Potentialities in Applying Foucault’s Discourse Analysis to World Bank Research

Abstract

Applying the discourse analysis methods of Michel Foucault to reports researched and published by the World Bank may reveal certain kinds of thinking embedded in the work of the institution, and this may serve as an important resource or vehicle for understanding the relationship between the World Bank and the societies it services. Such insight is important because it acts as an international authority on the alleviation of poverty and inequality, and as an informative resource for other institutions and the public. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure its research does not cause unnecessary harm to the societies in which it operates, which are often vulnerable to external actors.