US Domestic Politics and International Cooperation, 1953–1998

Abstract

Following previous scholarship on domestic sources of foreign policy, this study investigates the extent to which economic performance, political constraints, and other factors influence US international cooperation from 1953 through 1998. Using data on US international treaties and executive agreements, we estimate a set of event count models. We find that the US enters into more international treaties and executive agreements with increased inflation. There are fewer new international treaties and executive agreements under divided government and during a president's first year in office. Furthermore, there are fewer new international executive agreements during war involvement. Finally, the US substitutes international treaties and executive agreements for one another, and there are rising trends over time in the numbers of US international treaties and executive agreements.