The Role of Membership Rules in Regional Organizations
Posted: 19 Jul 2010 Last revised: 14 Aug 2010
Date Written: 2010
Abstract
Regional organizations can pursue a wide array of membership rules. “Convoy” rules allow all regional states to participate unconditionally, whereas “club” rules enforce strict admission and participation criteria. Although the initial membership rules reflect the preferences of the founding states, they are consequential because they are made under uncertainty and with imperfect information and they may produce outcomes that constrain future options. And although rules can theoretically be changed to reflect new preferences, the inertia of existing institutions make this difficult. This chapter argues that membership rules influence the ability of organizations to shape the behavior of states in the regions, and that therefore the choice of membership play an important role in the development of regional integration. The paper explores how different membership rules provide organizations with tools to influence the behavior of states in the region.
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