Governance and the Discipline of Development

Abstract

‘Discipline’ has at least two meanings. First, it can denote a field of activity, and second, something like correction or control. The article argues that governance as presented by the World Bank is best understood in terms of discipline in the second sense. ‘Good governance’ presents a picture of interlocking disciplinary practices whereby the state is disciplined by society, and society by the state. The article argues further that in its attempts to enact this vision the bank relies heavily on certain ‘disciplinary techniques’. It identifies a number of these techniques and shows how they are connected to the recognisably liberal concepts and categories the bank uses in its understanding of good governance. The article suggests the theory and practice of good governance offers insights into liberalism as a ‘working ideology’. Finally, the article draws some conclusions for the discipline of development in the first sense of the term.