Institute of Development Studies

IDS In Focus 5 - Building Responsive States: Citizen Action and National Policy Change

Citizen action plays a critical role in confronting poverty and social injustice at the national level. It can bring about significant changes to policy and help to build responsive and accountable states. The challenge is not only how best to support and enable national-level advocacy, but how to ensure the changes it brings about are sustainable. This In Focus Policy Briefing explores positive examples of citizen action and highlights how government, donors and civil society organisations can help citizens bring about pro-poor national policy change. This project has also produced nine Research Summaries based on Citizen Action in nine different countries. Click on each title below to go to the summary.

• Gaventa, J. (2008) 'Building Responsive States: Citizen Action and National Policy Change', IDS In Focus Policy Briefing 5, Brighton: IDS

• Pittman, A (2009) 'Winning Women's Rights in Morocco (Research Summary)' , Brighton:
• Saturnino M and Franco, F (2009) 'Land Reform in the Philippines (Research Summary)' , Brighton:
• Robinson, M. and Friedman, S. (2009) 'Democratisation and Foreign Aid in Africa', IDS Research Summary , Brighton: IDS
• Arritzer, L (2009) 'Creating Urban Reform in Brazil (Research Summary)' , Brighton:
• Baviskar, L (2009) 'Winning the Right to Information Campaign in India (Research Summary)', IDS Research Summary , Brighton:
• Friedman, S (2009) 'Gaining AIDS Treatment in South Africa, (Research Summary)' , Brighton:
• IIkkaracan, P (2009) 'Changing Turkey's Laws to Improve Women's Rights (Research Summary)' , Brighton:
• Fuentes, C (2009) 'Protecting the Child in Chile (Research Summary)' , Brighton:
• Layton, M (2009) 'Reducing Maternal Mortality in Mexico (Research Summary)' , Brighton: