ABSTRACT
Analysts of international politics have long been interested in global governance. Research on global governance has evolved from static, rationalist accounts to more dynamic and complex treatments focused on the agency of global governors and the effects of their interaction on outcomes. No one governs alone. Focusing on agency and the bases of global governors’ authority allows us to better understand what global governors do. Relationships between governors can be synergistic and constructive, or tense and ineffective. Focusing on relationships between global governors that must work together can reveal sources of dysfunctional outcomes and constructive collaboration. Relationships between the governors and the governed are central to understanding who benefits from global governance and helps us to think about legitimacy and accountability.
