Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-11-2012
Abstract
Among the explanations for state ratification of human rights treaties, few are more common and widely accepted than the conjecture that states are rewarded for ratification by other states. These rewards are expected to come in the form of tangible benefits—foreign aid, trade, and investment—and intangible benefits such as praise, acceptance, and legitimacy. Surprisingly, these explanations for ratification have never been tested empirically. We summarize and clarify the theoretical underpinnings of “reward-for-ratification” theories and test these propositions empirically by looking for increased international aid, economic agreements, and public praise and recognition following ratification of four prominent human rights treaties. We find almost no evidence that states can expect increased tangible or intangible rewards after ratification. Given the lack of empirical support, alternative explanations seem more appealing for understanding human rights treaty ratification.
Keywords
International law, human rights, treaty ratification, motivations for ratification, tangible rewards, intangible rewards, empirical research
Publication Title
International Studies Quarterly
Repository Citation
Neilsen, Richard and Simmons, Beth A., "Rewards for Rights Ratification? Testing for Tangible and Intangible Benefits of Human Rights Treaty Ratification" (2012). All Faculty Scholarship. 1687.
https://scholarship.law.upenn.edu/faculty_scholarship/1687
Included in
International Humanitarian Law Commons, International Law Commons, International Relations Commons, Law and Politics Commons, Other International and Area Studies Commons, Policy History, Theory, and Methods Commons, Public Affairs Commons, Public Law and Legal Theory Commons, Public Policy Commons
Publication Citation
Published as: Rewards for Ratification: Payoffs for Participating in the International Human Rights Regime?, 59 Int'l Stud. Q. 197 (2015).