DevISSues volume 4, number 2, August 2002

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E V E L O P M E N T

ISSues Volume 4, number 2, August 2002

Special lecture

CONTENTS

Inside this issue:

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Agrarian Relations and Rural Development in LDCs Cristóbal Kay

Tradition and Vectors of Communication On 21 May, the ISS was pleased to host a Special Lecture by the Nigerian Nobel prizewinner for literature, Dr Wole Soyinka. The lecture, entitled

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Interview Novib Director Sylvia Borren

‘Tradition and Vectors of Communication’, underlined the importance of oral communication in African and other traditional societies for the continuity of culture and as an irreplaceable source of indigenous knowledge. Below are edi-

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ted abstracts from the lecture. The full text is available from promotions@iss.nl.

Alumni News New Alumni Policy

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SCHOLAS Universality of Human Rights in the Dock 9

Page

Browsing through the catalogue at an

my play, Death and the King’s

Elesin takes a new, virgin bride. This

this market of words, was not suffi-

exhibition of traditional African art

Horseman, in the United States. I was

may be regarded as an act of supre-

cient for the prosecution however.

works some months ago, I was struck

confronted by a rather energetic

me self-indulgence, but it carries also

Finally, I was compelled to be more

yet again by a consistent thread that

American woman who had evidently

the implication of a mystic union,

elaborate. It was, I explained, becau-

appears to unite the majority of such

not found what she was looking for in

since the groom is already in the tran-

se the bride is a ritual vessel, silent

works, a thread which may be sum-

the play. Her question was focused

sitional phase, with one foot among

but functionally replete. She is like a

med up with that utilitarian expression

on the silence, throughout the play, of

the living and the other in the world of

caryatid you see before a shrine,

of artistic intent: communication.

the young bride of the principal char-

the ancestors.

expressive, symbolic, transformed

acter, Elesin Oba, the King’s horse-

Project News Water and Human (In) Security

In the Western world, when we refer

man. Why, she demanded, had I not

My answer to the question was that

the mystic burden of life that she now

to communication, it is natural to

given the bride one line of dialogue?

the bride’s role in the play does not

carries, and the circumstances of her

require her to utter a word. Not unex-

pregnancy.

assume that we mean communicaPage

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Eurasia in Transition Mehdi Amineh

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Staff News

into an ancestral presence because of

tion between human beings. But,

In the play, the king of Oyo, a Yoruba

pectedly, my accuser remained totally

even in those societies, there are mil-

kingdom, is dead. Tradition demands

unmollified. I had given such beautiful

Masquerade

lions of people who are self-assured

that his lifelong companion Olokun

lines to the other characters, she

But let us return to our theme with an

recipients of communication from

Elesin Oba, keeper of the Bridle of

insisted. Now, the other women in the

excerpt from the programme notes

supernatural beings that go by names

the King’s Horse, commit ritual suici-

play are anything but silent. Iyaloja –

that I once made for a different exhibi-

such as deities, gods, demiurges,

de in order to accompany his king to

the Mother of the Markets – has more

tion, one more focused on this prin-

divinities, avatars and ancestors.

the world beyond. All his life, Elesin

than her fair share of forcefully argu-

ciple of the communicant dimension of traditional works of art.

Oba has lived a life of unparalleled

mentative and lyrical lines, ably sup-

I would like to recall a public discour-

luxury. On the very eve of his departu-

ported by the market women. That

se that followed the presentation of

re to the world of the ancestors, the

the women were not shortchanged in

continued on page 8

50 Years of the ISS The ISS is now more than half way through its 50th Anniversary year. Preparations are well under way for the international conference ‘Globalization, Conflict and Poverty’ in October. The next Development ISSues will be devoting a lot of attention to the conference and the As an institute for advanced

remaining events on the Anniversary programme. The Anniversary Public Debate Series has proved a resounding success. The last Development international education and research, the ISS generates,

