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The life and times of embedded liberalism: legacies and innovations since Bretton Woods

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  • Eric Helleiner

Abstract

In a widely cited 1982 article, John Ruggie identified the normative framework of Bretton Woods as ‘embedded liberalism’ and pointed to its enduring legacy in international economic governance through the 1970s. Revisiting Ruggie’s analysis at the 75th anniversary of Bretton Woods, I advance three arguments about the content and legacy of embedded liberalism in the international monetary and financial system. First, the embedded liberalism of Bretton Woods was an even more innovative normative framework than Ruggie’s important article suggested, involving a new commitment to a form of institutionalized liberal multilateralism that was compatible with various kinds of active public management of the economy. Second, in the 1944–1980 period, embedded liberalism was more contested and malleable than is often understood, as it coexisted with important alternative normative frameworks and as distinct varieties of embedded liberalism emerged in international monetary and financial governance. Third, in the post-1980 era, scholars have correctly highlighted a ‘neoliberalization’ trend in international monetary and financial governance, but assessments of the degree of the challenge posed to embedded liberalism by this trend need to be nuanced. They also risk overlooking different and newer kinds of challenges to embedded liberalism arising from growing opposition to institutionalized liberal multilateralism.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Helleiner, 2019. "The life and times of embedded liberalism: legacies and innovations since Bretton Woods," Review of International Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(6), pages 1112-1135, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:rripxx:v:26:y:2019:i:6:p:1112-1135
    DOI: 10.1080/09692290.2019.1607767
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Kentikelenis & Erik Voeten, 2021. "Legitimacy challenges to the liberal world order: Evidence from United Nations speeches, 1970–2018," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 721-754, October.
    2. Emrah Konuralp & Sermin Bicer, 2021. "Putting the Neoliberal Transformation of Turkish Healthcare System and Its Problems into a Historical Perspective," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 53(4), pages 654-674, December.
    3. Karim Knio, 2022. "Rethinking the Multilateral Order Between Liberal Internationalism and Neoliberalism/Neoliberalisation Processes," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 10(2), pages 6-14.
    4. Bayari, Celal, 2020. "The Neoliberal Globalization Link to the Belt and Road Initiative: The State and State-Owned-Enterprises in China [alternative title: Bilateral and Multilateral Dualities of the Chinese State in the C," MPRA Paper 104471, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 21 Jul 2020.
    5. Stefanova, Boyka & Zhelev, Paskal, 2022. "Revisiting China’s market economy status: state capitalism within the WTO liberal trading system," MPRA Paper 114865, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Imogen T. Liu & Adam D. Dixon, 2021. "Legitimating State Capital: The Global Financial Professions and the Transnationalization of Chinese Sovereign Wealth," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 52(5), pages 1251-1273, September.

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