International Bureaucracies as Cognitive Actors

Abstract

Knowledge and expertise of international bureaucracies is often conceived as major source of their autonomy, power and influence. Yet, related research is still nascent, in particular when it comes to understanding and explaining internal processes of knowledge production or to analyzing the use of international bureaucracies’ expertise by other actors and its consequences. Papers should address at least one the following questions: What knowledge do international bureaucracies select, how and why? How do they process and disseminate knowledge? What are the consequences of their knowledge and expertise? What actors use the knowledge and expertise of international bureaucracies, when and how?