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Who Runs the International System? Power and the Staffing of the United Nations Secretariat

Author

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  • Paul Novosad

    (Dartmouth College)

  • Eric Werker

    (Harvard Business School, Business, Government and the International Economy Unit)

Abstract

National governments frequently pull strings to get their citizens appointed to senior positions in international institutions. We examine, over a 60 year period, the nationalities of the most senior positions in the United Nations Secretariat, ostensibly the world's most representative international institution. The results indicate which nations are successful in this zero-sum game, and what national characteristics correlate with power in international institutions. The most overrepresented countries are small, rich democracies like the Nordic countries. Statistically, democracy, investment in diplomacy, and economic/military power are predictors of senior positions?even after controlling for the U.N. staffing mandate of competence and integrity. National control over the United Nations is remarkably sticky; however the influence of the United States has diminished as U.S. ideology has shifted away from its early allies. In spite of the decline in U.S. influence, the Secretariat remains pro-American relative to the world at large.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Novosad & Eric Werker, 2014. "Who Runs the International System? Power and the Staffing of the United Nations Secretariat," Harvard Business School Working Papers 15-018, Harvard Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:hbs:wpaper:15-018
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    Cited by:

    1. Dreher, Axel & Lang, Valentin F. & Richert, Katharina, 2019. "The political economy of International Finance Corporation lending," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 242-254.
    2. Michal Parízek, 2017. "Control, soft information, and the politics of international organizations staffing," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 559-583, December.
    3. Kai Gehring & Stephan A. Schneider, 2018. "Towards the Greater Good? EU Commissioners' Nationality and Budget Allocation in the European Union," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 10(1), pages 214-239, February.
    4. Ryan Brutger & Richard Clark, 2023. "At what cost? Power, payments, and public support of international organizations," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 431-465, July.
    5. Axel Dreher & Katharina Michaelowa, 2008. "The political economy of international organizations," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 3(4), pages 331-334, December.
    6. John W. McArthur & Eric Werker, 2016. "Developing countries and international organizations: Introduction to the special issue," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 155-169, June.
    7. Klaus H. Goetz & Ronny Patz & Jörn Ege & Michael W. Bauer, 2017. "How Financial Resources Affect the Autonomy of International Public Administrations," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 8, pages 75-84, August.
    8. repec:bla:glopol:v:8:y:2017:i:s5:p:75-84 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Franck A. Malan, 2018. "Does being an IMF executive board member (Re)pay? An examination of IMF loans and repayments," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(10), pages 2669-2690, October.

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