Hierarchy, Differentiation, and Cooperation in Private Security Governance

• In Event: Dynamic Evolution of International Regime Complexes (Pre-Recorded)

Abstract

How does regime complexity shape inter-institutional cooperation? I argue that the levels of hierarchy and differentiation that emerges among the institutions within regime complexes shape the level of cooperation among them. In addition, hierarchy and differentiation also impact the specific patterns of cooperative relations that emerge among institutional dyads. This paper explores the explanatory power of my argument using the regime complex for the global governance of private security as a case study. Empirically, it draws on a unique dataset of public documents from websites of the institutions in the global private security and other originally collected data. The analysis traces the development of hierarchy and differentiation within the complex during 2000-2020. The paper tests three hypotheses using machine learning methods, social network analysis, and statistical analysis, confirming that differentiation and hierarchy shaped patterns of institutional cooperation as expected over the life of this regime complex. The paper contributes to scholarship on regime complexity, global governance, and private security governance.

Author

• Oliver Westerwinter, University of St. Gallen