The World Bank Group
Championing Sustainable Development Norms
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6189033 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Susan Park (0000-0001-7932-1525, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 535-556 |
| Publication date | 2007-08-12 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Global Governance A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1075-2846 • E-ISSN: 1942-6720 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1163/19426720-01304007 |
| OpenAlex | W1802513414 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 10 |
| References cited | 5 |
It is well documented that international organizations diffuse norms, but how and why do they do so? I compare how the World Bank and the Inter national Finance Corporation attempt to spread sustainable development norms through their compliance, mainstreaming, and diffusion efforts. I propose that international organizations spread norms in different ways as a result of their roles within their respective social environments. The International Finance Corporation champions sustainable development by spreading core practices throughout the project finance industry, while the Bank attempts to do so through core and noncore activities. The different approaches raise questions about the capacity of each organization to champion environmental norms: the Bank's multiple activities mixes its environmental message as opposed to the International Finance Corpora tion's single (recently lessened) environmental voice. Keywords: World Bank, environment, norms, international organizations, International Finance Corporation. How do international organizations (IOs) champion new norms? It is well documented that IOs diffuse norms to states.11 argue that IOs dif fuse norms through everyday practices, but they may also champion ideas through separate endeavors. I examine how the World Bank and its affil iate the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a lender and investor in pri vate sector projects in developing countries, diffuse sustainable development norms in different ways.2 I propose that IFC champions sustainable develop ment norms by spreading core practices throughout the project finance indus try, while the Bank attempts to do so through both core and noncore activities. The different approaches raise questions about the capacity of each organiza tion to champion environmental norms: the Bank's multiple activities lead to a mixed environmental message versus IFC s single (though recently less ened) environmental voice. Arguably, the different approaches are best under stood by situating each institution in its social environment, or observing how it interacts with IOs, states, and nonstate actors. I propose that the Bank continues to have difficulties in consolidating core sustainability norms as witnessed through its compliance, mainstreaming, and
Business · Champion · Corporate governance · Corporation · International finance · Political science · Project finance · Sustainable development · International Development and Aid · Law · Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy · Finance
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| Unique citing works | 10 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,67 |
| Citation span | 2011 - 2025 (15) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 9 |