Dr Benjamin Faude
- Senior Lecturer (Political & International Studies)
Biography
Dr Benjamin Faude is Senior Lecturer in International Relations.
Before joining the University of Glasgow, he worked at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the WZB Berlin Social Science Center, and Newcastle University. He also held visiting positions at the University of California, Berkeley, and Vrije Universiteit Brussels. In addition, Dr Faude has taught at the University of Bamberg, Free University Berlin, and Charles University in Prague.
He holds a PhD from the University of Bamberg (Germany) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from the University of Glasgow.
Dr Faude's research examines how institutional complexity shapes the prospects of effective and legitimate global governance in a changing world.
His current research focuses on how international institutions respond to major changes and disruptions in the global order. In particular, he examines how institutions adapt to emerging challenges, how institutional complexity shapes the resilience of global governance in times of crisis, and how gradual institutional change can contribute to broader transformations in the international order.
His research has been published in leading journals in International Relations and Global Governance, including International Studies Quarterly, International Theory, The Review of International Organizations, Global Policy, Ethics & International Affairs, Cooperation & Conflict, International Studies Review, and Global Environmental Politics.
Dr Faude's Google Scholar profile is available here and his ResearchGate profile is available here.
He is a co-convenor of the Global Policy North network, a consortium of scholars from various disciplines and universities whose research addresses a range of global governance and global policy issues.
From 2024 to 2026, he served as convenor of the University of Glasgow's MSc International Relations.
In 2023-2024, he served as Programme Chair of the International Organisation (IO) Section within the International Studies Association (ISA) for the 2024 Annual Convention, held in San Francisco.
Dr Faude is the recipient of LSE's 2020-2021 Excellence in Education Award for outstanding teaching contribution and educational leadership.
Research interests
Dr Faude's research is motivated by a simple observation: many of the world's major policy challenges (including climate change, financial instability, artificial intelligence and digital technologies, migration, and global health) are governed by a complex array of international institutions. These institutions often have overlapping responsibilities and operate without a central authority to coordinate their activities. At the same time, global governance is being reshaped by a changing distribution of global power and the growing influence of nationalist and populist politics. This raises a fundamental question: how can effective and legitimate global governance be achieved in a world characterised by institutional complexity, shifting global power, and political contestation?
To address this question, Dr Faude examines how institutional complexity shapes global governance and how international institutions respond to major changes and disruptions. His research explores how institutions adapt to emerging challenges, how they remain resilient in times of crisis, and how gradual institutional change can contribute to broader transformations in global governance. Theoretically, his research draws on insights from rational, historical, and sociological institutionalism. Methodologically, he combines qualitative, quantitative, and formal approaches.
Research groups
Publications
2026
Reinsberg, Bernhard 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7382-413X and Faude, Benjamin
(2026)
How does inter-institutional competition affect the performance of multilateral development finance institutions?
Cooperation and Conflict,
(doi: 10.1177/00108367261442413)
(Early Online Publication)
Vanackère, F. et al. (2026) Building a data-driven and complexity-aware digital infrastructure for effective multilateralism. Project Report. Science in Diplomacy Lab Policy Report No 1., Geneva, Switzerland.
2025
Faude, Benjamin and Abbott, Kenneth W. (2025) Does the system work? Transnational crises and the resilience of global governance. International Studies Review, 27(4), viaf020. (doi: 10.1093/isr/viaf020)
Faude, Benjamin and Heinkelmann-Wild, Tim (2025) Destruction or renewal? Trumpism and the future of global governance. Global Public Policy and Governance, (doi: 10.1007/s43508-025-00130-y) (Early Online Publication)
Faude, Benjamin and Reinsberg, Bernhard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7382-413X
(2025)
To confront or to evade? The evolution of the international regime complex for multilateral development finance.
Global Studies Quarterly,
(Accepted for Publication)
Taggart, Jack and Faude, Benjamin (2025) Boon or bane?: the hybrid institutional complex for the sustainable development goals. Global Policy, 16(4), pp. 682-690. (doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.70084)
Faude, Benjamin and Karlsrud, John (2025) The institutional dynamics of global governance in hard times: innovation or decline? Ethics and International Affairs, (doi: 10.1017/S0892679425100154) (Early Online Publication)
2022
Abbott, Kenneth W. and Faude, Benjamin (2022) Hybrid institutional complexes in global governance. Review of International Organizations, 17(2), pp. 263-291. (doi: 10.1007/s11558-021-09431-3) (PMID:35722451) (PMCID:PMC8149577)
2021
Abbott, Kenneth W. and Faude, Benjamin (2021) Choosing low-cost institutions in global governance. International Theory, 13(3), pp. 397-426. (doi: 10.1017/S1752971920000202)
Faude, Benjamin and Parizek, Michal (2021) Contested multilateralism as credible signaling: how strategic inconsistency can induce cooperation among states. Review of International Organizations, 16(4), pp. 843-870. (doi: 10.1007/s11558-020-09398-7)
2020
Faude, Benjamin (2020) Breaking gridlock: how path dependent layering enhances resilience in global trade governance. Global Policy, 11(4), pp. 448-457. (doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12822)
Faude, Benjamin and Fuss, Julia (2020) Coordination or conflict? The causes and consequences of institutional overlap in a disaggregated world order. Global Constitutionalism, 9(2), pp. 268-289. (doi: 10.1017/S2045381719000376)
Groβe-Kreul, Felix and Faude, Benjamin (2020) Let's justify! How regime complexes enhance the normative legitimacy of global governance. International Studies Quarterly, 64(2), pp. 431-439. (doi: 10.1093/isq/sqaa024)
Faude, Benjamin (2020) Global governance als polycentric governance. Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen, 27(1), pp. 151-162. (doi: 10.5771/0946-7165-2020-1-151)
Faude, Benjamin (2020) International institutions in hard times: how complexity increases resilience. Complexity, Governance and Networks, 6(1), pp. 46-54.
