It is commonly assumed that international bureaucracies influence domestic policies by providing policy advice. Yet, we lack systematic knowledge regarding the extent to which they do. We also do not know which factors most strongly affect international bureaucracies’ ability to be influential in this regard. This paper examines and explains the extent to which policy units in national ministries take international bureaucracies’ advice into account. It draws on novel data from a global survey carried out in 121 countries to measure prevalent ministerial practices and potential motives. It shows that international bureaucracies’ expertise as perceived by ministry officials is most important, directly followed by the fit between the advice and domestic preferences. Further, other determinants for the consideration of policy advice, such as third-party pressure and coercion by the wider international organization, are partly dependent on expertise. In pointing to the central role of expertise, the paper shows that international bureaucracies’ influence on national ministries hardly depends on the support by other actors. By analyzing the motives of one important gatekeeper in domestic policy-making, it offers insights on how international bureaucracies can make their voices heard in times of contested multilateralism and increasing forum-shopping.

Speaker:

Andrea Liese, Professor, University of Potsdam

Discussant:

Aurel Niederberger, Postdoctoral Researcher, the Graduate Institute

This event is part of the Global Governance Colloquium series.