A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Politics of Explanatory Nationalism and the Evolution of the United Nations Agenda on Multinational Enterprises (2020)
Политика объяснительного национализма и эволюция повестки дня ООН по транснациональным корпорациям
Eskelinen Teppo, Ylönen Matti. (2020). The Politics of Explanatory Nationalism and the Evolution of the United Nations Agenda on Multinational Enterprises. Vestnik mezhdunarodnih organizatsii, 15(3), 176-201. https://doi.org/10.17323/1996-7845-2020-03-07
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Eskelinen Teppo; Ylönen Matti
Journal or series: Vestnik mezhdunarodnih organizatsii
ISSN: 1996-7845
eISSN: 2542-2081
Publication year: 2020
Publication date: 01/11/2020
Volume: 15
Issue number: 3
Pages range: 176-201
Publisher: National Research University, Higher School of Economics (HSE)
Publication country: Russian Federation
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/1996-7845-2020-03-07
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74028
Abstract
Social problems in the global South are often explained by reference to domestic decisions or “institutional quality” in the Southern countries, while there are also prominent criticisms of such “nationalist explanations”. Crucially, the dispute over correct mode of explanation is not only epistemological, but also political, as has been often noted in analyses of hegemony. This paper develops such ideas about “hegemonic” forms of explanation by analysing how an explanatory tendency becomes institutionalised in the operating logic of international organisations. We analyse as a case study the long-term developments within the UN in the field of multinational enterprises (MNEs). We follow the process in which an agenda focused on the regulation of MNEs shifted into the direction of focusing on local institutional quality and emphasising “partnerships” instead of regulation. The analysis demonstrates how political momentum and external challenges affect explanatory tendencies, and generally the deep impact of organisational embeddedness of these tendencies.
Keywords: societal change; social problems; political institutions; international corporations; international organisations; hegemony; corruption; development research
Free keywords: explanatory nationalism; multinational enterprises; United Nations
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2020
JUFO rating: 1
