Geopolitics, Autocratization, and the Transformation of International Cooperation

Abstract

International organizations face profound transformation as geopolitical shifts, regime change, and evolving security environments reshape the foundations of multilateral cooperation. Institutions once characterized by technical consensus now navigate heightened politicization, while formal rules often mask fundamental changes in how cooperation operates in practice. This panel examines how changing power dynamics and regime type affect international cooperation across global and regional settings. How do geopolitical tensions transform policymaking within international institutions? When formal institutional design remains stable despite political upheaval, what informal mechanisms enable states to reshape cooperation without treaty reform? Under what conditions do organizations maintain authority amid internal challenges, and what drives institutional fragmentation or adaptation? The panel explores both visible and hidden dimensions of institutional change—from informal practices that create gaps between formal rules and actual governance, to the evolution of issue-linkages and coalitions within multilateral forums. It investigates how state influence operates through strategic behavior, circumstantial alignment, and the exploitation of institutional flexibility. The panel contributes to understanding how international organizations navigate geopolitical competition, democratic backsliding, and shifting security threats in the 21st century, revealing the mechanisms through which power reshapes cooperation beyond formal institutional structures.

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