Navigating nascent illiberalism: the OECD discourse as a case in point

• In Event: Global and Transnational Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 2. Knowledge and Politics I

Abstract

The emergence and spread of the post-World War II liberal world order is often associated with international governmental organizations (IGOs). IGOs have been seen as globally facilitating cooperation and the exchange of ideas between liberal regimes and key disseminators of liberal policy models and ideas. The liberal world order has recently been questioned, and this is also reflected in IGOs perceived as liberal, as a growing number of their members oppose the core institutions and values of the liberal world. At the same time, IGOs with illiberal member states are gaining strength. Given the crucial role of IGOs in the liberal world order, their reaction to the nascent illiberalism is an important issue. This study examines how liberal IGOs navigate the burgeoning illiberalism and how this is reflected in the language they use. As a case study, we examine one key liberal IGO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We investigate the extent to which the OECD adapts its rhetoric to reflect a recipient country’s shift towards illiberalism. To address this question, we analyze the OECD’s Economic Surveys prepared for both liberal and illiberal administrations and the rhetoric used therein. We found that while in the cases of the United States and India, the language used in the Surveys changed notably between illiberal and non-illiberal administrations, such changes were not uniform across countries. Our findings suggest that while the OECD is far from autonomous, it should not be seen as entirely powerless when it comes to the content of its Economic Surveys.

Authors

• Marjaana Anneli Rautalin, University of Helsinki

• Eetu Vento, University of Helsinki

• Jukka Syväterä, University of Helsinki