Institute of Development Studies
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Politics and Power
While the concern for good governance has become widely accepted as a critical condition for advancing development agendas, the question of why democratic politics have not delivered better outcomes for the poor in developing countries remains elusive. Recent trends challenge the conventional wisdom that democratic institutions are structures of voluntary cooperation, that solve redistributive conflicts and benefit all. A critical approach to the dynamics of power and the interactions between influential stakeholders (business groups, political elites, the military, the media, and international aid system) is necessary to understand why policy decisions may advance the interests of a privileged few at the expense of the less organised or poorly endowed. Often, alternative power dynamics take place outside legal structures through informal institutions or networks, which may contradict, complement or enhance the workings of formal institutions.
Relevant areas of work to understand the multiple dimensions of power include the new roles of private sector investment in providing development opportunities for the poor, the underlying factors facilitating collective action for service delivery, participatory approaches to empower minorities and excluded groups in the policy-making process, the incentives to improve responsiveness and accountability of elected officials, the politics of budget governance, and the politics of international aid among others. Through our work we aim to inform scholarly debates, as well as influence domestic policymakers, international donors and most importantly the citizens of developing countries on alternative ways to secure greater social justice and equity.
News »»
In search of transformative processes at the Commision on the Status of Women
Published: 9 Mar 2010
How transformatory is the Commission on the Status of Women in reality? And what have participants been doing to re-invigorate development and gender equality debates, thinking and processes?
Women's Empowerment: a journey not a destination
Published: 8 Mar 2010
On International Women’s Day, we call for much more attention to be paid to changing representations and narratives that portray women as victims to be rescued or heroines who will single-handedly uplift their countries and communities.
Thinking Big, Going Global: A Southern NGO Takes on the World
Published: 24 Feb 2010
From relative obscurity as a Bangladeshi NGO, BRAC’s international profile has soared recently. IDS’ Naomi Hossain reflects on BRACs global expansion and asks what it means for the role of NGOs in development.
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Latest Publications on Politics and Power »
- Mehta, L. (forthcoming) The Limits to Scarcity , London: Earthscan
- Acharya, A., Fuzzo de Lima, A.T. and Moore, M.P. (2006) 'Proliferation and Fragmentation: Transactions Costs and the Value of Aid', Journal of Development Studies 42.1:1-21
- Egwu, S., Leonard, D. and Matlosa, K. (2009) 'Nigerian Elections Since 1999: What Does Democracy Mean?', Journal of African Elections 8.1:108-144, Johannesburg: Electoral Institute of Southern Africa
- Leonard, D., Odhiambo, F. and George, K. (2009) 'The Political and Institutional Context of the 2007 Kenyan Elections and Reforms Needed for the Future', Journal of African Elections 8.1:71-107, Johannesburg: Electoral Institute of Southern Africa
- Leonard, D., Pitso, T. and Schmidt, A. (2009) 'The Political Economy of Democratisation in Sierra Leone: Reflections on the Elections of 2007 and 2008', Journal of African Elections 8.1:49-70, Johannesburg: Electoral Institute of Southern Africa
Politics and Power projects at IDS »»
- Against the Odds - (2002 - 2005)
- Elections and the Role of the International Community - (Ongoing)
- Global Uncertainties: Security in an Africa of Networked, Multi-Level Governance - (Ongoing)
- Grassroots Anti-Corruption Initiatives in India - (1998 - 2001)
- Law, Democracy and Development - (2001 - 2005)
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