International Organizations and Policy Innovation in the Theories of International Relations

Abstract

As evident from the studies of international organizations, several factors can potentially influence the process of policy innovation and claim causality. The collective or individual interest and power of member states, leadership and preferences of staff members, need for resource mobilization, or the intersubjective quality of norms as an intervening mechanism may influence the process of policymaking and change policies. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the potential causes of policy innovation based on core assumptions of the theories of international relations in order to develop a framework for the analysis of the UNDP’s engagement with the private sector. The section on constructivism in particular conceptualizes the significance of intersubjectivity and CSR norms in shaping international organizations’ policies and strategies.