What Are International Institutions?

Abstract

International institutions are a central focus of international relations scholarship as well as of policymaking efforts around the world. Despite their importance, our scholarly literature lacks a widely accepted definition of just what they are. Instead, scholars have employed a range of largely nonoverlapping conceptions, contributing to a fragmentation of the literature and hindering theoretical cumulation. This essay seeks to remedy this unsatisfactory state of affairs. It first reviews the principal ways in which international institutions have been conceptualized and identifies their shortcomings. It then develops a definition that promises to be inclusive of what are commonly regarded as the most important institutional forms without losing analytical coherence. A final section discusses some of the concrete benefits that result from employing the new definition, both in improving existing scholarship and by suggesting valuable new avenues of research.

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“…Some of these institutions, such as norms and beliefs, may not be obvious from the outset but are important in defining other institutions (Duffield 2007;Schmidt 2010). This is because norms and beliefs are ideologically internalized by an individual, and thus sometimes remain tacit to the individual.…”

“…Institutions are "the shared concepts used by humans in repetitive situations organized by rules, norms and strategies" (Ostrom 2007: p. 23). They structure how members interact, and as such determine what is right and what is wrong, directing the actor to think and act in a certain way (Duffield 2007;Khan 2013;Klein 1998). These are both formal (constitutions, laws, regulations, official procedures) and informal (norms, values, taboos, beliefs, and conventions) institutions that guide the process of interaction (Khan 2013).…”

“…Non-decision making is commonly organized through institutions that systematically exclude the issue from the agenda (Bonal 2012;Burnell 2002). Thus, the decisions or non-decisions of those in power may be unclear or even ambiguous, as these are the outcome of a mix of visible and invisible institutions that guide the decision making (Duffield 2007;Geels 2004;Mulé 1999). Institutions are "the shared concepts used by humans in repetitive situations organized by rules, norms and strategies" (Ostrom 2007: p. 23).…”

“…According to Ostrom (2007), 'institutions are the shared concepts used by humans in repetitive situations organized by rules, norms and strategies ' (p. 23). Institutions organize the structured interaction of members, and thus determine what is perceived as right and wrong, and accordingly influence an actor to think in a certain way (Duffield 2007;Khan 2013;Klein 1998). These institutions are both formal (constitutions, laws, regulations, official procedures) and informal (norms, values, taboos, beliefs, and conventions) (Duffield 2007;Geels 2004;Khan 2013;Mulé 1999;Strambach, 2010).…”

“…Institutions organize the structured interaction of members, and thus determine what is perceived as right and wrong, and accordingly influence an actor to think in a certain way (Duffield 2007;Khan 2013;Klein 1998). These institutions are both formal (constitutions, laws, regulations, official procedures) and informal (norms, values, taboos, beliefs, and conventions) (Duffield 2007;Geels 2004;Khan 2013;Mulé 1999;Strambach, 2010). It is important to note that these institutions are 'humanly devised constraints that shape human interaction' (North 1990: p. 3), but also provide opportunities for societal change.…”