In this interview for the Global Governance Innovation Platform (GGI), recorded during the Institution-building in an Era of Values Realism workshop (30 March, 2026), Thomas Biersteker reflects on how global governance operates, arguing that governance extends beyond formal institutions and the decisions of political leaders to include the rules, markets and other mechanisms that shape behaviour.
Drawing on his research on United Nations sanctions, he examines how multilateral institutions adapt through experimentation and incremental reform, highlighting the shift from comprehensive to targeted sanctions and the development of mechanisms to protect individual due process. He also considers the evolving role of the United States in international institutions, arguing that despite current pressures, multilateral cooperation continues through both formal and informal mechanisms.
