Tête-à-Tête
Chapter 2 describes what institutional memory is and provides an overview of the book’s theoretical argument. The chapter begins by conceptualizing institutional memory. The subsequent section introduces the book’s theoretical argument, which builds on assumptions from rationalist institutionalist theories. Depending on an IO’s design, formal learning infrastructure can inadvertently deter IO elites from sharing their knowledge about strategic errors. Elites respond by choosing instead to socially construct memory through three informal processes: transnational interpersonal networks, private documentation and socializing during crisis management exercises. The chapter then identifies key premises of the book’s argument. These four premises concern the impact of the design of formal learning processes, elites’ built-in incentives to share, the role of an active secretariat and sources that motivate elites to act. The chapter concludes by identifying predictions, based on the book’s argument and by describing conditions under which the argument should hold.