The Politics of Drafting Decisions in International Organizations

Those who draft resolutions and treaties in international organizations (IOs) can significantly influence their content and acceptance. It is therefore puzzling that not all states are interested in drafting, so-called “pen-holding”. Veto powers Russia and China barely draft any United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, and in the African Union (AU), international bureaucrats or independent experts hold the pen. Why (not) hold the pen? Conceptualizing IO decisions as political tools, this project examines whether states draft IO decisions to control their content or to make a statement. States may avoid drafting roles because they prefer sovereignty over IO decisions. However, non-penholders face a dilemma: they can more easily veto or avoid implementing decisions they did not draft, but this diminishes the IO’s reputation, which might not be in their interest. Drawing on the interdisciplinary expertise of Dr. Nicole De Silva (Concordia University) and Dr. Anette Stimmer (University of St Andrews), the project examines decision-making in the UN and AU to discern the factors influencing states’ choices regarding pen-holding. Each research intern will focus on one international organization. Understanding the dynamics influencing IO decisions is important, as these decisions have significant implications for multilateralism in diverse issue areas of international relations.

Faculty Supervisor:

Nicole De Silva

Student:

Partner:

University of St Andrews

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education

University:

Concordia University

Program: