Introduction

New research examines how states form bilateral cooperation treaties despite persistent disagreements.

* Data & Methods: Focused on bilateral treaties across multiple issue areas using inferential network analysis to study the dynamics of these cooperative ties. The findings show that states' likelihood of creating new agreements is heavily influenced by existing connections and shared characteristics.

Key Findings

The study reveals several powerful drivers for international cooperation:

* States are significantly more likely to enter into bilateral agreements when they already share an agreement with common third-party partners. This suggests a cascading effect in diplomatic relations, where partnerships spread through established connections.

* Bilateral engagement increases dramatically if states participate in more agreements overall, regardless of the issue area or partner combination. Higher network centrality appears to reduce mistrust and facilitate cooperation.

* Shared exogenous characteristics between pairs of countries are critical predictors for forming bilateral agreements. These findings challenge assumptions that trustworthiness must be established through direct negotiations alone.

Real-World Relevance

This research carries significant implications for understanding international relations:

* It shows cooperation can emerge organically from network effects, explaining why treaties often proliferate across sectors and countries.

* The results highlight the importance of track records in building trust between states.

* These findings suggest that strengthening existing multilateral agreements could indirectly boost bilateral cooperation.