ISSues contained a report on the first debate in the series, between Professors Immanuel Wallerstein and Jan Willem Gunning, who crossed swords on the question ‘What good is globalization for developing countries?’. There have since been four more public debates. On 21 March,

accumulates and transfers

Professor Deepak Nayyar and Dr Jean-Francois Rischard were the main protagonists in a debate entitled ‘Is there development beyond the

knowledge and know-how on

World Bank?’. Facilitator Dr Mansoob Murshed gives an account of the proceedings on page 4. The third debate in the series, ‘Holes in the

human aspects of economic

wall? Fortress Europe and migration in the 21st century’, was held on 25 April and was led by Professors Saskia Sassen and Nigel Harris. The

and social change, with a focus

final debate in the series, on 30 May, focused on gender. Professor Gita Sen and Dr Deniz Kandiyoti discussed the issue under the title ‘Whither

on development and transition.

gender beyond development?. There will be reports on these two debates in the next Development ISSues.

The ISS is a leading centre in this field.

Development ISSues is also available online on the ISS website at www.iss.nl

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ISSues From the Institute Board

should be feasible both to reduce the num-

distinct teaching team. Introducing a new

ber of total offerings and to increase the

major or phasing out an old one, therefore,

Reforming the MA programme:

At present, apart from the general course (5

number of study paths. To do this, two ini-

was a problematic process given the large

Towards Modularization and Greater

units), the introductory courses (5 units) and

tial steps were taken with respect to modu-

indivisibilities (staff teams and related

Choice in Study Paths

the methodology courses (5 units), the ISS

larization. First, the mutually exclusive divi-

investment) involved in each major.

A major attraction of the ISS MA degree is

programme is built upon a clear-cut distinc-

de between major courses and options was

How can this problem be overcome in the

that it allows students considerable room

tion between major courses (a fixed set of

abolished and, instead, a course can be

future? The answer lies in the increased

for specialization within the confines of a

15 units for each specialization), on the one

part of a major for some students and an

modularization which allows courses to be

unified MA programme. At present, there

hand, and optional courses (10 units), on

optional choice for others. Hence, within the

combined in different ways to structure

are eight main areas of specialization. In the

the other. In the aggregate, the teaching

new structure, students are allowed to take

different study paths (majors). Hence, for

offerings (not counting the research paper)

as options, courses that form part of other

example, at present there are quite a num-

roughly add up as follows (for the academic

majors. Second, the components of a

ber of courses that deal with issues of

year 2001/2): General (5 units); Introductory

major itself, formerly a fixed set of three

poverty analysis and policy. Yet the ISS

(22.5 units); Methods (30 units); Majors (120

modules, may now also involve an element

does not offer poverty studies as a major.

2002/3 academic year, which – in turn – will

units) and Options (105 units). This yields an

of choice. Hence, for example, a student

Under a system of modularization it will

open up the necessary space to introduce

average of about 35 units per study path

may be offered a choice of three out of four

become possible to re-combine existing

a greater and potentially varying range of

(major), indicating a rather low level of

or five modules to complete a major. The

courses, possible with suitable adaptations

study paths in subsequent academic years.

modularization. Indeed, if all study paths

extent to which a major makes use of the

or additions, to construct new study paths.

Modularization is akin to a double-edged

were completely autarchic and without

latter option is of course conditioned by the

These study paths, therefore, crisscross a

knife – potentially it can cut both ways.

choice, each major would offer 40 distinct

requirement to balance depth against width

given set of modules. A student who fol-

Greater modularization allows students

courses – a total number of 320 units.

in teaching offerings.

lows a major in poverty studies, for exam-

much greater room for choice in determi-

Hence, in relation to this autarchic model,

ning their specific study programmes. But

present offerings are as much as 88%, con-

Introducing flexibility in the range of

and development in a shared course on

firming that, on average, the incidence of

study paths

poverty analysis. This system should allow

modularization is very low. Put differently,

One obstacle in the past to the flexible

for the flexible adaptation of the MA to new

each student takes 40 units to complete a

adaptation of the MA programme to new

demands, thereby better meeting students’

study path. Yet out of a total of 282.5 units,

demands was the in-built rigidity resulting

varied and changing interests.

insistence on maintaining coherence and

we only offer 8 study paths.

from the mutually exclusive nature of the

Marc Wuyts, Dean of Studies

depth in the study programmes.

