Seeing the Forest: Networks and the Global Order

Abstract

Although A New World Order clearly emerges from Slaughter's study of international organizations and institutions, scholars who are more inclined toward security studies will be equally intrigued by her analysis. More specifically, scholars interested in structure of international system, globalization, international institutions, global governance, democracy, and accountability will find much here to challenge them. Accessibly written and addressed to both an academic and wider audiences, book could be effectively employed in both undergraduate and graduate classrooms. Although clearly informed by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye's (1977) work on complex interdependence and neoliberal worldview and value structure, A New World Order also provides broader constructivist view of world order. Slaughter embarks on descriptive and prescriptive project with concept of and role of international networks at its center. As she explains, appreciating extent and nature of existing government networks makes it possible to envision genuinely world order (p. 15). The disaggregated state assumption (that is, idea that governments are aggregations of distinct with separate roles and capacities) is necessary, she argues, because the analytical lens of unitary state obscures very existence of these different government institutions (p. 13). The first half of book provides empirical foundation for these assertions. Through series of examples, Slaughter describes increasing number of governmental networks, which constitute a pattern of regular and purposive relations among like government units working across borders that divide countries from one another and that demarcate 'domestic' from 'international' sphere (p. 14). These networks connect international actors horizontally (across national governments) and vertically (between supranational officials and national officials). To establish importance of governance networks, Slaughter provides examples of networks that link regulators (the diplomats), judges, and legislatures. She examines each type of network by outlining what is new about their