Publication

This paper examines the implications of the change in distribution of power among countries and the bypassing of global governance institutions by private and semiprivate initiatives for the future of international cooperation. It argues that multi-polarity has been the norm in international relations and that the rise of opportunistic alliances to pursue international goals is not new. While global governance institutions will continue to be important, mixed coalitions of state and non-state actors are likely to play a growing role in solving international problems. These models for international cooperation are both promising and problematic.