2018
Faude, Benjamin (2018) How the fragmentation of the international judiciary affects the performance of international judicial bodies. In: Squatrito, Theresa, Young, Oran R., Follesdal, Andreas and Ulfstein, Geir (eds.) The Performance of International Courts and Tribunals. Series: Studies on international courts and tribunals. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 234-260. ISBN 9781108348768 (doi: 10.1017/9781108348768.008)
2017
Faude, Benjamin and Gehring, Thomas (2017) Regime complexes as governance systems. In: Sandholtz, Wayne and Whytock, Christopher A. (eds.) Research Handbook on the Politics of International Law. Series: Research handbooks in international law. Edward Elgar Publishing: Cheltenham, pp. 176-203. ISBN 9781783473984 (doi: 10.4337/9781783473984.00015)
2015
Faude, Benjamin (2015) Von Konkurrenz zu Arbeitsteilung: Komplexität und Dynamik im Zusammenspiel internationaler Institutionen. Series: Staatlichkeit im Wandel. Campus: Frankfurt am Main/New York. ISBN 9783593503264
Faude, Benjamin (2015) Zur Dynamik interorganisationaler Beziehungen: Wie aus Konkurrenz Arbeitsteilung entsteht. In: da Conceição-Heldt, Eugénia, Koch, Martin and Liese, Andrea (eds.) Internationale Organisationen. Series: Sonderheft PVS. Nomos: Baden-Baden, pp. 299-326. ISBN 9783848704842
2014
Gehring, Thomas and Faude, Benjamin (2014) A theory of emerging order within institutional complexes: how competition among regulatory international institutions leads to institutional adaptation and division of labor. Review of International Organizations, 9(4), pp. 471-498. (doi: 10.1007/s11558-014-9197-1)
2013
Gehring, Thomas and Faude, Benjamin (2013) The dynamics of regime complexes: microfoundations and systemic effects. Global Governance, 19(1), pp. 119-130. (doi: 10.1163/19426720-01901010)
Zürn, Michael and Faude, Benjamin (2013) On fragmentation, differentiation, and coordination. Global Environmental Politics, 13(3), pp. 119-130. (doi: 10.1162/GLEP_a_00186)
2011
Faude, Benjamin (2011) Paradoxe Verrechtlichung. Wie Streitschlichtungsmechanismen interagieren. Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen, 18(1), pp. 77-108.
2010
Krapohl, Sebastian, Faude, Benjamin and Dinkel, Julia (2010) Judicial integration in the Americas?: A comparison of dispute settlement in NAFTA and MERCOSUR. In: Laursen, Finn (ed.) Comparative Regional Integration. Series: International political economy of new regionalisms series. Routledge, pp. 169-192. ISBN 9781315259765 (doi: 10.4324/9781315259765-21)
Articles
Reinsberg, Bernhard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7382-413X and Faude, Benjamin
(2026)
How does inter-institutional competition affect the performance of multilateral development finance institutions?
Cooperation and Conflict,
(doi: 10.1177/00108367261442413)
(Early Online Publication)
Faude, Benjamin and Abbott, Kenneth W. (2025) Does the system work? Transnational crises and the resilience of global governance. International Studies Review, 27(4), viaf020. (doi: 10.1093/isr/viaf020)
Faude, Benjamin and Heinkelmann-Wild, Tim (2025) Destruction or renewal? Trumpism and the future of global governance. Global Public Policy and Governance, (doi: 10.1007/s43508-025-00130-y) (Early Online Publication)
Faude, Benjamin and Reinsberg, Bernhard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7382-413X
(2025)
To confront or to evade? The evolution of the international regime complex for multilateral development finance.