The main lesson we drew from this is that it

different majors, each linked with its own

future, however, the ISS intends to broaden the range of study paths a student can take by relying on greater modularization of the programme. The move towards modularization will be introduced in the coming

excessive modularization can also lead to a ‘cafeteria’ system of learning – a lot of spread, but no depth. The reforms presently under way seek to strike a balance between the need for greater choice and the continued

ple, could meet a student from population

International Conference Report

Agrarian Relations and Rural Development in Less Developed Countries

Cristóbal Kay

In January, an international conference on ‘Agrarian Relations and Rural Development in Less Developed Countries’ was held in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). The conference was convened by the Chief Minister and the Ministers of Development and Planning, Rural Development, Finance and State Industries of the Government of West Bengal. The ministers attended various sessions at the conference and one presented a paper on Agrarian Reforms in West Bengal. The remarkable interest showed by the ministers in the conference reflects the importance they attach to the issue of rural development.

The papers presented can be grouped into four major themes:

Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Vietnam, as well as

and food insecurity. The consensus of the conference partici-

theoretical issues with a cross-country focus, agrarian relations

several on India.

pants was that the state should indeed intervene in agrarian mar-

in the era of globalization, land reform in the contemporary

kets so as to ensure food security and equity.

period, and India. The papers and the ensuing discussion were

Wider issues and general lessons

extremely stimulating. It is not possible in a short report of this

The paper on Agrarian Reforms in West Bengal presented by the

The general lessons of the many cases examined at the confe-

kind to list all the papers but I wish to highlight a few. Terry Byres

Minister for Development and Planning, Nirupam Sen, raised

rence were that, while country experiences differ, neoliberal poli-

gave a magisterial paper on paths of capitalist agrarian transi-

some important issues which have wider relevance. Together

cies and globalization processes generally tend to favour the

tions, Amiya Bagchi spoke with great insight on agrarian rela-

with Kerala, West Bengal is the state that has introduced the

rural rich and exclude the rural poor, further endangering their

tions and human development, Utsa Patnaik discussed with

most sweeping land reforms in India. As a consequence of these

livelihoods. Thus new forms of public action are required, but the

much authority the deflationary impact of the world economy on

reforms the economic, social and political power of the rural rich

difficulties of such a task were acknowledged. I certainly learned

Indian agriculture and Prabhat Patnaik dealt with the crucial pro-

has been significantly reduced, while the power of the poor and

a lot from the Indian experience discussed at the conference and

blem of the terms of trade and the current crisis of capitalism.

middle peasantry has been enhanced. Food grain production

I hope that the Indian participants benefited as much as I did

Furthermore, Zhang Xiaoshan, Director of the Institute of Rural

grew on average by 6.5% yearly between 1981/82 and 1991/92,

from the debate on international experiences of agrarian relations

Development at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,

but declined thereafter. The Minister was very concerned that

and rural development. Interested readers interested will be

addressed with much concern the problems of economic and

this decline might endanger food security and wondered what

pleased to hear that Tulika Publishers in New Delhi (tulika@ndf.

social vulnerability in rural China. Several speakers, among them

the most appropriate form of public action should be. He obser-

vsnl.net.in) have already published the conference papers,

Riad El-Ghonemy and James Putzel, analysed the limitations of

ved that with the continuing high rates of population growth

discussants’ comments and debates. At just six weeks after the

the ‘market-based’ or ‘negotiated’ experiences of land reform.

there is increasing land fragmentation, which may impair the effi-

conference ended, this must indeed be a world record! Much of

Mahabub Hossain provided insights on changing agrarian rela-

ciency of farming. Furthermore, urban areas are increasingly

the credit for this achievement as well as for the accomplish-

tion and livelihoods in rural Bangladesh. Keith Griffin was unable

encroaching upon agricultural land and there is a shift away from

ments of the conference must go to Professor V. K. Ramachandran,

to present his paper on land reform and poverty personally, due

food grains into more profitable agricultural activities. In each of

who was in charge of academic matters and a great motivating

to last minute travel problems. Despite his absence, the paper

these instances, the Minister was prompted to ask whether the

force.

