This book investigates the historical and conceptual origins of international organizations as mechanisms for technocratic governance and the pursuit of a global utopia. Jens Steffek, a scholar of international relations and political theory, utilizes historical analysis and political philosophy to examine how early international bodies were designed to replace political conflict with administrative expertise. The work argues that the reliance on technical knowledge to solve global problems has fundamentally shaped the legitimacy and structure of modern international institutions.

Scholars in the field of international relations identify this work as a rigorous contribution to the study of global governance and institutional design. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for researchers and students of political theory.