CIAO DATE: 11/03

The State of International Relations Research and Perspectives in Germany

Gunther Hellmann, editor
August 2003

International Regimes and Institutions by Detlef F. Sprinz

Abstract

Research on international regimes and institutions over the past two decades can be divided into three main phases. In the first phase, theory-based research focused on the conditions of the creation of international regimes, followed by a second phase on the implementation of and compliance with international regimes. The final third phase returned to the key question whether regimes matter. Research in this phase is supported by recent developments on measurement tools for regime effectiveness and is complemented by research on the design of international institutions. The most recent developments further develop current streams of research (regime interaction and regime effectiveness) and also focus on responses to the legitimatory deficit in international relations by way of including non-state actors in the analysis. The chapter concludes that the German contribution to research on international regimes has been pronounced and visible on a world-wide scale.