This course examines the history and current realities of international bilateral and multilateral development assistance. After placing globalization and development assistance in an historical context, we will look at different kinds of aid that exists, the debate over what is to be developed and how that should occur, the project planning and assessment process, the rise in importance of NGOs in the aid arena today, and the challenges of providing effective aid in the future. We also review and critique the current aid emphasis on promoting democratization, civil society and human rights, and the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The course culminates in our own aid consortium simulation, where students have the opportunity to experience the decision-making process first-hand. Our emphasis throughout is on the development process and its critics, which could lead to a greater understanding of both the possibilities and the constraints of aid.
This course is designed for us to meet in person at all times. This is the best way to facilitate lively, informed discussions. We will try to break down into small group discussions as much as possible and then reconvene so groups can share their responses with the larger class. Therefore, try to finish all readings prior to the beginning of the segment in which they will be discussed. Readings other than those from the required texts have been kept at a minimum, and are accessible below via this course website.
Course Objectives
1. To understand how the global system of bilateral and multilateral development assistance is structured and functions today, and to assess its effectiveness critically;
2. To understand the historical background to the current system, as well as various orientations towards globalization and development assistance;
3. To gain an awareness of the various actors involved in international development assistance and in the development process, particularly i) the United Nations and its constituent multilateral donor agencies; ii) key bilateral donor agencies (especially JICA and USAID); iii) international non-governmental organizations (INGOs); and (iv) local non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and how the global COVID pandemic has affected development planning and prospects.
4. To learn specific skills including how a project is envisioned and planned, assessment tools (e.g., RRA and PRA), how to promote participatory development, and standard evaluative methods (e.g., ‘successes, failures and lessons learned’)
5. Develop abilities for working as part of a team, specifically: working together to research a problem; assess needs and priorities collaboratively; contribute collectively to authoring a professional document; making collaborative judgments; and negotiating as a team member.
Course Outline
WEEK I April 4-6 Introduction to the course, the project process, and development assistance as an issue. You will sign up for your group project on Thursday; Global Studies librarian Miriam Rigby will visit our class in the second half.
Required Reading:
deHaan “Preface,” pp. ix-xii
Nelson “Introduction,” pp. 3-12
Swedlund “The Development Dance” pp. 1-5 (until ‘The Evolution of Aid Delivery Mechanisms”)
HDR 2021 “Overview: Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives,” pp. 3-21
WEEK II April 11-13 Historical contexts of globalization and development assistance
Required Reading:
deHaan “Defining the Aid Industry,” pp. 23-65; “The Evolution of Development Studies,” pp. 90-109
Swedlund “The Development Dance,” pp. 6-17 (the remainder of the chapter begun in Week 1)
*Isbister’s definition of Third World (Promises Not Kept: the Betrayal of Social Change in the Third World 7th edition, Kumarian Press, 2006), pp. 15-16
*Address by General George C. Marshall, June 5, 1947
*Amanda Kay McVety “Wealth and Nations: the Origins of International Development Assistance” in Stephen J. Macekura & Erez Manela The Development Century: a Global History (Cambridge University Press, 2018), pp. 21-39
WEEK III April 18-20 The debate over what is to be developed
Discussion questions are linked here
Required Reading:
deHaan “Why is Aid Contested?” pp. 1-19
Nelson “Human Rights and Global Development Goals,” pp. 13-40
Swedlund “It Takes Two to Tango: Aid Policy Bargaining” pp. 18-35
HDR 2021 “Chapter 3: Harnessing human development to navigate uncertain times” pp.100-114
* Majid Rahnema (ed.) The Post-Development Reader Zed Books, 1997: Helena Norberg- Hodge “Learning from Ladakh” pp. 22-29; Ashis Nandy “Colonization of the Mind” pp. 168-178; and Eduardo Galeano “To Be Like Them” pp. 214-222
*United Nations Commission on Human Rights “The Right to Development” also see the U.N. General Assembly “Declaration on the Right to Development”
*UN Sustainable Development Goals
WEEKS IV & V, April 25-27, May 2-4 Major forms of assistance; Methods used in project planning, capacity building, assessment, and safeguards for sustainability; the mandate of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)
Review Guide for the midterm exam is linked here ⇐
EU Aid Explorer: interesting tool – do play around with this!
