International organizations' responses to member state contestation: from inertia to resilience

Abstract International organizations (IOs) play a key role in promoting multilateral cooperation on critical transnational issues. Yet, their authority has increasingly been contested by member states that cut financial contributions or even withdraw membership. How do IOs respond to such contestation? While the existing literature mostly focused reactions other states, I argue this article our understanding of IOs' responses contestation remains incomplete without an analysis IO bureaucracies. propose conceptual framework analyse three types bureaucratic responses: inertia, i.e. no immediate response; adaptation, institutional changes maintain support challenging state(s); and resilience-building, developing organizational capacities limit contestation. each these is shaped specific mechanisms, namely hunkering, negotiation, framing, coalition-building, shaming professionalization. Based comparative within-case study analysing United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) budget cuts Reagan, Bush Trump administrations, further theorize organization's threat perception, position leadership are relevant factors need be considered explain variation