The Limits of Expulsion: Institutional Response to Russia’s Defection From the International Institutional Order

Why are states rarely expelled from international institutions, even after blatantly defying the principles they were incorporated to uphold? This article examines this puzzle through the case of Russia’s continued membership in key international institutions, including the G7, WTO, G20, the Council of Europe, and the International Space Station, following its 2014 annexation of Crimea and 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Building on existing literature, we develop a three-tiered framework explaining the dynamics influencing the expulsion process, including (1) hegemonic motivation, (2) procedural feasibility, and (3) third-party political support. While the U.S. and or its Western allies viewed Russia’s actions as highly aggressive and as challenging the world order, expulsion was pursued only in select cases where all three conditions were met. Our findings challenge assumptions that informal institutions are inherently more flexible and highlight the enduring constraints of institutional design and multilateral politics. This study contributes to understanding how power, legitimacy, and institutional resilience interact in global governance amid rising geopolitical tensions.