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Politics of private regulation: ISEAL and the shaping of transnational sustainability governance

Author

Listed:
  • Allison Loconto
  • Eve Fouilleux

Abstract

Scholars describe the proliferation of sustainability standards by multi‐stakeholder initiatives as part of an organizational field for sustainability. The aim of this article is to gain a better understanding of the institutionalization process of this global organizational field by focusing on the case of the ISEAL Alliance (the global association for sustainability standards). We show how ISEAL puts specific strategies into place to both reinforce and expand the role and influence of sustainability standards. This institutional entrepreneurship consists primarily of two dimensions: institutionalizing macro‐standards based on a market‐driven and procedural vision of sustainability; and simultaneously legitimating both the tools and ISEAL through internal and external enrolments and entanglements. The characterization of ISEAL's activities in this way brings politics back into the analysis of sustainability standard‐related technical debates and extends our understanding of how the micro‐dynamics within organizational fields are interdependent upon macro‐dynamics outside organizational fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Allison Loconto & Eve Fouilleux, 2014. "Politics of private regulation: ISEAL and the shaping of transnational sustainability governance," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(2), pages 166-185, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:reggov:v:8:y:2014:i:2:p:166-185
    DOI: 10.1111/rego.12028
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tim Büthe & Walter Mattli, 2011. "The New Global Rulers: The Privatization of Regulation in the World Economy," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 1, number 9470, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hamish van der Ven, 2024. "A comparison of stakeholder engagement practices in voluntary sustainability standards," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(3), pages 820-836, July.
    2. Fiona Kinniburgh & Henrik Selin & Noelle E. Selin & Miranda Schreurs, 2023. "When private governance impedes multilateralism: The case of international pesticide governance," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), pages 425-448, April.
    3. Axel Marx & Charline Depoorter & Santiago Fernandez de Cordoba & Rupal Verma & Mercedes Araoz & Graeme Auld & Janne Bemelmans & Elizabeth A. Bennett & Eva Boonaert & Clara Brandi & Thomas Dietz & Eve , 2024. "Global governance through voluntary sustainability standards: Developments, trends and challenges," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 15(4), pages 708-728, September.
    4. Natalie J. Langford & Luc Fransen, 2022. "Building Legitimacy in an Era of Polycentric Trade: The Case of Transnational Sustainability Governance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(3), pages 155-166.
    5. Paulo Mortara Batistic & Thomas Dietz & Jan Börner & Yannic Rudá Damm, 2025. "Explaining compliance with voluntary sustainability standards: A case study from Colombia's coffee belt," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 1417-1440, February.
    6. Frank Wijen & Mallory Elise Flowers, 2023. "Issue opacity and sustainability standard effectiveness," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(3), pages 772-790, July.
    7. Cosimo, Luiz Henrique Elias & Masiero, Mauro & Mammadova, Aynur & Pettenella, Davide, 2024. "Voluntary sustainability standards to cope with the new European Union regulation on deforestation-free products: A gap analysis," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    8. Nadine Arnold, 2022. "Accountability in transnational governance: The partial organization of voluntary sustainability standards in long‐term account‐giving," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(2), pages 375-391, April.
    9. Natalie J. Langford & Luc Fransen, 2022. "Building Legitimacy in an Era of Polycentric Trade: The Case of Transnational Sustainability Governance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(3), pages 155-166.

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