The George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs

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Examining Global Governors

Martha Finnemore
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs
Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University

At The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, I teach classes on "International Institutions in World Politics" at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. I think this class is tremendously important for any student trying to understand the international system, especially in this age of globalization.

There are so many more actors on the world stage today—not just states, but multilateral institutions, advocacy groups, professional associations, and international corporations. All of these organizations are busily trying to set policy and make rules on issues they care about. It's a complex and fascinating web of alliances, motivations, and goals. If you want to be a policymaker or work in the international arena effectively in any way, you need to understand this system.

How do you help students apply their knowledge to "real world" issues?

The major assignment for this class asks students to identify a problem in world politics and design or reform an international organization to fix it. It's harder than it sounds. Students have to figure out who will support their organization, both financially and politically. They need to spell out what tools or resources it will use to solve the problem, and where it will get those. And they need to anticipate obvious problems or opposition and explain how they will overcome these. It's a tall order. But every year students come up with creative, thoughtful proposals that are fun, even inspiring, to read.

This sounds like a topic you touch on in your new book, Who Governs the Globe?

That's right. Every international organization was set up as a solution to somebody's problem. My coauthors (Deborah Avant and fellow GW faculty member Susan Sell) and I were struck by the fact that there's lots of talk about global governance but no one ever talks about global governors. Who actually does this governing? Why are they in charge? Why does anyone obey them? In this book, we begin to answer these questions. We examine many kinds of governors who make global policy and theorize the sources of their authority. We look at the forces that motivate these actors and how they influence the system. It turns out that many of my GW students have been involved with some of these global governors through internships or jobs after graduation, a connection that certainly improved the book and I hope was interesting for the students.

What makes teaching at GW special?

One of the things I enjoy most about teaching at The George Washington University is the level of excitement and knowledge about politics students bring with them to the classroom. It's true at all levels—undergraduates, master's, and PhD candidates. Students are engaged and plugged in to the global political scene in a way that makes teaching challenging but also fun.

Elliott School of International Affairs
The George Washington University
www.elliott.gwu.edu
Email this school
(202) 994-7050

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