GSDRC newsfeed on Americas and Caribbean

Legitimacy and Context: Implications for Public Sector Reform in Developing Countries

Christine Andrews — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How can successful public sector reform be achieved in developing countries? This article from Public Administration and Development argues that understanding the interplay between public institutions and the surrounding social context is fundamental to developing a reform strategy. Poorer and socio-economically stratified countries face greater reform challenges owing to public institutions' lack of legitimacy. Reforms should focus on areas of governance that impact on poverty and inequality.

Whose Aid? The Case of the Bolivian Elections Project

Rosalind Eyben, Rosario Leon — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

This book chapter explores the ambiguities of aid and its influence in national politics through a case study from Bolivia. The authors reflect on their involvement in a donor-funded civil society project to increase the participation of socially excluded groups in Bolivia�s 2002 national elections. This project highlighted the dilemmas of �national ownership� amidst government objections to a programme arguably seen as a threat to the power of elites. The authors suggest that aid may be understood as a gift, problematic and ambiguous in meaning, in which relations of power are imbued with moral purpose.

Ethno-Religious Conflicts: Exploring the Role of Religion in Conflict Resolution

S. A. Kadayifci-Orellana — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

How can the religious texts, values and beliefs used to incite conflict be harnessed to promote peace-building and reconciliation? What contributions can faith-based actors make to conflict resolution? This chapter from the SAGE Handbook of Conflict Resolution examines the ways in which religion can be used to inspire both war and peace. The revival of religiously motivated conflicts, and the increasing involvement of religious actors in resolving them, requires understanding of their dynamics.

Examining Conditional Cash Transfer Programmes: A Role for Increased Social Inclusion?

Benedicte de la Briere, Laura B. Rawlings — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Conditional Cash Transfer programmes (CCTs) provide money to poor families, contingent on specific verifiable actions such as children's school attendance or preventative health care. How successful are CCTs in addressing social inclusion and inter-generational poverty? What is their impact on social accountability relationships between beneficiaries, service providers and governments? This summary focuses on the Social Inclusion section in a World Bank paper. While CCTs hold promise, they are not a panacea against social exclusion. They should form part of comprehensive social and economic policy strategies and be applied carefully in different policy contexts.

Indigenous Inclusion/Black Exclusion: Race, Ethnicity and Multicultural Citizenship in Latin America

Juliet Hooker — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Why is the landscape of citizenship so uneven across Latin America? Latin America exhibits high degrees of racial inequality and discrimination against Afro-Latinos and indigenous populations, despite constitutional and statutory measures prohibiting racial discrimination. The multicultural reforms of the 1980s and 1990s which brought many collective rights to indigenous groups have not, however, had the same impact on Afro-Latinos. This article from the Journal of Latin American Studies examines the region's multicultural citizenship regimes, and finds an emphasis on cultural difference or ethnic identity over race which disadvantages Afro-Latinos.

Social Exclusion, Social Isolation and the Distribution of Income

Brian Barry — Thu, 01 Jan 1998 00:00:00 GMT

While social exclusion is unquestionably closely associated with poverty, is it inextricably linked? Can a community marked by significant inequalities of power and status still be socially integrated? This paper from the Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion discusses the relationships between social exclusion, justice and solidarity, with a particular focus on class systems within the USA and Britain. Despite varying income distribution, government policies targeting inequality and favouring social solidarity can promote an integrated society.

Why Is Liberal Peace-building So Difficult? Some Lessons from Central America

Sabine Kurtenbach — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Has the liberal peace-building model been successful in addressing the challenges faced by post-war societies? This paper from the German Institute for Global and Area Studies examines peace processes in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. It finds that outside of the historical example of Western Europe, the termination of war does not necessarily represent a critical juncture for pacification, democracy and market liberalisation. Central American post-war societies do not provide proof for a self-enforcing cycle of peace, democracy and development assumed by liberal peace-building; but rather demonstrate a negative cycle of social exclusion, criminality and weak governance and development.

Violent Conflict Prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean

Francine Jácome — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This case study from the Institute for Development and Peace analyses the main conflicts in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and examines the mechanisms that have been developed to prevent or resolve them. The paradigms that guide debates on the prevention of violent conflict in the region need to be changed. The causes of conflict are cumulative and so prevention should take into account the three interrelated aspects of development, governance and the promotion of a culture of peace.

Households and Income: Ageing and Gender Inequalities in Urban Brazil and Colombia

Maria Cristina Gomes da Conceição — Tue, 01 Jan 2002 00:00:00 GMT

How are social policy and pension reforms affecting the welfare of the elderly in Brazil and Colombia? What impact are these reforms having on family structure? This paper from the Journal of Developing Societies finds that universal pension reform can mitigate the economic and domestic exclusion of poorer and rural elderly while an individual saving pension system can reinforce inequalities and reproduce gender roles of domestic submission and dependence.

Public and Private Responses to Social Exclusion among Youth in São Paulo

Pedro Jacobi — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

What can be done to address problems of social exclusion? This article from the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science examines programmes of inclusion in São Paulo. The dynamic practices highlighted here � such as digital inclusion and social entrepreneurship � offer different ways of reducing social exclusion. All depend significantly on local organisational capacities and potential individual mobilisation. Important changes occur when practices are implemented cooperatively by local actors, government officials, and professionals within civil society.

