(NO! Of course not.) A reference to gospel super group The Clark Sisters’, Is my living in vain? The title of this week’s session was: Can governance advisors and development organizations learn to think and work politically? So in other words, my (perhaps selfish) re-interpretation of the question was: after dedicating time to studying development theory and … Continue reading Development Politics Blog #8: Is my Masters Degree in vain?
Ellen Johnson –Sirleaf, the first female President Sub-Saharan Africa. This week’s session featured a film which documented the first year of President Johnson-Sirleaf’s presidency and the challenges faced by her as she led the reconstruction of the state of Liberia during the immediate aftermath of the end of the civil war, navigating not only potential … Continue reading Development Politics Blog #7: Navigating space: An ‘iron lady’ with a fluid personality
This week’s session focused on the correlation between inclusive political settlements and stable and resilient society. 'Political settlement' are defined by Mushtaq Khan as a situation with a combination of power and institutions that is mutually compatible and also sustainable in terms of economic and political viability. 'Settlement' is "often loosely termed as the social order based on political … Continue reading Development Politics Blog #6: Political settlements: why ‘your’ development won’t work in ‘my’ world
With Spring Term election season kicking off at my alma mater, and election season just wrapping up at my current university.... This is an article that I wrote towards the end of my time as a student at LSE and in the aftermath of the student elections in which I ran for General Secretary. I … Continue reading Featured throwback…Exclusive inclusivity
This week’s seminar was on the politics of reform processes focusing on liberalising reforms in Myanmar against the backdrop the country’s transition from military to civilian rule. Or more broadly, in the words of Lee Jones, a ‘transition from state socialism to capitalism and from dictatorship to democracy’. The session focused specifically on the case … Continue reading Development Politics Blog #5: Unlikely suspects? Public-private reform coalitions and the value of social scientists
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