generated much discussion. There were many other interesting

state should intervene or whether market forces should be left to

Cristóbal Kay is Associate Professor of Development Studies and

papers on Africa, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Cuba, Chile,

operate freely, which could lead to greater social differentiation

Rural Development at the ISS. He can be contacted at kay@iss.nl

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ISSues Interview with Sylvia Borren, Director Novib

From Policies to Reality The Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation (Novib) was set up in 1956 in response to poverty and injustice in the post-war world. Nearly half a century later, poverty and injustice are still with us. And so is Novib. René Bekius and Andy Brown talked to Novib director Sylvia Borren about the organization, the ‘Novib approach’ and the new partnership with Oxfam International.

Novib has more than 45 years of experience

one to engage with us in this fight to achieve an

our efforts into a common basket.

Did the change in Dutch development policy

with thousands of projects in the Third World

equal world. The third is that we need to build a

The core of the Oxfams’ strategy is a rights-

towards structural aid relations with a limited

and Eastern Europe. How has the organization’s

stronger direct relationship with the corporate

based approach, as outlined in ‘Towards Global

group of countries have an effect on the work of

policy changed since 1956 and what are the

sector, because they play a role in the develop-

Equity’, Oxfam International’s Strategic Plan for

Novib and other NGOs working in develop-

major policy strategies for the future?

ment of peoples, too. That role is potentially

the period 2001-2004. We believe that every

ment?

Our mission is about an equal world and a fair

negative or positive.

individual in this world has five basic rights: the

Yes and no. We were very much part of the

distribution of means. That hasn’t really chan-

Some companies, like Body Shop, wholehear-

right to a sustainable livelihood, the right to

negotiations on that issue. When Eveline

ged. What has changed is our major strategic

tedly support our mission. They are already

basic social services, the right to life and securi-

Herfkens became development minister four

thrust. This is reflected in our campaign slo-

doing business with equity in mind. Others, like

ty, the right to be heard and the right to an iden-

years ago and said she was going to work with

gans. In the 1990s our message was that ‘the

Shell or Albert Heyn, are moving in that direc-

Novib approach works’. And that approach was

tion, but don’t go far enough. They want to do

basically to help those who help themselves.

the right thing and aren’t quite sure how. So we

We saw ourselves very much as gatekeeper.

are engaging in dialogue with them. And, of

The North has money, information, etc., and the

course, there are companies, like IHC Caland,

South does not. If you help us, we’ll make sure

which is using forced labour in Burma, who we

they get it.

just see as doing the wrong thing. That middle category is actually the most interesting, becau-

some 20 countries bilaterally, for a moment there was a threat that we would have to be Our new slogan is ‘How big is your world?’.

This is an invitation to everyone

committed to those ‘Dutch’ countries. But it soon appeared that what she wanted – and what we wanted too – was that in countries receiving bilateral aid from the Dutch govern-

to engage with us in the fight

ment there is some interconnection with the

to achieve an equal world.

aid received via civil organizations. The issue

Novib has always worked with direct poverty

se if those companies make a genuine shift

alleviation projects, and with lobbying and

towards ethical enterprise, they will cause a real

advocacy. In the beginning the emphasis was

change. But it’s a complicated dialogue, becau-

tity. We are organizing our strategy around those

same basket as Novib and the other three cofi-

more on emergency work, but that has gradual-

se we don’t always know what is real and what

basic rights and around 11 geographic regions.

nancing organizations that receive structural

ly shifted towards structural development pro-

is just window dressing.

