What is the meaning of institutional nesting?

Answer 1

Institutional Nesting is a theory of International Organizations which holds that a defining factor in the development, shape, and decay of Institutions is the way in which they interact with other Institutions. For example, Institutional Nesting might posit the success of ASEAN was a result of it's ability to "nest" itself within existing WTO norms and regulations. The term was probably coined by Berkeley Professor Vinod Aggarwal, it might help to read some of his work on it. For example, "Institutional Nesting: Lessons and Prospects" which a quick Google search shows is free from Princeton.