Global Studies Quarterly,
(Accepted for Publication)
Taggart, Jack and Faude, Benjamin (2025) Boon or bane?: the hybrid institutional complex for the sustainable development goals. Global Policy, 16(4), pp. 682-690. (doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.70084)
Faude, Benjamin and Karlsrud, John (2025) The institutional dynamics of global governance in hard times: innovation or decline? Ethics and International Affairs, (doi: 10.1017/S0892679425100154) (Early Online Publication)
Abbott, Kenneth W. and Faude, Benjamin (2022) Hybrid institutional complexes in global governance. Review of International Organizations, 17(2), pp. 263-291. (doi: 10.1007/s11558-021-09431-3) (PMID:35722451) (PMCID:PMC8149577)
Abbott, Kenneth W. and Faude, Benjamin (2021) Choosing low-cost institutions in global governance. International Theory, 13(3), pp. 397-426. (doi: 10.1017/S1752971920000202)
Faude, Benjamin and Parizek, Michal (2021) Contested multilateralism as credible signaling: how strategic inconsistency can induce cooperation among states. Review of International Organizations, 16(4), pp. 843-870. (doi: 10.1007/s11558-020-09398-7)
Faude, Benjamin (2020) Breaking gridlock: how path dependent layering enhances resilience in global trade governance. Global Policy, 11(4), pp. 448-457. (doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12822)
Faude, Benjamin and Fuss, Julia (2020) Coordination or conflict? The causes and consequences of institutional overlap in a disaggregated world order. Global Constitutionalism, 9(2), pp. 268-289. (doi: 10.1017/S2045381719000376)
Groβe-Kreul, Felix and Faude, Benjamin (2020) Let's justify! How regime complexes enhance the normative legitimacy of global governance. International Studies Quarterly, 64(2), pp. 431-439. (doi: 10.1093/isq/sqaa024)
Faude, Benjamin (2020) Global governance als polycentric governance. Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen, 27(1), pp. 151-162. (doi: 10.5771/0946-7165-2020-1-151)
Faude, Benjamin (2020) International institutions in hard times: how complexity increases resilience. Complexity, Governance and Networks, 6(1), pp. 46-54.
Gehring, Thomas and Faude, Benjamin (2014) A theory of emerging order within institutional complexes: how competition among regulatory international institutions leads to institutional adaptation and division of labor. Review of International Organizations, 9(4), pp. 471-498. (doi: 10.1007/s11558-014-9197-1)
Gehring, Thomas and Faude, Benjamin (2013) The dynamics of regime complexes: microfoundations and systemic effects. Global Governance, 19(1), pp. 119-130. (doi: 10.1163/19426720-01901010)
Zürn, Michael and Faude, Benjamin (2013) On fragmentation, differentiation, and coordination. Global Environmental Politics, 13(3), pp. 119-130. (doi: 10.1162/GLEP_a_00186)
Faude, Benjamin (2011) Paradoxe Verrechtlichung. Wie Streitschlichtungsmechanismen interagieren. Zeitschrift für Internationale Beziehungen, 18(1), pp. 77-108.
Books
Faude, Benjamin (2015) Von Konkurrenz zu Arbeitsteilung: Komplexität und Dynamik im Zusammenspiel internationaler Institutionen. Series: Staatlichkeit im Wandel. Campus: Frankfurt am Main/New York. ISBN 9783593503264
Book Sections
Faude, Benjamin (2018) How the fragmentation of the international judiciary affects the performance of international judicial bodies. In: Squatrito, Theresa, Young, Oran R., Follesdal, Andreas and Ulfstein, Geir (eds.) The Performance of International Courts and Tribunals. Series: Studies on international courts and tribunals. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 234-260. ISBN 9781108348768 (doi: 10.1017/9781108348768.008)
Faude, Benjamin and Gehring, Thomas (2017) Regime complexes as governance systems. In: Sandholtz, Wayne and Whytock, Christopher A. (eds.) Research Handbook on the Politics of International Law. Series: Research handbooks in international law. Edward Elgar Publishing: Cheltenham, pp. 176-203. ISBN 9781783473984 (doi: 10.4337/9781783473984.00015)
Faude, Benjamin (2015) Zur Dynamik interorganisationaler Beziehungen: Wie aus Konkurrenz Arbeitsteilung entsteht. In: da Conceição-Heldt, Eugénia, Koch, Martin and Liese, Andrea (eds.) Internationale Organisationen. Series: Sonderheft PVS. Nomos: Baden-Baden, pp. 299-326. ISBN 9783848704842
Krapohl, Sebastian, Faude, Benjamin and Dinkel, Julia (2010) Judicial integration in the Americas?: A comparison of dispute settlement in NAFTA and MERCOSUR. In: Laursen, Finn (ed.) Comparative Regional Integration. Series: International political economy of new regionalisms series. Routledge, pp. 169-192. ISBN 9781315259765 (doi: 10.4324/9781315259765-21)
Research Reports or Papers
Vanackère, F. et al. (2026) Building a data-driven and complexity-aware digital infrastructure for effective multilateralism. Project Report. Science in Diplomacy Lab Policy Report No 1., Geneva, Switzerland.
Supervision
I am interested in supervising PhD students working on topics related to global governance institutions. I am particularly keen to supervise research on institutional complexity, institutional change and resilience, and how shifts in global power and political contestation shape global governance.
Teaching
Undergraduate Teaching:
POLITIC4171: International Organisations
Postgraduate Teaching:
POLITIC5081: International Organisations