By doing this and by strengthening our alliances

funding from the government. We felt that they

with our international partners, we hope that we

were not the same kind of organization as we

can make a bigger difference.

were, and that it was bad governance to sud-

jects. We’ve always had a balance, with 60% of

became complicated again in December 2000 when the minister put Foster Parents into the

our funding going towards direct poverty alle-

What does the ‘Novib approach’ entail and how

viation programmes and 40% to building civil

have the recent strategic changes affected it?

society and advocacy. The change now is that,

The core of the Novib approach is that we don’t

It is very clear to us that that strategy is effecti-

four organizations amongst five. After a further

since the mid 1990s, we have connected our-

go in and do it for them. We support organiza-

ve. Take the debate in the WTO on the low-cost

round of intense negotiations, in which Novib

selves with the Oxfam group, which currently

tions which are trying to tackle questions of

production of Aids medicines in developing

and the other cofinancing organizations played

consists of 12 organizations like Novib. That

structural development themselves. The

countries. That is a very complicated issue in

a proactive role, the way funding was organized

means that three things have changed in our

Oxfams have a set of working principles, which

terms of advocacy, concerning intellectual pro-

between government and civil society was radi-

strategy. Firstly, we no longer believe that the

say that we will always work with local structu-

perty and commercial rights. A number of inter-

cally restructured. What happens now is that

North-South concept is relevant. We should be

res. If they don’t exist we might come in and do

national organizations were involved, including

the cofinancing organizations no longer auto-

looking at a global world, in which there are

operational work ourselves in emergency situ-

Médecins sans Frontières and Wemos, and the

matically get exclusive long-term government

people everywhere working for and against

ations. But we do prefer to work with local

Oxfam network put its weight behind it with a

funding – this is now open to other, thematic

equity. Secondly, we are saying that we cannot

structures in the belief that the more people

campaign called ‘Lives before Profit’ and ‘Cut

organizations as well. The fight resulted in a bet-

solve poverty if no one else does it with us.

themselves have a say in their own develop-

the Costs’. Together we were instrumental in

ter system. I don’t know of any other country

That’s a big change. Our new slogan is ‘How

ment, the better the development process will

achieving the final breakthrough in Doha. This is

where the autonomous role of civil society has

big is your world?’. This is an invitation to every-

be. That’s what we have always called the

a good example of how the combination of

been recognized to this extent.

Novib approach. But we’re not unique in that –

public engagement and high-level advocacy

it’s the old story about not giving people a fish,

can make a real difference.

denly divide money that had been allocated to

but giving them a rod. What we are saying now

Then of course there’s the role of the World Bank. I’ve always said that this can become a

is, not only give them a rod but make sure there

The ‘Make Trade Fair’ campaign that we laun-

nightmare or a dream. In the nightmare scena-

are fair rules about who is allowed to fish in their

ched on 11 April in 20 countries around the

rio, the Bank and the IMF put pressure on the

sea.

world will run for three years. The campaign is

governments of developing countries to accept

not strongly Oxfam-branded. We will take a

liberalization policies, thereby allowing Western

To what extent will Novib continue to follow its

series of issues – coffee, textiles, labour rights –

industry and subsidized agricultural products to

own course now that it is part of Oxfam

and try and push them further. And we will do

monopolize local markets – and not giving

International?

that with many others. So if you ask: Is Novib

space to governments to protect their own

Oxfam International is a confederation. That

pursuing its own strategy? the answer is Yes

developing agriculture and industry. Civil society

means we believe we must maintain our strong

and No. Yes, we are very much part of the

has often not even been invited to participate in

connection with our own society. In that sense,

design of these campaigns, and No in that we

these policy-making processes. The dream is

Novib will continue to be a Dutch development

are putting our efforts into a common basket

organization. But what we are doing is putting

because we think it is more effective.

continued on page 11

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ISSues ISS 50 years - Public Debate Series

Is there Development beyond the World Bank?

On 21 March, the second Public Debate in the series marking the 50th Anniversary of the ISS took place at the Institute. The key figures in the debate, entitled ‘Is there development beyond the World Bank?’, were Professor Deepak Nayyar, Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi and Mr Jean-Francois Rischard, Vice President for Europe, World Bank. The debate was chaired by ISS Rector Professor Hans Opschoor and moderated by Dr S Mansoob Murshed. A short report on the proceedings by Dr Murshed.

