Domestic Politics and the Influence of International Institutions A Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Governments ostensibly take part in international institutions to supply global public goods. However, their true motives for participating typically stem from domestic political issues. The most influential members frequently pursue domestically driven foreign policy objectives by using their political clout over international institutions. International organizations are another tool used by governments to actively influence domestic politics. Therefore, the study of international institutions has much to offer and may teach the field of comparative politics, even if the topic of international cooperation has traditionally been the domain of the study of international relations. This paper is structured around the connected concepts of relinquishing sovereignty and utilizing international institutions for domestic agendas, with a focus on significant intergovernmental organizations. The first section of the paper discusses the need to provide incentives for nations to join international institutions. More benefits from membership are necessary for nations with better outside choices, precisely because participation needs to be incentive-compatible. Keep in mind that incentive compatibility encompasses both internal and international ties. The household aspect of the narrative could result in more potential as well as limitations. The paper next shifts to a particular motivation for international collaboration, namely domestically motivated policy aims, keeping these lessons in mind. The paper first addresses the use of International Organizations (IOs) by powerful nations to further their domestic foreign policy objectives. The paper then discusses how governments might use international institutions to further domestic policies. The cases in which governments deploy IOs as trustworthy pledges are the main subject of this paper. A discussion of impending developments concludes the paper. Emerging market nations are currently competing to create new international institutions and to hold more influential positions within the ones that already exist. As they do so, internal political limits and aspirations in both established and developing nations are colliding in novel ways. The paper suggests that there is increasing potential for collaboration between International Relations scholars and Comparative in light of these dynamics.