Sociology ETDs

Publication Date

1-30-2013

Abstract

Accession to international governmental organizations (IGOs) has become an important corollary of modern international relations. Not only have IGOs proliferated significantly over the past fifty years, but, institutionalist paradigms, such as World Polity theory, suggest membership to such entities is inherent to the definition of modern statehood. Although IGO accession is rather commonplace, a full understanding of the motivation and gains associated with such commitments is not fully established. The current project contributes to this scholarly debate by applying World Polity theory to the question of why IGOs actively invite certain states into membership negotiations. The author employs a survival analysis in order to better describe factors, including World Polity indicators, that contribute positively to the rate at which this process occurs. By framing the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as an anomalous, selective IGO, the author identifies conditions under which membership invitations are made, and how participation within the World Polity influences accession outcomes. Results indicate that involvement in the world market economy as well as domestic financial stability are strongly associated with more recent membership activity; however, political factors including World Polity measures prove to be significant as well.

Degree Name

Sociology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Sociology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Tiano, Susan

Second Committee Member

Coughlin, Richard

Keywords

International organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International relations

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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