The Power of Diplomatic Access: International Organizations in the Diplomatic Capacity Index

Abstract

There is little empirical consensus about why and how countries cooperate through international legal regimes and agree to the rules, standards, and norms of international conduct. Theoretically, states join and lead international organizations to overcome collective action problems, develop relations with other members, or represent their interests on the international stage. Applying our original concept of "diplomatic access," a component of the Diplomatic Capacity Index (DCI) still under development, we investigate a variety of states' participation in international organizations to illuminate how states choose to channel their political, economic, and security diplomatic capacity in order to advance their interests. This paper presents the concept of diplomatic access and unites findings from the index with recent and historical developments to draw profiles of how Egypt, India, and Brazil use international regimes and organizations to enhance their diplomacy.