Time to React: The Efficiency of International Organizations in Crisis Response

by Heidi Hardt

Overview

In conflict-affected regions, delays in international response can have life or death consequences. The speed with which international organizations react to crises affects the prospects for communities to re-establish peace. Why then do some international organizations take longer than others to answer calls for intervention? To answer this question and explore options for reform, Time to React builds on contemporary scholarship with original data on response rates and interview evidence from 50 ambassadors across four leading organizations (AU, EU, OAS and OSCE). The explanation for variation in speed ultimately lies in core differences in institutional cultures across organizations. Although wealth and capabilities can strengthen a peace operation, it is the unspoken rules and social networks of peace and security committees at these organizations that dictate the pace with which an operation is established. This book offers a first analysis of the critical importance of and conditions shaping timeliness of crisis response by international organizations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190655907
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	01/01/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 2.70(d)

About the Author

Heidi Hardt is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Irvine.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why Speed of Response Matters
3. Differences in Organization Response Rates
4. Institutional Design in Crisis Decision-making
5. The Impact of Unspoken Rules and Interpersonal Relations
6. Informal Norms: Barriers and Facilitators
7. Informal Relations: Friends and Foes
8. Conclusion
Appendix
Notes
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The findings described in the book challenge the realist view of international relations. Hardt makes the case that humans, even diplomats, are social creatures, and interpersonal dynamics, rather than national interest alone, can influence the timeliness of a multinational response to crisis. Summing up: Recommended."—CHOICE

"This important book looks at the informal norms and networks governing the way international organizations 'really' work. Drawing on an impressive array of interviews and survey data, Hardt shows persuasively how much we miss when we ignore the personal ties and trust that are essential to decisions in a crisis. Interpersonal relationships and organizational culture can trump formal rules in ways that help get things done. Essential reading for anyone interested in when and why international organizations work well (or don't)."—Martha Finnemore, University Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, The George Washington University

"Timely intervention in civil conflicts can save lives, but some regional organizations are able to respond to crisis more quickly than others. In Time to React, Heidi Hardt advances a convincing and highly original explanation for this record: informal organizational norms and interpersonal ties."—Miles Kahler, Rohr Professor of Pacific International Relations, University of California, San Diego

"The findings described in the book challenge the realist view of international relations. Hardt makes the case that humans, even diplomats, are social creatures, and interpersonal dynamics, rather than national interest alone, can influence the timeliness of a multinational response to crisis."
—CHOICE

From the Publisher