Consider next the need to ‘‘enforce’’ commitments. The previous section examined
how legalization helps states increase the credibility of their own commitments.
But legalization is also signi cant from the perspective of the states (and other actors)
that have worked to obtain commitmentsfrom others, often in the face of strong
resistance. We refer to such parties as ‘‘demandeurs.’’Whenever there are incentives
for noncompliance with international commitments, demandeurs will seek ways to
forestall or respond to violations by others