As discussed in Chapter 1, the observation that global governance varies across an intergovernmental–nongovernmental continuum begs the question of how we can explain such variation. In other words, when is global governance likely to experience shifts toward a more intergovernmental or nongovernmental approach?

In this chapter, I address this question by considering the factors expected to affect the likelihood that global governance be more intergovernmental or nongovernmental. As the present study is the first to seek direct answers to this question, it does not purport to offer an exhaustive analysis, going into the same amount of detail for all potential explanations. Instead, it emphasizes one powerful type of explanation for the variation across the intergovernmental–nongovernmental continuum that previous literature has only tentatively or indirectly touched upon: the link between the domestic and global preferences of the most powerful states.