TP 4 Institutions Defn: Vs organization: Don't limit to idea of World Bank...more inclusive, like world law.

Is there an alternative to western structure: philosophical source...why not liberal? Western states were on ascendence when most of these institutions were established. The SC is a not democratic...it's a cartel. Idea of "forum shopping" Is there more to it than transactional costs? If not, there would be a ledger that would make the calculations easier. Leveraging existing power vs future power. But there is some transcendental idea that goes above this thought process. Ikenberry--Constitutional bargain idea at intl level...functions like US constitution...acts to limit power; as US declines, it will fare better by limiting returns to power and preventing the magntitude of your disadvantages. Schweller--realist--get what you can now...self-restraint to sustain power is not rational. Voeten- legitimacy and elite pact; Thompson-Kreps--despite all costs of acting unilaterally, sometimes time horizon presents situations that necessitate it. Operational pay offs are high. Rosato-People are not sure of US intentions. All authors concede that this process is for legitimacy...it's not a deep sense of legitimacy. Moral value judgment--why do we act like the "placid elephant (Schweller)" sphere of influence--constitutional order doesn't match with spheres of influence (Russia, China, Iran, US)...US won't acknowledge that our liberal constitutional order is a sphere of influence mechanism.