A World of Meta-Organizations

Meta-organizations – organizations with other organizations as members – are everywhere. They exert significant influence over markets, public policies and their own members.

In this insightful book, the authors argue that the contemporary world cannot be fully understood without understanding how meta-organizations function. They explain why meta-organizations are established, what they do and how they achieve their societal impact. Chapters describe and analyse meta-organizations in various social sectors and with various levels of outreach, from the G20 and OPEC to MERCOSUR and the Forest Stewardship Council, from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to regional collectives of music festivals and French women’s associations.

This book is a valuable resource for scholars and students researching management, organization studies, sociology, political science and international relations. It will greatly benefit practitioners in organizational management and public policy, as well as journalists and social action groups interested in how the contemporary world is organized and governed.