The Constraints of International Organizations' Autonomy on Countries' Compliance with International Commitments

Robert O. Keohane, in After Hegemony, argues that reputation explains why countries comply with international commitments. He later sought empirical support for this view, but the results were less conclusive than expected. While international commitments represent a country's pledge to follow global norms, Keohane links their fulfillment to the preservation of national reputation, suggesting that fear of reputational damage incentivizes compliance. However, like individuals obeying domestic laws not just for protection but to avoid punishment, states often comply due to coercive enforcement. This enforcement typically comes from international organizations, whose ability to constrain states depends on their autonomy and power. Therefore, the primary factor driving compliance is the authority of these organizations, while reputation serves as a secondary motivation.