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Democracy-Enhancing Multilateralism

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  • Keohane, Robert O.
  • Macedo, Stephen
  • Moravcsik, Andrew

Abstract

International organizations are widely believed to undermine domestic democracy. Our analysis challenges this conventional wisdom, arguing that multilateral institutions can enhance the quality of national democratic processes, even in well-functioning democracies, in a number of important ways: by restricting the power of special interest factions, protecting individual rights, and improving the quality of democratic deliberation, while also increasing capacities to achieve important public purposes. The article discusses conflicts and complementarities between multilateralism and democracy, outlines a working conception of constitutional democracy, elaborates theoretically the ways in which multilateral institutions can enhance constitutional democracy, and discusses the empirical conditions under which multilateralism is most likely to have net democratic benefits, using contemporary examples to illustrate the analysis. The overall aim is to articulate a set of critical democratic standards appropriate for evaluating and helping to guide the reform of international institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Keohane, Robert O. & Macedo, Stephen & Moravcsik, Andrew, 2009. "Democracy-Enhancing Multilateralism," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 63(1), pages 1-31, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:intorg:v:63:y:2009:i:01:p:1-31_09
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    Cited by:

    1. Vera Z. Eichenauer & Simon Hug, 2018. "The politics of special purpose trust funds," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 211-255, July.
    2. Lopes, Dawisson Belém, 2015. "Polyarchies, Competitive Oligarchies, or Inclusive Hegemonies? 23 Global Intergovernmental Organizations Compared," GIGA Working Papers 265, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    3. Zürn, Michael, 2019. "Politicization compared: at national, European, and global levels," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 26(7), pages 977-995.
    4. Susan Ariel Aaronson & M. Rodwan Abouharb, 2010. "Unexpected Bedfellows: The GATT, the WTO, and Some Democratic Rights," Working Papers 2010-12, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    5. Psofogiorgos, Nikolaos - Alexandros & Metaxas, Theodore, 2017. "IMF, Democracy and Economic Development: Review and Critique," MPRA Paper 79403, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Aaronson, Susan & Abouharb, M. Rodwan, 2011. "Does the WTO Help Member States Clean Up?," Papers 268, World Trade Institute.
    7. Thomas Bernauer & Steffen Mohrenberg & Vally Koubi, 2020. "Do citizens evaluate international cooperation based on information about procedural and outcome quality?," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 505-529, April.
    8. Mayer, Sebastian, 2010. "Kollidieren die Güter? Juridische und politische Reaktionen auf Zielkonflikte internationalisierter Sicherheitspolitk," TranState Working Papers 130, University of Bremen, Collaborative Research Center 597: Transformations of the State.
    9. David P. Rapkin & Jonathan R. Strand & Michael W. Trevathan, 2016. "Representation and Governance in International Organizations," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(3), pages 77-89.
    10. Bradford, Anu, 2015. "Exporting standards: The externalization of the EU's regulatory power via markets," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 158-173.
    11. Daniele Archibugi & Marco Cellini, 2015. "(English) Democracy and Global Governance. The Internal and External Levers (Italiano) Democrazia e Global Governance. Le Leve Interna ed Esterna," IRPPS Working Papers 69:2015, National Research Council, Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies.
    12. Joachim Blatter & Samuel D. Schmid & Andrea C. Blättler, 2017. "Democratic Deficits in Europe: The Overlooked Exclusiveness of Nation-States and the Positive Role of the European Union," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 449-467, May.
    13. Johannes Urpelainen, 2012. "How Does Democratic Accountability Shape International Cooperation?," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 29(1), pages 28-55, February.
    14. Hans Agné & Lisa Dellmuth & Jonas Tallberg, 2015. "Does stakeholder involvement foster democratic legitimacy in international organizations? An empirical assessment of a normative theory," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 465-488, December.
    15. Jarle Trondal, 2020. "Public Administration and the Study of Political Order: Towards a Framework for Analysis," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 451-461.
    16. Reinsberg, Bernhard, 2015. "Foreign Aid Responses to Political Liberalization," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 46-61.
    17. Nikolaos Alexandros Psofogiorgos & Theodore Metaxas, 2017. "IMF, Democracy and Economic Development," Bulletin of Political Economy, Bulletin of Political Economy, vol. 11(1), pages 21-44, June.
    18. Stephen C. Nelson & Geoffrey P. R. Wallace, 2017. "Are IMF lending programs good or bad for democracy?," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 523-558, December.
    19. Jarle Trondal, 2020. "Public Administration and the Study of Political Order: Towards a Framework for Analysis," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(4), pages 120-130.
    20. Osman S Kiratli, 2019. "Aiding together? Europeans’ attitudes on common aid policy," European Union Politics, , vol. 20(2), pages 261-281, June.
    21. Choudhury, Sanchari, 2019. "WTO membership and corruption," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    22. Lang, Valentin, 2016. "The Economics of the Democratic Deficit: The Effect of IMF Programs on Inequality," Working Papers 0617, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    23. Hernandez, Ariel, 2021. "SDG-aligned futures and the governance of the transformation to sustainability reconsidering governance perspectives on the futures we aspire to," IDOS Discussion Papers 30/2021, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    24. Jofre Rocabert & Frank Schimmelfennig & Loriana Crasnic & Thomas Winzen, 2019. "The rise of international parliamentary institutions: Purpose and legitimation," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 607-631, December.

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