Shifts in the international distribution of power create an impetus for institutional change. As powers such as China rise and powers such as the US decline, international institutions come under pressure to adapt to new power realities. Yet, the pathways to institutional adaptation vary considerably. What is more, sometimes attempts at institutional adaptation are successful and sometimes they fail. To contribute to a better understanding of such events, this special issue theorizes states and institutions' responses to global power shifts, and provides case studies that explore their attempts to adapt to new realities, gain legitimacy for their actions, cooperate with and see off competitors. Its contributors also discuss the broader implications of their research for the future of the international order and the management of global power shifts.
Special Issue Articles
US Strategies of Institutional Adaptation in the Face of Hegemonic Decline - Lora Anne Viola
Informal IGOs as Mediators of Power Shifts - Felicity Vabulas and Duncan Snidal
Emerging Powers and Differentiation in Global Climate Institutions - Alexander Thompson