Contested multilateralism as credible signaling: how strategic inconsistency can induce cooperation among states

Faude, B. and Parizek, M. (2021) Contested multilateralism as credible signaling: how strategic inconsistency can induce cooperation among states. Review of International Organizations, 16(4), pp. 843-870. (doi: 10.1007/s11558-020-09398-7)

Abstract

This paper analyzes how patterns of international cooperation are affected if a group of states, led by a major power, pursues a strategy of “contested multilateralism” (CM). We conceptualize CM as a reaction to deadlock in institutional adjustment bargaining where CM lowers the gains actors can reap from cooperation in the short run. We demonstrate that, in the long run, CM nevertheless can have positive effects on international cooperation and specify when this is the case. Because of the costs associated with it, CM conveys a credible signal of the resolve of a dissatisfied group of states to contest the institutional status quo. Due to this capacity, CM alters the institutional and strategic environment within which institutional adjustment bargaining takes place. As a result, CM opens up the possibility for inter-institutional accommodation that increases realized cooperation gains. We probe the plausibility of our theoretical reasoning with empirical case studies on competitive regime creation in multilateral development finance and on regime-shifting in the governance of international trade in genetically modified organisms.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: Michal Parizek gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Peace Research Center Prague, Charles University, project UNCE/HUM/028.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Faude, Dr Benjamin
• Authors: Faude, B., and Parizek, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
• Journal Name: Review of International Organizations
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1559-7431
• ISSN (Online): 1559-744X
• Published Online: 09 September 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Review of International Organizations 16(4):843-870
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license