34
Bridging the rationalist–constructivist divide: re-engineering the culture of the World Bank Daniel L. Nielso n a , Michael J. Tierney b and Catherine E. Weaver c a Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University, 745 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602, USA. E-mail: [email protected] b Department of Government, College of William and Mary, Box 8795, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA. E-mail: [email protected] c Department of Political Science, University of Kansas, 1541 Liliac Lane, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA. E-mail: [email protected] In this article, we seek to explain reform patterns at the World Bank. Traditional realist and institutionalist theories say little about the process of change within international organizations (‘IOs’). Drawing upon the insights of relatively new rational ist and constru ctivist approach es, we develop and test a model of IO change tha t combi nes insights from rat ionalism and const ruc tivism. Our explanation integrates the ‘top-down’ logic of a rationalist principal-agent model — targeting the redes ign of org anizatio nal structures, hi ri ng proce dures and pro mot ional standards, and the ‘bottom-up’ logic of sociological constructivism — focusing on the transformation of bureaucratic culture. We find that reform outcomes hinge upon the ability of change entrepreneurs to disrupt both the logics of consequence and appropriate ness that shape the pref erences and behaviour of bureaucratic actors. We evaluate our model by examining four distinct aspects of the World Bank’s Strategic Compact (1997–2001), which included attempts to alter project management, organizational culture, and the mission of the institution itself. Journal of International Relations and Development (2006) 9, 107–139. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jird.1800084 Keywords: constructivism; int erna tion al orga niza tions; organiz atio nal cult ure; rationalism; World Bank Introduction At the age of 60, the World Bank has been suffering a mid-life crisis for over a decade. 1 During this period, the Bank has faced the growing wrath of non- governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society groups and its own member states, all of whom denounce the Bank for sidestepping its own policies and falling far short of its goal of alleviating world poverty. To appease its many critics in an era of mounting development challenges and declining aid, the Journal of International Relations and Development, 2006, 9, (107–139) r 2006 Palgrave Macmillan Ltd 1408-6980/06 $30.00 www.palgrave-journals.com/jird

Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 1/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 2/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 3/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 4/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 5/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 6/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 7/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 8/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 9/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 10/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 11/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 12/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 13/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 14/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 15/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 16/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 17/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 18/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 19/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 20/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 21/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 22/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 23/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 24/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 25/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 26/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 27/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 28/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 29/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 30/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 31/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 32/33

8/7/2019 Nielsen EtAl2006 bridging the rationalist constructivist divide World Bank

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/nielsen-etal2006-bridging-the-rationalist-constructivist-divide-world-bank 33/33