Required Reading:
deHaan “Can the Aid Industry Let Go?” pp. 69-85; “Implementing Development Projects,” pp. 111-130
Nelson “Principles and Practice, Human Rights and Development,” pp. 41-63; “Challenging Inequalities,” pp. 64-88
Swedlund “Studying the Dance: Research Design, Methodology, and Historical Context,” pp. 36-58
HDR 2021 “ PART II: Shaping our future in a transforming world” pp. 134-156
*UNDP “Human Development, the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs”
*UN Dept of Economic & Social Affairs “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”
*USAID “Who We Are” and other links
*USAID “USAID History“
Generic Project Cycle slide
WEEK VI May 9 Mid-term examination
WEEK VI May 11 Enhancing Aid Effectiveness, Promoting Policy Dialogue and Structural Adjustment
Required Reading:
deHaan “The Importance of Governance,” pp. 133-148
Nelson “Health Systems,” pp. 89-116
Swedlund “May I have this Dance? Donor-Government Relations in Aid Dependent Countries” pp. 59-76; “A Half-Hearted Shuffle: Commitment Problems in Aid Policy Bargaining” pp. 77-96
WEEK VII, May 16-18 Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World
Discussion questions are linked here
Aid Consortium Program is linked here
Required Reading:
deHaan “Cross Cutting Themes,” pp. 151-170
Nelson “Politics and Accountabiity: Implementing the SDGs,” pp. 160-185
HDR 2021 “Chapter 5: Advancing human development in uncertain Times” and “Chapter 6: Charting paths to transformation: Navigating uncertainty to expand human development” pp. 158-191
WEEK VIII, May 23-25 “The Way Ahead”
Final essay assignment is linked here
Discussion questions are linked here
*Note: Country reports and donor profiles are due Tuesday May 23 via Canvas (by 6 pm). The reports will be accessible through the Participants page on this website by May 25.
Required Reading:
deHaan “Ongoing Challenges,” pp. 189-195
Nelson “Conclusions,” pp. 186-194
Swedlund “The Future of the Development Dance and Why We Should Care” pp. 122-131
HDR 2021 pp. 191-208
WEEK IX May 30 – June 1 How does aid work?
*Note for May 30: Based on additional information they have garnered from the donor profiles, each country group will make a 20-minute presentation based on their aid needs.
*Note for June 1: We will hold our Aid Consortium simulation, an opportunity for donor organizations and countries to meet face-to-face, make bargains and reach some understanding of aid needs and donor priorities. This will be held in Tykeson Commons (room 151); see the Project Page for more details. Attendance at the Consortium is mandatory for all students.
WEEK X June 6, 8 & 9 Does Aid work? Can Aid work? Critique of Process and Theories
*Note: Donor organizations will report on what percentage of their aid budgets will go to each country, what percentage will be used for which projects in-country, and what was the basis for this decision (based on 100% of their funds, not the actual amount of money). As time is limited, we suggest ensure all details are on the Powerpoint, and no one should read from their notes.
Required Reading:
deHaan “What Works?” And How do we Know?” pp. 173-187
FINAL CLASS MEETING: Friday, June 9th, 6:30 p.m. [Final essay
assignment due by 6 pm via Canvas.]
Lewis Lounge, 4th floor, Knight Law School, Agate & 15th Street *Attendance at this class is mandatory
You are cordially invited to attend the concluding ceremonies of the International Development Assistance Consortium. Participants are requested to bring food and/or beverages from their respective countries. We will have the opportunity to critique the aid process as well as the course.
Note to delegates:
Please keep the time and location confidential, for security concerns.
