The Diffusion of ISO 14001 in a Developmental State: The Case of Korea

Abstract

ISO 14001, the most common voluntary environmental program in the world, has in recent years been diffused worldwide. However, the level of this diffusion varies across geographical regions. This article analyzes the case of Korea to illustrate how national institutional environments in the East Asia and Pacific region led to the rapid diffusion of ISO 14001. We hypothesize that developmental states have a highly favorable national institutional arrangement for the deployment of ISO 14001. This study finds that developmental states where governments implement strong initiatives for national development and economic growth, exemplified by Korea, are active in implementing neoliberal practices such as ISO 14001.