International Organizations and Governance in a Time of Transition

James P. Muldoon, Jr.

In 1999, in a co-edited book about multilateral diplomacy and the United Nations, Jim Muldoon began to discuss the challenges of the global economy for post–Cold War diplomacy (Muldoon 1999, 80). In 2011, in a co-edited book about the new dynamics of multilaterism, Muldoon concluded that institutions and structures were in transition, “moving from the international order established after World War II to a global order for the twenty-first century” (341). In 2015, Karen A. Mingst and he discussed the reconceptualization of international relations for the twenty-first century from the perspective of global governance and nongovernmental organizations (Mingst and Muldoon 2015, 65–81). While developing his ideas about transitional governance, Muldoon also worked on a dissertation, supervised by Rob van Tulder. His aim was to develop an interdisciplinary approach, combining theory from international relations and organization theory, rooted in both international business and public administration, as well as focus on the role and function of hybrid governance forms. Sadly, Muldoon’s illness and death in 2016 meant his major opus remained unfinished. This article, edited by Dennis Dijkzeul, Bob Reinalda, and Rob van Tulder, attempts to complete that task posthumously. It summarizes Muldoon’s work for his dissertation, with an explanation on the ongoing relevance of international organizations (IOs) and governance in a time of transition, as illustrated by the case study of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a GONGO (Government-Created NGO). ICANN governs crucial aspects of the Internet administration, but is not constituted as an inter-governmental organization controlled by states. Its neoliberal origins may reflect post–Cold War dynamics and ideology but will also provide a mode of global governance that deserves the attention of scholars and policy makers.

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