Ebola, reforming the World Health Organization, and IO theory

In the wake of the World Health Organization's (WHO) failures and delays in responding to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, a number of groups inside and outside of the organization have called for significant changes to WHO's institutional structures, financing, and emergency response mechanisms. While there is little doubt of the need for serious and substantive changes to how WHO operates, the unbridled enthusiasm for such efforts masks the likelihood of far-reaching reforms occurring. Drawing on the insights of international relations and international organization theory, I argue that the chances for significant reforms face serious obstacles. Without norm entrepreneurs to promote serious reform and changes to organizational culture, reforms are unlikely to address the shortcomings that limit WHO's response capacities.