Description
Power, Patronage and International Norms explores the complex mechanisms through which global governance structures maintain legitimacy despite being fundamentally shaped by power imbalances. Valerie Freeland presents a critical analysis of how international norms—seemingly neutral and universally agreed-upon principles—are actually products of strategic patronage networks and political maneuvering.
Through detailed examination of case studies, the author demonstrates that international institutions and their normative frameworks function as elaborate facades that conceal the interests of powerful states and actors. Freeland argues that patronage systems create hierarchies within the international system, allowing dominant nations to legitimize their preferences as universal norms.
This work challenges conventional understandings of international relations and offers valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and students seeking to understand the real mechanisms of global governance beyond their official rhetoric.
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