As countries become more intertwined, they create —sets of rules, norms, and procedures that govern specific issue areas (like the World Trade Organization for trade).
Traditional international relations often focus on "high politics" (security and survival). Keohane and Nye introduced to describe a world where:
: A state's ability to adjust and find alternatives over time. If a country can easily switch to solar power when oil prices rise, it is sensitive but not highly vulnerable. Bargaining Power Power & Interdependence
They provide a platform for rather than unilateral action. IV. Modern Challenges: The Virtual Age Power and Interdependence - Branislav L. Slantchev (UCSD)
In this framework, power is not just about who has the biggest army. It is about —the degree to which one party depends on another. Sensitivity vs. Vulnerability As countries become more intertwined, they create —sets
: How quickly and intensely changes in one country affect another. For example, a sudden rise in oil prices immediately impacts all importing nations.
: Beyond official state-to-state diplomacy, there are transgovernmental ties between bureaucrats and transnational links between corporations and NGOs. If a country can easily switch to solar
These institutions help and make cooperation more predictable.