Book Launch: Making International Institutions Work by Ranjit Lall
Why do some international institutions succeed and others fail?

International institutions are essential for tackling many of the most urgent challenges facing the world, from pandemics to humanitarian crises, yet we know little about when they succeed, when they fail, and why. This book proposes a new theory of institutional performance and tests it using a diverse array of sources, including the most comprehensive dataset on the topic. Challenging popular characterizations of international institutions as ‘runaway bureaucracies,’ Ranjit Lall argues that the most serious threat to performance comes from the pursuit of narrow political interests by states – paradoxically, the same actors who create and give purpose to institutions. The discreet operational processes through which international bureaucrats cultivate and sustain autonomy vis-à-vis governments, he contends, are critical to making institutions ‘work.’ The findings enhance our understanding of international cooperation, public goods, and organizational behavior while offering practical lessons to policymakers, NGOs, businesses, and citizens interested in improving institutional effectiveness.
Date: 16 May 2023, 16:30
Venue: Nuffield College, New Road OX1 1NF
Venue Details: Large Seminar Room
Speakers: Ranjit Lall (University of Oxford), Professor Raj Chetty (Harvard University), Prof Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University), Duncan Snidal (University of Oxford)
Organising department: Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR)
Organiser: Ranjit Lall (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: ranjit.lall@sjc.ox.ac.uk
Host: Ranjit Lall (University of Oxford)
Booking required?: Recommended
Booking url: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-making-international-institutions-work-tickets-625248253357
Audience: Public
Editor: Ranjit Lall