Mr Jean-Francois Rischard

The debate was organized in two

David Dollar and Aart Kraay, which

interest rates. This led to a reduction

the role of structural adjustment and

sion of the Washington Consensus

parts. In the first part two broad

argued that successful developing

in investment, and a further decline in

the governance structure of the

meant that the middle ground had

questions were posed related to the

country globalizers were also high

output, a quantity adjustment, preci-

Bank. Professor Nayyar reiterated

shifted away from the consensus.

World Bank’s programmes and their

achievers in terms of poverty reduc-

impact on growth and poverty alle-

tion and impressive growth rates. He

viation. Mr Rischard commenced his

spoke of category A countries, main-

contribution by casting doubt on

ly in East and South Asia, which had

whether it was possible to evaluate

high growth rates and managed to

the aid impact of the Bank’s lending

reduce poverty, and Category B

on growth and poverty reduction in a

countries, principally in Africa, which

meaningful manner, even though the

were failures in both areas. He, there-

Bank administered about a fifth of all

fore, did admit that globalization pro-

overseas development assistance.

duced polarization in terms of suc-

His belief, however, was that the

cess and failure in the developing

Bank’s programmes were well

world.

what he regarded as the fundamen-

Reform of the Bretton Woods institu-

tal flaw in the rationale behind

tions, especially the composition of

structural adjustment, the belief in

voting rights within its board of direc-

price flexibility and market clearing,

tors that favoured the USA and other

which led to policies that were con-

OECD countries so much, was long

the aid impact of

tractionary, not just in the short-

overdue. It was high time, Professor

the Banks’ lending on

term but also in the long-term.

Nayyar felt, that those who urged

Mr. Jean-Francois Rischard: ‘Is it possible to evaluate

growth and poverty reduction in a meaningful way?’

reforms on others, such as the World He went on to build a case for

Bank, also reformed themselves.

reforming the structure of the Bank and the IMF, which is seen by many

Mr Rischard argued there were more

in its decision-making process to

pressing problems than the reform of

sely at the time of recession. By con-

be loaded in favour of those which

the Bank, although he was not in dis-

trast, in developed countries such as

provide share capital (OECD coun-

agreement with the necessity for

the USA, stock market crises are

tries), and biased against developing

change. He stressed other important

usually followed by a cut in interest

countries, which contribute positively

issues such as the reform of the

rates by the Federal Reserve Board,

to the resources of the Bank via loan

international financial architecture to

injecting helpful liquidity to the eco-

repayments. The World Bank and the

reduce volatility in capital flows, more

nomy at a time of difficulty. Professor

Fund, collectively known as the

debt relief for poor countries, and the

Nayyar highlighted the damage that

Bretton Woods institutions, were set

harnessing of finance for develop-

simple-minded faith in markets could

up in the aftermath of the Second

ment in low-income countries. He

do in terms of inappropriate policy

World War when Keynesianism and a

robustly defended the structural

design.

adjustment policies of the Bank, which he argued were justified by

Professor Nayyar also expressed doubts about the catalogue of suc-

Professor Deepak Nayyar: ‘The losers from globalization

cesses cited by Mr Rischard, regarProfessor Deepak Nayyar

ding high growth and poverty reduc-

GDP collapses, inflation and fiscal distress in many less developed countries during the late 1970s

are not just the poor in

onwards. Without structural adjust-

tion performances in the last two

the developing world,

ment, the macroeconomic position of

but also the poor and

these countries would be far worse.

designed and comprehensive. He

In his response, Professor Nayyar

decades of increased globalization,

referred to the work of Craig

questioned the philosophy under-

and pointed to rising world inequality

Burnside and David Dollar of the

lying IMF and World Bank policies in

during the era of globalization. He

World Bank, which emphasized the

recent years, the ‘Washington

referred to a variety of indicators that

necessity of good policies and insti-

Consensus’, with its belief in market

had worsened in the last two deca-

many of which were critical of the

tutions for aid to be effective. Mr

clearing and flexible price adjust-

des, not just income per capita, but

Bank’s policies.

