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
The killings of Armenians by the government of the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 fit all the given definitions of genocide. However, many states from the international...Show moreThe killings of Armenians by the government of the Young Turks in the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 fit all the given definitions of genocide. However, many states from the international community have not recognized the Armenian genocide, and few have explicitly expressed recognition. This paper will analyze the revisionary processes within two countries (Argentina and Spain) that have come to different outcomes (recognition and non-recognition, respectively) and will provide preliminary evidence in response to this main puzzle: “Why has Argentina recognized the Armenian genocide, while Spain has not?” This research´s main argument revolves around the concept of realpolitik, specifically around the interests and powers that this paper will demonstrate to have a direct relation to the outcomes of the revisionary processes of the Armenian Genocide by different states.Show less
