ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts covered in the preceding chapters of this book. The book examines the process of accession to international organizations by answering why do some states have a seemingly easy process of joining international organizations while other states find the process nearly impossible and how does accession change the internal laws and governing institutions of applicant states. It considers the two-level theory of accession to explain the differences in accession outcomes and effects in the context of accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)/World Trade Organization (WTO) from 1950–2014. The book focuses on quantitative analysis of original data sourced from the accession documents for all states that joined the organization from 1950–2014. Regardless of the path that future accessions take, the legacies of accession experiences are sure to continue to play an important role in the future of international organizations.
