Four Conceptions of Authority in International Relations

Bibliographic Data

ID6270767
AuthorsJorg Kustermans (0000-0001-7010-9990), Rikkert Horemans (0000-0001-7635-1825)
Year2022
Volume76
Issue1
Pages204-228
Publication date2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Organization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-8183 • E-ISSN: 1531-5088
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0020818321000230
OpenAlexW3157658015
LanguageEN
Citations received12
References cited79

There is increasing agreement that states and other political actors on the world stage sometimes achieve international authority. However, there is less agreement about the nature and functioning of international authority relations. What determines whether an actor will be recognized as an authoritative actor? And what are the effects thereof? In this essay, we identify four distinct conceptions of authority in the study of international relations:authority as contract,authority as domination,authority as impression, andauthority as consecration. Consideration of the typology leads to two important insights. First, the phenomenon of authority has an essentially experiential dimension. Subordinate actors’ emotional experience of authority determines their response to authority and thus also has a fundamental impact on the stability of authority. Second, the emergence of forms of international authority does not entail, at least not necessarily, the weakening of the sovereignty of states, but can equally be argued to strengthen it

Dimension (graph theory · Epistemology · International relations · Law and economics · Legal research · Moral authority · Moral disengagement · Phenomenon · Political authority · Political science · Politics · Primary authority · Sociology · Sovereignty · Traditional authority · Typology · Global Peace and Security Dynamics · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Law · Peacebuilding and International Security

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