Which concept refers to the challenge states face when trying to benefit from resources without cooperation?

The concept that refers to the challenge states face when trying to benefit from resources without cooperation is known as the collective goods problem. This scenario occurs when multiple actors, typically states or groups, share a common resource but lack the collaboration needed to manage it effectively. In this situation, individual states may pursue their own interests, leading to over-exploitation or depletion of the resource, which ultimately undermines the shared benefit for all parties involved.

The collective goods problem is often illustrated through examples such as environmental resources, public goods, and common-pool resources. For instance, the depletion of fisheries or the atmosphere due to pollution illustrates how states can struggle to cooperate effectively to preserve resources that everyone depends on. The lack of cooperation can result in a tragedy of the commons, where individual incentives lead to negative outcomes for the collective.

Understanding this concept highlights the importance of international cooperation and frameworks that can facilitate agreements among states to manage and preserve common resources. In contrast, dependency theory focuses on economic relations and exploitative practices, realpolitik emphasizes pragmatic and power-driven foreign policy, and strategic interaction pertains to how actors respond to one another’s actions within international relations. Each of these concepts has its significance but does not specifically encapsulate the dilemma of resource management without cooperation as the collective