2 Years of Blogging!

It has been two years to the day since I started posting blogs on this page. This marks the 273rd posting. According to Google Analytics, these were the most popular posts: Conducting Research in Ethiopia? Read this. PhD Reality Check Essential Development Studies Books Advice for Conducting Household Surveys Want to Volunteer Overseas and Don’t […]

Interesting Books (300+)

In addition to the “essential” development studies books, some other interesting books include (organized chronologically):   Pre1950s On the Genealogy of Morality (1887) Nietzsche Growing up in New Guinea (1930) Mead   1950s Black Skin, While Masks (1952) Fanon   1960s The Fire Next Time (1962) Baldwin The Structure of Scientific Revolution (1962) Kuhn Arabia Felix (1964) […]

Tags: #Book Reviews #Books #Development Studies #Interesting books #International development

Toxic Aid: A Tanzanian Study

Every few months the question is asked: Does aid work? Sebastian Edwards, professor and former World Banker, wrote “Toxic Aid: Economic Collapse and Recovery in Tanzania” (2014) to help wade through the an answer. In short, he concludes “aid affects economic performance in a highly complex way, and through multiple and changing channels. It also […]

Tags: #Development #Foreign assistance #International development #Tanzania #Toxic Aid

New Publication: Gulf Cooperation Council Countries andthe Global Land Grab

Cochrane, L. and Amery, H. (2017) Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and the Global Land Grab. Arab World Geographer 20(1): 17-41. Abstract: A rapid increase in large-scale land acquisitions associated with the food-commodity price spike in 2008 resulted in a flurry of journalistic, non-governmental organization, and academic publications. One of the primary narratives that emerged was that oil-rich […]

Tags: #Global land rush #Gulf cooperation council #Land Grab #Land grabbing #Middle East

Decolonizing the Mind

Linda Tuhiwai Smith wrote “Decolonizing methodologies” (1999). Ngugi wa Thiong’o wrote “Decolonizing the Mind” (1986). This is essential reading and the insights are numerous – from curricula design and literary critique to social transformation and liberation. In this post I focus on one of Ngugi’s central and influential arguments about the power of language. The […]

Tags: #decolonization #Decolonizing the Mind #Language #Ngugi wa Thiongo #Power

Banting Fellow, Carleton University (2017-2019)

The 2017 Banting Fellows have been announced. Honoured to have been selected and looking forward to joining Carleton University. From Banting: http://banting.fellowships-bourses.gc.ca/en/2016-2017-eng.html Carleton University announcement available here.  Will be continuing my research in East Africa, with a focus on enabling environments engaged citizens and responsive governance.

Tags: #Banting #Banting Fellow #Carleton #Carleton University #CarletonU