ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the international institutional architecture charged with maintaining stability and limiting uncertainty. The twentieth century is notable for the developments in the international regulatory structure. Regulatory initiatives did not stop at national borders. The collapse of the institutions related to Soviet communism in the latter part of the twentieth century led to a euphoric claim of the end of history: capitalism won and communism lost. In the development of the institutional and management theme, the strength and weaknesses of international cooperation in maintaining stability in the international financial and economic architecture is analysed to make clear the demands prevalent throughout the international system. Whilst the procedures and the operations of banks have improved since the years of reckless lending and loose management, banks continue to be at risk from corporate malfeasance, a result of the embedded fusion between securities and banking.
