This lecture for MA students provides an overview of contemporary mid-range theories on international institutions International institutions provide order and meaning; they structure and facilitate cooperation in world politics. This course introduces theoretical debates in international relations (IR) on international regimes and regime complexes, international organizations, and international norms. We compare how IR theories attempt to explain the emergence, shape, and consequences of international institutions, and what kind of answers they provide on a wide range of different phenomena, e.g, when do sovereign states delegate authority to international organisations? How do international regime complexes facilitate compliance? When do states leave international organizations, or why do they prefer informal arrangements? What explains the effectiveness and legitimacy of international institutions? Upon completing this course, students will be able to provide nuanced assessments of various theoretical approaches and identify relevant theoretical frameworks as a basis for the systematic empirical study of international institutions. close