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The autonomy of international organizations? The analysis of major powers’ influence over the World Bank’s aid policies

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  • Yooneui Kim

    (University of Iowa, USA)

  • Youngwan Kim

    (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea)

Abstract

Are international organizations autonomous actors in global politics? This paper investigates whether and how major powers influence the World Bank’s official development assistance policies. Despite the World Bank’s attempts to maintain independence from its member states, we argue that major powers are still influential. Testing this expectation with the data of official development assistance provisions between 1981 and 2017, we find that the World Bank provides a higher amount of official development assistance to the recipient countries that receive a higher amount of such assistance from the major powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan. In addition, the World Bank is prone to provide a higher amount of official development assistance to the recipients that have a similar preference to the major powers. This study sheds light on the relations between major powers and international organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Yooneui Kim & Youngwan Kim, 2021. "The autonomy of international organizations? The analysis of major powers’ influence over the World Bank’s aid policies," International Area Studies Review, Center for International Area Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, vol. 24(3), pages 224-240, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:intare:v:24:y:2021:i:3:p:224-240
    DOI: 10.1177/22338659211024879
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Yu-Han Cai & Charalampos Efstathopoulos, 2023. "Between economic openness and strategic caution: Germany’s response to China’s investment," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 291-309, September.

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