1. International Cooperation
Anarchy – No central authority outside of states to require or enforce cooperation
Cooperation can be military, economic, other
National interests: Some common interests, some interests may be in competition or conflict
Cooperation requires
Positive sum mentality (vs zero-sum)
Potential for greater rewards/gains if cooperate
Communication mechanism
Not TOO many countervaling interests

2. Stag Hunt: What’s the Rational Choice
Cooperate with other cavemen & hunt the stag?
If all cooperate, all get lots of meat
If even one defects to go after a rabbit on his own, the rest get nothing (stag gets away)
Defect and go for the rabbit?
Definite source of a little meat
What will the other hunters do? Can you trust them and will they trust you? What is the risk?
Pursue immediate short-term self interest or is there a basis for long-term common interest?

3. Consider the Caveman’s Options
In addition to food, needs security against bears
Similar benefits and risks as with Stag Hunt
Cooperate with other cavemen & fight bear?
If all cooperate (a few guard, all rally to fight bear):
All are generally safer, can sleep better
But each risk death in fighting bear
If even one guard defects to go sleep or hide, the rest may get eaten
Or do you defect and go hide or sleep?
Definite short term safety (assuming bear goes into someone else’s cave)

4. Consider the Caveman’s Options II
What will the other cavemen do? Can you trust them and will they trust you? What is the risk?
Pursue immediate short-term self interest or is there a basis for long-term common interest?
Options:
Wait until bear shows up, then try to rally (Coalition)
Agree ahead of time that if bear appears, all will rally to fight it (Collective Security)
Subset of cavemen form a tribe (maybe on basis of who feels most threatened), organize a guard, practice to fight bear (Alliance or Collective Defense)

5. Security Cooperation: Coalitions
Ad Hoc group formed to cooperate in fighting a specific conflict
Both 1991 and 2003 Persian Gulf wars against Iraq were fought by coalitions, formed just for those conflicts
Everything may have to be done on the fly, procedures and agreements made up as the operation progresses
Minimal chance for partners to practice together
Language, equipment and cultural differences may be a problem

6. Cooperation: Collective Security
Any aggression must be met by all as a matter of law enforcement
League of Nations, United Nations (somewhat)
Limitations:
Requires some agreement on what to do
Enforces status quo rather than address injustice
Members may promise action but not deliver
Takes time to put together operation for each event
Not as flexible or fast as a unilateral response
Small conflict can escalate as more join operation
Free Rider problem

7. Cooperation: Collective Defense
Formal Alliances for long term threat
Attack against one by outsider is attack against all
All may have to agree on HOW to respond
NATO, World War I alliances
Big investment
Develop combined procedures, communications, weapons standards
Practice together
Requires sizable military expenditures
May have free rider problem
If threat changes, alliance may falter

8. Economic Cooperation Trade agreements such as NAFTA or WTO
Producer Cartels such as OPEC
Financial institutions such as
World Bank
International Monetary Fund
Health: WHO
Communications: How to divide the electronic spectrum

9. World Government? Discussed many times Has some benefits
Seems unlikely that world actors such as states would all give up their sovereignty to such a body
Cultures differ: Democracy vs Authoritarianism
Significant trust needed. High stakes stag hunt?
United Nations?
A federation?

10. UN Charter and Legal Use of Force
Charter authorizes force under three conditions:
Unilaterally in self-defense: US Afghanistan in 2001
Multilaterally if authorized by UN Security Council “to maintain or restore international peace & security”
Multilaterally by regional collective defense action to aid alliance member in self-defense: NATO & Afghanistan
Preserves each state’s sovereignty
Does not legalize intervention in civil wars or humanitarian/human rights problems unless
State authorizes OR
UN Security Council feels conflict will spread

13. United Nations General Assembly: All members have a vote
2/3 majority for budget, big issues
Elects members to bodies and commissions
Security Council (15 members)
Maintain international peace & security
Permanent Members (5) can veto resolutions, need 9
Military activity rare
No military of its own; Requires member contributions
Korea was UN action: UNCMAC still there today
1991 Gulf War was UN authorized, but not UN action
Frequently paralyzed during Cold War or over Israel
Peacekeeping

16. Peacekeeping – A Misnomer?
Consensual between warring parties with a truce
Not to take sides. Provides “honest broker” to:
Lessen surprise, slow an attack
Act as tripwire for other nations’ involvement
Defends self only
Does not impose or enforce peace
Examples
Egypt & Israel , 1975 to today
US in Lebanon 1983
Somalia 1993
Bosnia 1990s