International development

The Politics of Development in Morocco

‘Doing development differently’ can be interpreted as redistributing power in a decentralized way, and ensuring broad participation. How do we move these ideas from paper to practice? And, are these two objectives (not explicit in the DDD manifesto, but common in the discourse) compatible? Third, are these approaches to ‘doing development differently’ effective pathways to arrive […]

Tags: #Decentralization #Doing Development Differently #International development #Morocco #Politics

Thought Provokers Apr 25

Whose Reality Counts?

Twenty years ago Robert Chambers published “Whose Reality Counts? Putting the First Last” (1997). He challenges the academics and professionals to turn how they work upside down. His earlier book, Rural Development (1983) did similarly. In doing so, however, Chambers is not the angry dissident disowning ‘development’, rather he offers an optimistic vision: “That the […]

Tags: #Development Studies #International development #Professionalism #Robert Chambers #Whose Reality Counts

Thought Provokers Feb 25

Global Inequality

Inequality is headline news. Recently Oxfam reported that only 8 individuals own as much as the poorest half of the world’s population. In 2014, Piketty published a widely read book on the subject, taking a historical economics approach. But, this question is not new. Amin addressed it in his 1976 book “Unequal Development“, the greater […]

Tags: #Globalization #Historical economics #Inequality #International development #Policy

Thought Provokers Feb 8

Most read in 2016

As is tradition on most blogs, the most popular stories / articles / posts of the year are summarized. I am somewhat late in reporting, nonetheless, the most read posts on this site of 2016 were: PhD Reality Check Conducting Research in Ethiopia, Read This. Systematic Change (Healthcare) Essential Development Studies Books (Review) Effective Aid […]

Tags: #International development #international development studies #most read in 2016

Uncategorized Jan 14

How Change Happens

Governments, activists, NGOs, politicians and development programs all want change. It is why donor dollars are raised and people protest in the streets. But, how much do we actually know, or reflect upon, how change actually happens – and to what extent is that embedded within how development works? “How Change Happens” (2016) by Duncan Green, […]

Tags: #Civil society #Development Studies #Duncan Green #How change happens #International development

Thought Provokers Dec 15

Visiting Fellowships 2017/18 Shanghai University

The Center for the History of Global Development, Shanghai University, invites applications for fellowships for visiting scholars working on projects related to the history of policies, concepts, practices or debates related to socio-economic development on local, national, regional or global levels. The Center for the History of Global Development is a new research focus established at […]

Tags: #Development Studies #Fellowship #History #International development #international development studies

Jobs Nov 23

Adventures in Aidland

Before picking up David Mosse’s “Adventures in Aidland: The Anthropology of Professionals in International Development” (2011), I had read one chapter and had high expectations that it would be an interesting read. I felt the book was torn between two topics that made it less cohesive, and some chapters felt revised to suit a new […]

Tags: #Aidland #Anthropology #Development Studies #Ethnography #International development

Thought Provokers Nov 19

Putting the Last First

In 1983 Robert Chambers published “Rural Development: Putting the Last First.” If you have not come across this book, it is well worth finding a copy. As a book written more than three decades ago, it offers some perspective on what lessons have been learned. However, this book is particularly challenging to read as you […]

Tags: #Academia #Bias #Development Studies #International development #Rural Development

Thought Provokers Nov 5

Funded MA: Youth & Farming

Funding is available for one student to undertake a two-year MA in Sociology or Public Issues in Anthropology (with the option of the collaborative International Development Studies program) and to undertake research on a topic related to young farmers in one or more of the four countries (Canada, China, India and Indonesia) under the aegis […]

Tags: #Anthropology #Farming #International development #Sociology #Youth

Jobs Nov 4

Life After Violence: Burundi

What happens after conflict ends? How are lives changed, perceptions altered and the future envisioned? Peter Uvin held hundreds of interviews in Burundi to find out in his book “Life After Violence: A People’s Story of Burundi” (2009). The author presents “a snapshot of life as lived and analyzed by ordinary Burundians” being “based on […]

Tags: #Burundi #Conflict #International development #Uvin #Violence

Thought Provokers Oct 24

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About me

Logan Cochrane

Associate Professor at HBKU in the College of Public Policy. He is an Associate Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and an Adjunct Professor at Hawassa University (Institute for Policy and Development Research). Over the last fifteen years, he has worked in Afghanistan, Benin, Burundi, Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Logan acts as a consultant for governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations, seeking to create bridges between research and practice.

Logan Cochrane