Overview: Assessing Social Exclusion and Mobility

Estanislao Gacitua Mario, Michael Woolcock — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What is the way forward for poverty reduction in Brazil? This study from the World Bank looks at the problems of inequality, exclusion and restricted mobility. It argues that income inequality is the main impediment to poverty reduction in Brazil. Therefore, redistributive policies are essential to enhancing social inclusion. This means focusing on developing market, political, social and cultural institutions and delivery mechanisms that will sustain progress towards a more accountable and cohesive society.

Social Exclusion in Latin America: Perception, Reality and Implications

Jere R. Behrman, Alejandro Gaviria, Miguel Szekely — Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT

What are the perceptions and realities of social exclusion in Latin America? This introductory chapter to a book from the Inter-American Development Bank summarises findings from five country studies. Inequality appears to arise largely from the absence of opportunities for large segments of the population. Exclusion of some groups on the basis of gender, ethnic origin, place of residence or social status may explain inequality of opportunity. The most obvious policy responses are not always the best options.

The Role of Gender Inequalities in Explaining Income Growth, Poverty and Inequality: Evidences from Latin American Countries

Joana Costa, Elydia Silva, Fabio Vaz — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

What role can gender play in understanding income growth, poverty and inequality? This working paper, published by the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, argues that gender equality is critical in any attempt to reduce poverty. In particular, increasing women's access to the labour market correlated very positively with greater economic equality overall. The analysis draws on microsimulations performed for eight Latin American countries, covering four areas of gender inequality: labour market participation, occupational status, wage discrimination and characteristic endowments.

IBSA Regional Security Dimensions: The South African Perspective

M. Soko — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) initiative can play a crucial role in South-South cooperation in addressing conventional non-traditional security threats in the contemporary global order. This paper, published by the Centre for Policy Studies-Johannesburg, examines the challenges facing South Africa in its efforts to secure regional security and as an IBSA contributor. South Africa's future leadership role will depend upon the ability of regional political elites to balance addressing international and regional obligations while responding to critical domestic issues.

Engaging Armed Groups in Peace Processes: Reflections for Practice and Policy from Colombia and the Philippines

Clem McCartney — Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 GMT

How do we understand the nature of armed groups? What is the importance of perceptions in regards to motivation and goals? This Conciliation Resource paper reflects on the questions of ideology, power and representation; examining the implications for conflict resolution strategies. It is found that the conflict resolution community tends to ignore certain issues that do not fit into current conceptualisations, while a deeper understanding of how to build relationships is required.

Who is Black in Brazil? A Timely or a False Question in Brazilian Race Relations in the Era of Affirmative Action?

Sales Augusto dos Santos — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Who is black in Brazil? This article from Latin American Perspectives examines racial discrimination in Brazil. It argues that Brazil's myth of racial democracy limits realistic discussion of racism and racial identity because it prevents the identification of dysfunctional race relations. The important question with regard to affirmative action is not who is black, but rather what sort of society do Brazilians want to build.

Aid, Growth and Peace: A Comparative Analysis

Astri Suhrke and Julia Buckmaster — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

What factors shape the sequencing of post-war aid? What effect do aid patterns have on the long- and short-term stability of peace? This article from Conflict, Security and Development maps patterns of post-war aid in order to identify patterns of sequencing and magnitude. It finds that contrary to other studies and conventional wisdom, post-war aid is not always front-loaded immediately after peace and then rapidly phased out. Instead, post-war aid has followed a variety of patterns, influenced by the political contexts of donation and implementation.

Protecting Whom? Approaches to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in UN Peacekeeping Operations

K Jennings — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Is the zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation and abuse having a positive impact on UN peacekeeping missions? This report, prepared for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reviews evidence from UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Liberia and concludes that the policy is yielding mixed results. It contends that the policy's difficulties stem from implementation problems and contextual challenges that would be eased by better communication and clarity as to the intents and purposes of the zero-tolerance approach.

Interagency Framework for Conflict Analysis in Transition Situations

UNDG/ECHA Working Group on Transition — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT

United Nations (UN) post-conflict responses should be based on standardised inter-agency analyses to help overcome structures that lead to violent conflict and to promote integrated peace. This report, published by the UNDG/ECHA Working Group on Transition (United Nations Development Group/Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs), outlines analytical components necessary to understand conflict causes and dynamics that support peace efforts in a transition situation. Application of such an analytical framework would help construct subsequent UN programming that incorporates context-specific factors and supports the achievement of lasting peace.

Summary Findings: Perceptions of General Problems and Violence

Caroline Moser, Cathy McIlwaine — Sat, 01 Jan 2000 00:00:00 GMT

What do poor people living in urban areas in Colombia see as the most important problems affecting them and their communities? How do Colombia�s poor urban communities perceive violence and exclusion? This book chapter from the World Bank documents how people living in poor urban communities in Colombia perceive violence. It uses a participatory urban appraisal methodology to identify the main problems and types of violence affecting poor urban communities.