ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains why do some states have a seemingly easy process of joining international organizations (IOs) while other states find the process nearly impossible and how does accession change the internal laws and governing institutions of applicant states. Explaining the variations in accession and the implications that the process of accession has on domestic politics will help to fill in a significant gap in the literature on IOs as well as contribute to a number of broader debates on the impact of international institutions in global politics. In both the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)/World Trade Organization (WTO) and the European Union (EU), applicant states and representatives of the IO negotiate over the terms of membership. The book focuses on the international implications of accession to the WTO by examining how scrutiny in the accession process determines trade gains.
