Multilateralism and Democracy: A Dissent Regarding Keohane, Macedo, and Moravcsik

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In an article printed last year in<jats:italic>International Organization</jats:italic>, Keohane, Macedo, and Moravcsik argued that multilateral organizations (MLO) could actually be good for democracy. We argue that KMM discount the prospect that MLO influence can be detrimental to democracies not because MLOs are “distant, elitist, and technocratic” but precisely because MLOs are highly political. International organizations have much to offer in improving the welfare of citizens and facilitating coordinations among states. They are not likely to improve procedural functions of democracies without a cost that itself is problematic for democracy.</jats:p>