providing the richest and most focused textbook so far dealing with the capacity of IOs for independent action in international politics. It is essential reading for all students of international organizations.

Joel E. Oestreich is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Drexel University, specializing in international relations.

Introduction Joel E. Oestreich Part 1: The United Nations Secretariat 1. The UN Secretary-General and Self-Directed Leadership: Development of the Democracy Agenda Kirsten Haack and Kent Kille 2. The Roots of UN Post-Conflict Peacebuilding: A Case Study of Autonomous Agency Margaret P. Karns Part 2: Intergovernmental Organizations 3. The Anatomy of Autonomy: The Case of the World Bank Susan Park and Catherine Weaver 4. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: Autonomy and Mandate Change Alexander Betts 5. Changing Actors and Actions in the Global Fight Against Aids Christer Jonsson 6. Disaggregating Delegation: Multiplying Agents in the International Maritime Safety Regime Kendall W. Stiles 7. Not Just States or the Secretary-General but also Staff: The Emergence of Unops as a New UN Organization Dennis Dijkzeul Part 3:Expanding the Argument 8. ASEAN as an Informal Organization: Does it Exist and Does it have Agency? The Emergence of the Asean Secretariat Bob Reinalda 9. New Types of Organizations and Global Governance in the Twenty-First Century: The Case of Icann James P. Muldoon, Jr. 10. Conclusion Joel E. Oestreich