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Looking back at the gap: international organizations as organizations twenty-five years later
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Looking back at the gap: international organizations as organizations twenty-five years later

Steven R. Brechin and Gayl D. Ness
Journal of International Organizations Studies, Vol.4(special issue)
2013
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7282/00000458

Abstract

Sociology
A quarter century ago we wrote a well-received article for the journal IO lamenting the fact that organizational sociologists ignored international organizations and international relations scholars knew little of the rich insights of organizational sociology. We now return to that original piece for a reassessment. While differences remain, we find a useful and healthy convergence. Both sides have moved closer to one another and have enriched their perspectives. International Relations scholars have come to see organizations as more than merely obedient mechanical tools in the hands of state leaders and have recognized a new set of highly complex players in the international arena. Organizational sociology continues to focus on the power of the environment to shape organizational form and behavior. " New institutionalism, " including " world society theory " in particular, has opened the field to a more nuanced and expansive view of how organizations work and has taken some account of the distinctive environment of the global, international scene. The rise of agentic actors of many stripes with greater legitimacy and social control beyond the nation-state has generated dramatic shifts in environmental influences. We applaud the convergence, note that organizational sociology still has need of greater recognition of the international arena, and make a few suggestions for future work.
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