Worldviews and Policy Coherence : an analysis of the United Nations Guiding Principles and Swedish Development Cooperation Policies

Abstract: Within the field of development cooperation policy coherence has received increasing attention. Definitions of policy coherence are elusive; from describing consistency between intention and outcome to describing synergies between and within different policy areas. Potential incoherence has been ascribed not only to potentially incongruent goals but also different frames, discourses and underlying values. This thesis uses the concept of worldviews to understand how coherence or incoherence can be discerned between and among the United Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and Swedish development cooperation policies from Sida, Swedfund and SEK. The conclusion indicates that there is potential dialectic tension between normative worldviews of corporatism and development framing of egalitarian elements. Coherence is found in the technocentric, prevailing worldview. Results indicate that coherence and subsequent policy implementation can be affected by underlying aspects and mechanisms beyond trade-offs and goal-conflicts.