PSCI 240: Introduction to International Relations (Updated Series) - Regime Theory Explained: How Global Cooperation Might Work Without a Hegemon

Can states cooperate without a global superpower enforcing the rules? Regime Theory says yes—and it’s one of the most important frameworks in international relations for understanding how global governance works. In this lecture, Professor Noah Zerbe explains the core logic of regime theory, how institutions like the WTO, Paris Agreement, and NPT help structure cooperation, and how regimes persist even in the absence of a hegemon. We’ll also explore critiques from realists, responses from neoliberal institutionalists, and what regime theory tells us about the future of multilateralism in a fragmented world. A must-watch for IR students and anyone trying to understand global order today.