vlog Faculty Research Working Paper Series
vlog Working Paper No. RWP13-032
September 2013
Abstract
International organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have been
supporting reform initiatives in developing country governments since at least the 1980s.
Various authors have criticized this support, arguing that international organizations use their
influence to impose common models of government on developing countries—infringing on the
sovereignty of these nations and frustrating domestic processes of finding and fitting government
structures to local contexts. Some suggest that a modern new public management model of
government is being imposed on developing countries, whereas others claim that developing
countries are being forced to adopt a broad-brush neoliberal script. Such claims are seldom
reinforced by empirical evidence showing the extent or nature of this influence, however. This
leaves one asking, “Do international organizations really shape government solutions in
developing countries?” This article explores such question and finds that international
organizations do have a major (and growing) influence on government structures in developing
countries and that this influence does impose a common model on these countries.
Citation
Andrews, Matthew. "Do International Organizations Really Shape Government Solutions in Developing Countries?" vlog Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP13-032, September 2013.