Poverty Reduction and the New Global Governmentality

Abstract

Are international organizations using the issue of poverty reduction as a new way to approach global governmentality? This article recognizes that serious problems are involved in so approaching the idea of global governmentality, given the lack of success these strategies have. It is suggested here that such strategies operate not to improve the condition of populations but as a means for regulating states and their governments. Once states, not populations, are recognized as the main targets, it can be seen that features of governmentality are working from a distance to responsibilize state conduct through ownership, partnership, and continuous monitoring. KEYWORDS: governmentality, Foucault, poverty, PRSP, World Bank