This paper will discuss to what extent do domestic politics impact inter-state cooperation, specifically, whether regime type affects whether states will cooperate over security issues or not. Domestic politics constitute a wide range of subfields under which one can see education, businesses, energy, health care and other sectors of the political apparatus which are determined by the state apparatus. Different regime types approach domestic politics differently and consequentially also have different forms in which they execute foreign policy and behave internationally. The question proposed is meant to assess the extent to which domestic politics affect inter-state cooperation, i.e. to which extent does it matter whether the domestic regime is democratic, autocratic, or fascist regimes affect how the state formulates its foreign policy and engages in agreements with other states.
International cooperation is not a new phenomenon, yet it has been heavily understudied throughout the first and second world wars and only gained importance in the cold war period, where cooperation and alliance formations with the increasing number of newly independent states and the bipolar atmosphere of the global arena advocated for the importance of cooperation between states. This research is of importance because the ever-changing atmosphere of global shocks, ranging from security issues to civil wars and internal instability, have all affected how states behave internationally.
This study, however, will focus on how inter-state cooperation is independent from domestic regime structures and is rather driven by the Gross National Product (GNP) i.e. the financial strength of the country and Human Development Index (HDI) ranking of the state. The study is expected to unravel the importance of the financial capabilities to increase inter-state cooperation in the lack of an overarching global governance system. Different theoretical frameworks have approached the issue of regime types and their effects on international cooperation differently. This will be discussed in the literature review and the theoretical arguments sections.
Table of Contents
I. Literature Review
II. Theoretical Argument
III. Research Design
IV. Conclusion
V. References
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This paper examines the extent to which domestic politics and regime types influence inter-state cooperation, specifically investigating whether democratic, autocratic, or fascist regimes behave differently regarding international agreements. Challenging the traditional democratic peace theory, the research argues that international cooperation is largely independent of regime structure and is instead primarily driven by a state's financial strength (GNP) and Human Development Index (HDI) ranking.
- Analysis of domestic regime types and their impact on foreign policy.
- Evaluation of Liberal Institutionalist versus Neorealist perspectives on international organizations.
- Investigation into the influence of economic welfare on cooperative behavior.
- Quantitative assessment of the correlation between political stability, regime type, and arms trading.
Excerpt from the Book
I. Literature Review
There is a variety of literature analyzing the effects of the different types of domestic regimes and their effects on the conduction of agreements. A piece by Russett and Oneal titled Triangulating Peace argues that there are three variables that affect peace: democracy, economic interdependence, and membership in International Governmental Organizations (IGOs). These variables were selected based on Kant’s theories put forth in Perpetual Peace. that regime type affects the behavior of the state internationally. Moreover, the author states that the different types of domestic regimes are intertwined with the political environment within a state and therefore account for the differences in foreign policies. Domestic regimes, because of their power of establishing the political environment, are of importance when analyzing the effect of international cooperation between states based on the different regimes. There are four subcategories of domestic regimes present in the world today: democracies, autocracies, fascist, and socialist regimes. Each type of domestic regime holds a variety of advantages and disadvantages when analyzing its effects of inert-state cooperation. The following literature review will analyze how different regime types have affected the foreign policy decisions of authoritarian and democratic states.
Summary of Chapters
I. Literature Review: Explores existing academic frameworks regarding how different domestic regimes, specifically democracies and autocracies, approach international cooperation and treaty compliance.
II. Theoretical Argument: Compares the "good governance" perceptions of democratic states against the practical arguments regarding the decision-making efficiency and stability of authoritarian regimes.
III. Research Design: Details the quantitative methodology, using a multiple linear regression model to test the significance of regime types on arms trading relative to a state's financial and political variables.
IV. Conclusion: Summarizes findings which suggest that regime type is largely irrelevant to cooperation in security-related issues, as state survival and financial capacity remain the primary drivers.
Keywords
International Organizations, International Cooperation, Human Development Index, Foreign Policy, Domestic Policy, Democratic Peace Theory, Arms Trading, Political Stability, Realism, Liberal Institutionalism, Gross National Product, Authoritarian Regimes, Economic Welfare, Governance, Sovereignty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research investigates whether domestic politics and the type of regime (e.g., democratic vs. autocratic) determine a state's willingness and ability to cooperate internationally, specifically in the context of security and arms trading.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work centers on the tension between Liberal Institutionalist views, which favor democracy as a catalyst for cooperation, and Neorealist views, which emphasize national survival and economic capacity over regime type.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks whether domestic regime types impact inter-state cooperation, specifically focusing on whether such types actually influence a state's engagement in international security agreements.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The study employs a quantitative approach, utilizing a multiple linear regression model with Ordinary Least Square (OLS) estimation to analyze the impact of independent variables like political stability and level of democracy on arms trading.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body comprises a critical literature review, a theoretical discussion on democratic versus authoritarian governance, and a research design chapter that outlines how data from indices like POLITY IV and the World Bank are used to test the hypothesis.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include International Organizations, International Cooperation, Human Development Index, Foreign Policy, Domestic Policy, and Realism.
How does the author view the "democratic peace theory"?
The author questions the relevance of the democratic peace theory in the specific context of arms trading, arguing that empirical data disproves the notion that democracies cooperate more than other regime types in security matters.
What role does economic welfare play in the author's argument?
The author argues that a state's financial strength (GNP, GDP/capita) and overall welfare are more reliable indicators of a state's capacity and likelihood to engage in international cooperation than its political regime type.
- Citation du texte
- Reham El Morally (Auteur), 2019, En-/Discouraging International Cooperations. Benefits and Drawbacks of International Organizations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/492832
