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Palgrave Handbook of Inter-Organizational Relations in World Politics pp 217–242Cite as

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The Evolvement of International Secretariats, Executive Heads and Leadership in Inter-Organizational Relations

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Abstract

This chapter discusses inter-organizational relations (IORs) from the perspective of the international Secretariat of an International Governmental Organization (IGO) and the organization’s Executive Head. IORs are a long-standing phenomenon that resulted from the evolution of IGOs, the increase in their numbers and the complementarity or overlap of activities and mandates. The chapter follows the evolution of IGOs and their IORs by tracing the place of Secretariats and the leadership role of Executive Heads to discern four developments of IORs in chronological order: the emergence of IGO Secretariats and some early IORs, the League of Nations specialized agency relationship and the leadership role of Executive Heads in IORs, the United Nations (UN) specialized agency relationship and the leadership role of Executive Heads in IORs within and beyond the UN System, and the emergence of so-called ‘country clubs’ (like the G20) and the impact on the previous type of IORs. The focus on Secretariats and their Executive Heads helps to trace and better illustrate IORs and the related dimensions of leadership in conjunction with member-state governments. The IORs discussed show that governments allow IGOs room for maneuver (if needed by lessening control) and permit agency slack, with Executive Heads and their staff serving as vigorous actors in favor of their organizations’ objectives, also with regard to boundary issues. Leadership qualities with regard to both the bureaucracy (mobilizing staff and expertise) and the environment (assessing power relations and acquiring support from a variety of actors) are often decisive for the outcome. The emergence of country clubs has added a new dimension to the networks of IGOs and IORs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9108, Nijmegen, 6500 HK, Netherlands

    Bob Reinalda

  2. Department of Political Science, The College of Wooster, 106 Kauke Hall, Wooster, OH 44691, USA

    Kent J. Kille

Authors
  1. Bob Reinalda
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  2. Kent J. Kille
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany

    Joachim A. Koops

  2. Vesalius College, Brussels, Belgium

    Rafael Biermann

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Reinalda, B., Kille, K.J. (2017). The Evolvement of International Secretariats, Executive Heads and Leadership in Inter-Organizational Relations. In: Koops, J., Biermann, R. (eds) Palgrave Handbook of Inter-Organizational Relations in World Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-36039-7_10

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