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The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's environmental and social policies: a critical discourse analysis

  • Ciprian Radavoi
  • , Yongmin Bian

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Like all other multilateral development banks, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which approved its first loan in November 2016, has adopted Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) policies. Treating the text as Chinese discourse and using Critical Discourse Analysis as methodological tool, this article unveils socio-political interests beyond its contents and semiotics. We identify areas where the AIIB policies are intertextual with the ones that inspired them, namely those of the World Bank and the regional multilateral development banks, but also important departures from their discursive practice, reflecting the legal culture and strategic interests of AIIB's founders. Both appropriation and colonisation of 'classical' ESGs by the AIIB ones lead to reflection on social wrongs associated with development, and suggest solutions for turning development safeguards into meaningful instruments.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-18
JournalJournal of International and Comparative Social Policy
Volume34
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Keywords

  • Human Rights Law
  • Law and Society
  • International Law (excl. International Trade Law)

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