Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...

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politics more effectively and to pursue their self-interest. Neo-realists consider IGOs as
ineffective and meaningless actors that work for great powers. In contrast, according to
liberalists IGOs play constructive and effective role in shaping international landscape and to
achieve mutual goals. On the other hand idealists consider IGOs legal platforms to achieve
mutual objectives and to promote human welfare. This theory played a key role in the
development of IGOs. Institutional theory explains the complex configuration and functions of
organization by explaining. According to this theory states are interested in IGOs because of the
possibility of higher mutual gain and Institutionalist considers IGOs-IGOs and IGOs-States
cooperation as completely rational and complementary. But the behavioralist see IGOs
differently, they assume that the activities of IGOs and political institutions are based on
fundamental social forces so that the study of IGOs and institutions should commence with study
of society, culture, and human key actors. On the other side functionalist propose the idea that
IGO are designed to achieve specific goals must help to materialize the set objectives, only then
it can be considered as a fully functional body. The followers of constructivism theory, IGOs are
socially constructed entities that play a vital and independent role in spreading global norms,
including higher education (Koremenos, Lipson, & Snidal, 2001). Rationalism and
constructivism are generic theoretical orientations that are complementary on some crucial points
(Katzenstein, Keohane, & Krasner, 1998).
As a result of recent developments the importance of IGOs has further increased. Globalists see
IGOs as an integral tool of international cooperation to achieve economic development whereas
Inter-governmentalists gives more importance to integration so they see the IGOs as a mean to
integrate states to achieve common goals. According to this theory the integration and
cooperation through IGOs is based upon rational self-interest of states rather than practicability
and usability as seen in functionalism and neo-functionalism. But classical realists see states as
the major actors in international politics where IGOs have a limited role to play d (Morgenthau
& Thompson, 1985). The complex study of IGOs can be simplified when seen through Game
theory. This theory helps to simplify and to solve the problem faced by international actors: the
rational decision for an individual actor that can be a state or an IGO. This theory is a useful tool
to study complex process of IGO-state relations and effectiveness, and to maximize outcomes of
actions.