Institute of Development Studies

Biography

Professor Fiona Wilson's research has ben focused on understanding dynamics of provincial societies, seen in relation to the state and global relations. Earlier work explored changing economies ('clandestine' clothing workshops in Mexico and migration). Recent work has focused on political violence in Andean Peru and social/political position of new professionals (school teachers) in challenging and reinforcing discrimination rooted in 'race'. This research continues, by focusing on authority, citizenship, networking and 'doing politics' in the context of decentralization policy.

Current research project

Democratising Latin America? A study of social networks and participatory politics in Peru (funded by the Danish Socal Science Research Council, 2006-2009)

Research themes

Development processes over the long run, especially in Latin America; State-formation, nationalism, political culture and citizenship; Social/political movements, inequality, conflict; Critical perspectives on development aid models and practice.

Selected Projects and Recent Work

• The Capacity to Have an Effect: An Efficacy Study of the Caribbean Child Support Initiative
• Critical Research Social Justice and International Aid

Thematic Expertise

Citizenship; Governance; Politics and Power; Security and Conflict.

Geographic Expertise

Latin America and the Caribbean; Mexico; Peru.

Selected Publications »»

• Wilson, F. (2009) 'Violence, Identity and (In)security: Experiencing the Maoist Insurgency in Peru', IDS Bulletin 40.2:54-61, Brighton: IDS
• Wilson, F. (2008) 'Challenges and Policy Options facing the Landlocked', IDS In Focus 3.6, Brighton: IDS
• Wilson, F. (2007) 'Mestizaje and clothing: interpreting Mexican-US transnational social space' in Nyberg Sørensen, N (eds), Living across worlds: diaspora, development and transnational engagement, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• Wilson, F. (2007) 'Transcending race? Schoolteachers and political militancy in Andean Peru, 1970-2000', Journal of Latin American Studies 39:719-46
• Wilson, F. (2006) 'From humanitarianism to good governance? Reflections on an Ethiopian-Danish aid model ' in Folke, S. and Nielsen, H. (eds), Aid impact and poverty reduction
• Eyben, R. and Wilson, F. (2006) 'Supporting rights and nurturing networks: the case of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in Peru' in Eyben, R. (eds), Relationships for Aid, London: Earthscan
• Wilson, F. (2004) 'Towards a political economy of roads: experiences from Peru', Development and Change 35.3:407-637
• Taylor, L. and Wilson, F. (2004) 'Introduction: citizenship and the messiness of political life', Bulletin of Latin American Research 23.2:154-164
• Wilson, F. (2004) 'Indian citizenship? The discourse of hygiene/disease in 19th century Andean society', Bulletin of Latin American Research 23.2:165-180
• Taylor, L. and Wilson, F. (2004) 'The messiness of everyday life: exploring key themes in Latin American citizenship studies', Bulletin of Latin American Research 23.2
• Wilson, F. (2003) 'Reconfiguring the Indian: land-labour relations in the postcolonial Andes', Journal of Latin American Studies 35:1-27