Organizational Politics, Multilateral Economic Organizations and Social Policy

Abstract

This article contributes to the debate over social policy and multilateral economic organizations by suggesting that advocates seeking to strengthen or defend redistributive social policy in the face of such institutions face a series of conflicts that involve challenges in three areas: organizational politics, state interest, and the balance of social forces. In terms of organizational politics, social policy is disadvantaged by the fusion of functionalism and neoclassical economics. Remedies to this problem lie in breaking down technocratic practice by exposing the organizations to other agendas and forms of knowledge. This then involves the other two challenges: state interests must incorporate a stronger promotion of social policies and the balance of social forces must shift away from commercial interests towards those favoring social policy innovation.