Since WWII, the influence of IOs has increased where virtually all issue of global concern is administered by an IO. However, this influence has not come without its hazards. As the Global ...Show moreSince WWII, the influence of IOs has increased where virtually all issue of global concern is administered by an IO. However, this influence has not come without its hazards. As the Global “Governance Dilemma” theorizes, it is because of it that member states wish to ‘capture’ their decision-making and power-distribution apparatuses —their voting systems— to better realize their agendas. The case studies of two prominent IOs, the IMF and the UNSC, provide support that it is often true that these systems favor powerful member states due to a politicization of their voting systems. To address the potential causes and shortcomings of this phenomenon, this thesis conducted an in-depth case study of the institutional designs —Virtue Cultivation, Political Autonomy, and Meritocracy— of the Colombian Political Party MIRA that were born out of their unique theoretical framework of Miraísm. Through the implementation of these designs, this party successfully overcame obstacles akin to the ones that IOs face, despite their small size and the prevalence of corruption in Colombia. Building from this, the thesis followed a standard method of theory generation to create a novel framework regarding how to better resolve the core issue at hand: The Aligned Interests-Goals (AIG) Theory. In essence, this theory postulates that through specific institutional designs that tie A (self-interests) and B (goals) together by offering C (incentives) that provide the obtainment of A in exchange for proven efforts regarding B can effectively nudge behavior towards a virtuous cycle of positive competition for their mutual satisfaction. Based on the logic of this theory, the thesis delivered its main institutional proposal of Incentives-based Meritocratic Voting Systems as an alternative design to avoid the adverse consequences of politicized voting systems in IOs, while leaving prospect for the avoidance of absolute insulation from powerful member states, therefore increasing the probability for effective results regarding IO goals of intergovernmental cooperation, sacrifice, and change.Show less
This research looks at the emerging phenomenon of data collaboratives, specifically in the ‘crisis response’ sector, with which the private sector assists the public sector’s data-driven efforts to...Show moreThis research looks at the emerging phenomenon of data collaboratives, specifically in the ‘crisis response’ sector, with which the private sector assists the public sector’s data-driven efforts to prevent or respond to humanitarian emergencies. This research explores and explains why the private sector participates in crisis response data collaboratives. Through secondary literature analysis, and primary survey and interview analysis of three case studies, this research provides new insights into data collaborative objectives, the private sector’s activities, the incentives and risks these collaboratives present for the private sector, and how it mitigates such risks. The research concludes that the private sector enters crisis response data collaboratives to help the public sector address one or more of its obstacles to creating data-driven solutions to societal problems, and occasionally to achieve additional objectives for the public good. Although the private sector is motivated by various incentives, sufficient mitigation of presented risks, especially risks to data subjects’ privacy and security, is a precondition to joining a crisis response data collaborative.Show less
