http://www.gsdrc.org Academic and policy-relevant publications on governance and international development. en-uk Copyright © 2010 Governance and Social Development Resource Centre Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:07 GMT Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:07 GMT http://www.gsdrc.org/rss/open george@gsdrc.org george@gsdrc.org http://www.gsdrc.org/images/logos/logo_gsdrc.gif http://www.gsdrc.org 205 90 GSDRC logo Marco Mezzera, Safiya Aftab What is the impact of deep structures, formal and informal institutions, and current events on the nature of the state in Pakistan and its relations with society? This report from The Initiative for Peacebuilding analyses the causes of weak state-society relations in Pakistan and explores the complex power dynamics that underpin them. Despite the bleak picture that emerges, a better understanding of the context can help the international community to engage with Pakistan on a constructive and long-term basis, with the overall objective of supporting genuine democratisation and building substantive citizenship. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3681&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3681&source=rss Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Pat Utomi, Alex Duncan, Gareth Williams How does reform take place within the constraints of political and economic processes? What has driven recent policy and institutional reforms in Nigeria, and how can Nigeria's reform process be sustained and extended? This briefing paper from the Policy Practice argues that the failure to achieve sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in Nigeria is linked to institutional and incentive problems. Efforts are needed to strengthen incentives for economic growth and public accountability in Nigeria. All stakeholders must recognise the realities and risks to sustainable reform, as well as the long time-scale required. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3680&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3680&source=rss Political analysis Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT World Bank What hinders growth-supporting policy reform in Ghana, and how can these obstacles be addressed? In recent years, Ghana has experienced relative macroeconomic stability and growth. However, accelerating and sustaining growth requires significant policy change across a range of areas. This extract from the World Bank’s Country Economic Memorandum of Ghana examines the political incentives of policymakers to pursue such change. Clientelism undermines progress in pro-growth reforms. Reform should focus on: education; improving the collection of and access to government information; and ensuring that policy does not favour particular ethnic groups. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3678&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3678&source=rss Political analysis Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT Peter Blunt What conditions facilitate corruption in Timor-Leste and what measures should be taken to address it? This article from Public Administration and Development examines the social, economic, political and governance context of Timor-Leste and suggests that it is conducive to state capture and systemic grand and petty corruption. It is also resistant to conventional short-term technocratic anticorruption remedies. Anticorruption progress is a long-term endeavour that requires sustained impartial service delivery, the emergence of leaders of integrity and a middle class, and the establishment of the rule of law. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3230&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3230&source=rss Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT Sarah Collinson What can political economy analysis contribute to humanitarian aid interventions? How can agencies undertake such analysis in difficult environments? This report chapter from the Overseas Development Institute introduces the findings of a study (2001-2002) of four cases: Afghanistan, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone and the Casamance in Senegal. Political economy analysis is best conducted alongside existing humanitarian operational activities via integration into existing analytical tools. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3202&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3202&source=rss Political analysis Wed, 01 Jan 2003 00:00:00 GMT Helena Bjuremalm What can be learned from SIDA's use of power analysis? This concept note from the Swedish International Development Agency draws on its analyses of Ethiopia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Tanzania and Burkina Faso. Power analysis can help donors understand underlying structural factors impeding poverty reduction as well as incentives and disincentives for pro-poor development. Such analysis must consider the ability of the poor to articulate their concerns; the institutional channels and arenas for voicing these concerns; and the legal basis of poverty reduction. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3195&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3195&source=rss Political analysis Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT Gareth Williams, Alex Duncan, Pierre Landell-Mills, Sue Unsworth and Tim Sheehy Can a joint approach to governance assessment help to improve aid effectiveness? What can be learned from the first Joint Governance Assessment (JGA) undertaken in Rwanda during 2008? A JGA aims to bring government and development partners together to review governance performance based on commonly agreed indicators. This brief from The Policy Practice recommends that such an assessment can prove to be helpful to advancing dialogue, but is likely to be a long-term and difficult process that is only suited to particular circumstances where the process can address joint concerns of government and donors. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3194&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3194&source=rss Political analysis Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT World Bank How can donors improve the effectiveness of policy reform processes? This study from the World Bank addresses the political economy of sector reform in agricultural marketing, and water supply and sanitation. It uses a social analysis perspective to analyse stakeholder interests, incentives, institutions, risks and opportunities. Development agencies should undertake timely political economy analysis and establish a sustainable process for building broad coalitions. They should also promote transformative institutional change that includes empowering forms of bottom-up accountability. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3192&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3192&source=rss Political analysis Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sue Unsworth Research increasingly emphasises that what works in development depends on country-specific realities and opportunities. Donors need to recognise that politics is central to the development process so that they make the necessary investment in understanding local political dynamics. This paper from the 2008 Development Studies Association conference finds that while political analysis is influencing specific aspects of donor activity, its impact is fragmented and donors' default position remains technocratic. Strong, visionary leadership is needed to enable donors to make major changes in their thinking, organisation and culture. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3191&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3191&source=rss Political analysis Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT OECD Many development agencies are engaged in assessing governance. What are their approaches and how can these be more effectively harmonised? This study from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development surveys donors' use of general and thematic governance assessments. Most approaches are driven by policy dialogue, detailed planning of governance enhancement activities and strategic decisions regarding aid to specific countries. Linkage to a donor's programme, demand from the field and removal of institutional disincentives are important in determining how governance assessments are used. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3184&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3184&source=rss Political analysis Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT European Centre for Development Policy Management and Nils Boesen How can political and institutional constraints be addressed so as to improve the effectiveness of aid at sector level? This section from a European Commission publication offers a framework for analysing sector governance. The framework focuses on the context of sector governance, actors' interests, power and incentives, and governance and accountability relationships. Where opportunities for short-term governance enhancement at sector level are limited, sector specialists can look for alternative entry points. These might include supporting the private sector and civil society. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3183&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=3183&source=rss Political analysis Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT OECD Fragile states will not be removed from poverty and insecurity through the interventions of international actors alone. International engagement in fragile states can have positive and negative effects. What principles should be followed to maximise the positive impact of engagement and minimise unintentional harm? The Development Co-operation Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has produced draft principles for good international engagement in fragile states, presented in this paper for field-testing. http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=1360&source=rss http://www.gsdrc.org/go/display&type=Document&id=1360&source=rss Political analysis Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT