Reliance to Autonomy: Analysis of Global South's Engagement in IOs

• In Event: IOs and International Order

Abstract

This paper examines why some former colonies of the global south are more actively engaged in international organizations (IOs) than others. I argue that newly independent states, once heavily dependent on and integrated with their colonizers, are more inclined to seek autonomous roles in international politics, leading to more active participation in IOs. The paper empirically tests this argument by focusing on the colonial trade relationships of these states and their subsequent financial contributions to the United Nations (UN).

Using the data from the International Monetary Fund's Direction of Trade Statistics dataset, a cross-sectional regression analysis of 68 former colonies finds that a history of heavy trade reliance on colonizers, particularly in terms of imports during the colonial era, is associated with greater financial contributions to the UN by Global South states after achieving independence. This finding underscores the transformative potential of economic dependencies and emphasizes how the legacy of colonialism shapes the behavior of states within IOs. Former colonies are motivated by a desire to assert their independence and actively participate in global governance.

Author

• Joowon Yi, University of Georgia