Such events salve consciences, draining resources away from longer-term projects. Symbols of achievement parade as realities, disguising healthy responses to non-achievement. The elaboration of agreements and networks of regulations binding the relationship between social actors is cooperation in one of its most lasting forms. The stream of regulations from the EEC is a prime example. Treaties either fail to enter into force for lack of ratifications, or only govern the behaviour of a minority of potential parties, or are systematically violated, in the letter or in the spirit.
Little provision is made for enforcement of obligations.
Little is learnt from the lack of commitment to last year's resolutions in the throes of articulating those for this year. Conspiracy of elites Real cooperation may be seen as associated with the unpublicized, long-term working relationships between elites of whatever kind. It may be articulated in secret agreements, whether between governments, classified research establishments, intelligence agencies, corporations, crime syndicates or revolutionary groups. Consequently groups such as the freemasons and Opus Dei must check each other's excesses in continuing battles hidden from the public eye. Invisible colleges must engage in primitive skirmishes to deprive each other of larger shares of scarce resources.