2nd Edition

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

By Richard Woodward Copyright 2022
    176 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    176 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2021, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is routinely heralded as one of the leading organs of global governance, yet it remains one of the least written about and least well understood of our major global institutions.

    This fully revised and updated second edition builds a well-rounded understanding of this crucial, though often neglected, institution. A range of clearly written chapters chart the origins and evolution of the organization, comprehend its influence, examine its current agenda, and evaluate its future prospects. Rather than the simplified characterizations of the OECD as a “rich-country’s club” or “think tank,” this book suggests that truly understanding the OECD and its significance to global governance requires it to be conceived as the entity it truly is: an international organization.

    New to this edition:

    • Outlines the OECD’s origins and evolution, bringing its story fully up to date
    • Considers the ‘OECD way’ of working, including the peer review process
    • Examines competing views of the OECD’s influence over global governance
    • Evaluates the OECD reform and the organization’s future prospects

    This concise introduction continues to be vital reading for all students of international relations, politics and world history and affairs.

    Introduction

    1 The OECD’s origins and early years: From reconstruction to renown

    2 The OECD, 1984-present: from retrenchment to redemption?

    3 Organization and functioning

    4 The OECD and global governance: weathervane or weather maker?

    5 Current issues

    6 OECD reform

    7 Conclusion, Into the sunset or out of the shadows? The future of the OECD

    Biography

    Richard Woodward is Assistant Lecturer in Business at Technological University Dublin. He has written extensively on different facets of the OECD and its contribution to global governance. His other research interests include soft power, tax havens, and development in small states.