Japan, the World Bank, and the Art of Paradigm Maintenance: The East Asian Miracle in Political Perspective

In: New left review: NLR, Heft 217, S. 3-36

Abstract

Examination of the relationship of Japan & the World Bank with specific interest in analyzing how & to what degree the World Bank acts as an autonomous variable in the international system. Illustrates how Japan was able to change World Bank perception & policy toward East Asian development by following an independent path working with East Asian countries' development projects. Nevertheless, the World Bank is shown to continue to work autonomously as a major agent of development internationally. The East Asian Miracle: Economic Growth & Public Policy, a special 1993 study resulting from the Japan's request that the World Bank examine East & Southeast Asia, is examined here after reviewing the tension between Japan & the World Bank beginning in the 1980s & the process of preparing the study. It is concluded that the Bank's values & objectives are influenced & determined by world financial markets; the financial capital's owners, managers; & organizational structure & staff. While not taking direct orders from the US, this structure & set of values also represent US values & objectives, making the Bank less autonomous than it appears superficially. R. Rodriguez