Songying Fang, Department of Political Science, Rice University and Randall W. Stone, Department of Political Science, University of Rochester

Is it possible for international organizations to persuade governments to adopt policy recommendations that are based on private information? If so, under what conditions? This study develops a game theoretic model of persuasion that applies to all types of governments, including those that do not face domestic constituency constraints. The results suggest that, far from being an obstacle to international cooperation, polarized domestic politics may be a necessary condition for international organizations to exert effective influence.