Theories and empirical studies of international institutions

Studies of international institutions, organizations, and regimes have cons istently appeared in the pages of International Organization. We review the theoretical and empirical work on international institutions and identify promising directions for the institutionalist research program. Early studi es of international institutions were rich with empirical insights and ofte n influenced by theoretical developments in other fields of political scien ce, but lacking an overarching analytical framework they failed to produce a coherent body of scholarship. Current efforts to reinvigorate the study o f international institutions draw on a new body of theory about domestic in stitutions. We argue that the assumptions of this new approach to instituti ons are more appropriate to international studies than those of earlier att empts to transfer theories across levels of analysis. We suggest that the m ost productive questions for future research will focus on specifying alter native mechanisms by which institutions can influence outcomes and identify particular sets of questions within this agenda that are especially promis ing.