Using the concept of 'incomplete contracts' - agreements that are intentionally ambiguous and subject to renegotiation, this title explains how states divide and transfer their sovereign territory and functions, and demonstrates why some of these arrangements offer stable and lasting solutions while others ultimately collapse.

""Contracting Sovereignty" is an extraordinary undertaking that challenges us to see the foundations of successful international cooperation in a new light. This is likely to be a seminal work that defines the terms of the debate about sovereignty and governance for years to come."--Philip G. Roeder, University of California, San Diego ""Contracting States" adds a great deal to our understanding of mixed forms of sovereignty. It not only poses an interesting puzzle but provides a sophisticated theoretical framework and leaves the reader with useful policy prescriptions for hybrid governance structures. This book makes a significant contribution to the literature. I learned a great deal from "Contracting States,""--Katja Weber, Georgia Institute of Technology

"Contracting States sheds new light on the changing nature of state sovereignty, examining how sovereignty is frequently divided and explaining that how this is done has important later consequences for the actors involved. . . . Contracting States is an important book that warrants the attention of international relations scholars."---Richard W. Mansbach, Perspectives on Politics