Governance, the World Bank and Liberal Theory

Abstract

We examine the recent debates about governance, focusing particularly on the World Bank and identify certain factors which have in recent years moved the Bank's thinking beyond narrowly economic notions of development. Our account is tentative and we suggest further avenues of research. We try to connect the Bank's thinking systematically with key features of liberal discourse and suggest that thiscan do much to illuminate practice. We illustrate this with a discussion of the growing relationship between the Bank and NGOs, to contribute to forms of analysis which go beyond the ideas vs. interests polarities that still inform so much of contemporary social and political theory.

Going with the Grain in African Development?

“…It also implied introducing or strengthening a suite of essentially Western institutions: a separation of powers, free press, independent judiciary, pluralistic civil society, and respect for the rule of law, to which other voices added the idea of multi-party elections (Moore, 1993;World Bank, 1989: 61). At its most ambitious, the Governance Agenda has attempted to reach right into the capillaries of African society, changing the way Africans practise and think about development and politics (Landell-Mills, 1992;Williams and Young, 1994;Young, 1996). The results, perhaps unsurprisingly, have been underwhelming.…”

Going with the Grain in African Development?

“…Donors have been promoting Good Governance ever since. At its most ambitious the Governance Agenda attempts to reach right into the capillaries of African society, changing the way Africans practice and think about development and politics (Landell-Mills, 1992;Williams and Young, 1994;Young, 1996). The results, perhaps unsurprisingly, have been disappointing.…”

Civil-Society Organizations’ Capacity Building in the Local Governmental Sector: Is It Working? A Case Study

“…Th is belief encourages agencies to invest in civil-society organizations (Hearn 1999;Williams and Young 1994). In addition, in CEE countries several policies were implemented in order to facilitate CSOs' capacity building, ranging from tax breaks for individual or corporate donor to normative subsidies of local or central governments.…”