Alexandru Grigorescu

Connecting the Dots: Dispute Resolution and Escalation in a World of Entangled Territorial Claims

We explore states’ decisions to escalate disputes over their territorial claims or settle them peacefully. We complement existing arguments by accounting for the fact that states are often simultaneously entangled in multiple territorial claims. We build on previous scholarship in positing that two states involved in a territorial dispute will act based on information they glean from each other’s reputation for dealing with claims with other states and their recent actions involving disputes with other states. Because states know that their actions will impact their adversaries’ calculations, the existence of multiple ongoing territorial claims will act as a deterrent from any type of action to resolve the dispute, whether militarized or peaceful. Our hypotheses therefore consider the impact of the number of states’ other territorial claims as well as the number of their adversaries’ claims. Tests using the Issue Correlates of War data support our arguments.

Freedom of Information Laws: Lessons from Eastern and Central Europe

Information-access laws help citizens hold their governments accountable.

IGO Relations in the Anti-corruption Realm and in Promoting Integrity in Public Procurement

This chapter focuses on relations among international governmental organizations (IGOs) involved in fighting corruption and promoting integrity in public procurement. It shows, first, why this topic is particularly relevant for understanding relations among IGOs. It then discusses the five approaches taken by approximately three dozen IGOs involved in the anti-corruption realm: adopting conventions, raising awareness, promoting domestic anti-corruption policies, investigating cases of corruption, and promoting integrity in public procurement. The chapter maps out the network of relations among IGOs combatting corruption. It concludes with a series of observations that are relevant for the broader study of relations among IGOs and offers some suggestions for future research on the topic.