Rischard did not mention that the

ment. By contrast, if quantities and

also health and illiteracy indices.

central role for the state in economic

Dollar and Burnside report also sta-

incomes responded to changing sig-

Professor Nayyar highlighted the fact

affairs were the conventional wis-

Dr Murshed is Associate Professor of

ted that aid continued to be received

nals, including economic crises, then

that the losers from globalization

dom. The world had changed consi-

International Economics and Conflict

by countries that did not pursue

the Bank’s policies would be consi-

were not just the poor in the develo-

derably; not only had the Cold War

Studies at the ISS. He can be con-

good policies, or other work by

derably less beneficial. These would

ping world, but also the poor and

ended, but the Washington

tacted at murshed@iss.nl.

various scholars who demonstrated

lead to a different set of responses to

marginalized in the developed world.

Consensus had also emerged, with

that aid, including assistance from

macroeconomic shocks. For examp-

the Bank, actually hindered beneficial

le, following the Asian financial crisis

The debate and discussion surroun-

market mechanisms, as opposed to

reforms.

of 1997, countries were advised by

ding the first part neatly followed

state interventionism. The experience

the international financial institutions,

onto the second half. In the second

of the last decade and the failure of

including the World Bank, to raise

part the two issues raised related to

policies predicated on the naïve ver-

He went on to refer to the work of

4

marginalized in the developed world.’

its emphasis on market clearing and

The debate was livened by several interventions from the audience,

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ISSues

To keep our alumni database up to date we would ask you to send your latest address and contact details to: alumni@iss.nl

Alumni News Alumni News The editor of Development ISSues, René Bekius, has been recently appointed part-time alumni officer to function as a direct link between the ISS alumni, staff and the Institute Board. In addition he will be responsible for gradually implementing the main points formulated in the alumni policy note.

The ISS and its alumni: new forms of cooperation Recently, the ISS published its Development Strategy 2002-2006. One of the conclusions is that our 9,000 alumni should play an increasingly important role in the near future. In this edition of Alumni News, new ISS alumni officer René Bekius explores new ways of achieving fruitful and mutually beneficial forms of cooperation between the ISS and its alumni.

The ISS would be pleased to engage in a dialogue with its alumni to explore new cooperative ventures. We hope that this article will act as a trigger. The ISS would

The ISS regularly receives letters from alumni

regular feature which provides information on

wishing to renew contact with lost fellow stu-

activities by ISS alumni in the field of develop-

appreciate your comments on the proposed ideas in this article. Please send your

dents. Others tap from the huge ISS alumni

ment. In the near future, a new section will be

valuable reactions either by email to alumni@iss.nl or by letter.

reservoir to look for potential partners in

added to Alumni News to keep readers up-to-

teaching, research and consultancy projects.

date on alumni job changes.

A more recent positive development is the

Netherlands Alumni Associations

growing participation of alumni in Development

Alumni as PR ambassadors

Issues.

ISS alumni play a crucial role in promoting the

Argentina Asociación Cultural Argentino-Neerlandesa de Ex-Becarios (ACANEB) Tel/fax: 54.11.4345.4399 email: info@acaneb.org.ar www.acaneb.org.ar

Malawi Netherlands Alumni Association of Malawi (NAAM) Tel: 621619 Fax: 634034

Increasingly, the ISS receives offers from alumni

Institute’s teaching, research and advisory pro-

who are willing to promote the Institute by taking

jects in their own countries. This role can be furt-

part in international educational events or acting

her developed by individual alumni and ISS

as PR ambassadors to encourage new students

alumni associations dispersing PR materials (ISS

Bangladesh Netherlands Alumni Association of Bangladesh Tel: 880.2.323855

Mexico Asociación Mexicano-Holandesa de Exalumnos de Instituciones Academicas, A.C. Email: hrr1@prodigy.net.mx Tel: 52.5.2589921 (ext. 221) Fax: 52.5.2588138

to follow an MA, PhD or diploma course at the

prospectus, DevISSues, annual report, posters,

Institute. Also, there is clearly a growing interest

the ISS promotion cd-rom) at their research

among ISS alumni to organize themselves in

institutes, universities, ministries or non-govern-

some way or another.

mental organizations. All alumni who are willing

Nepal Netherlands Alumni Association of Nepal Tel: 977.1.525472/543142 E-mail:naanoi@hotmail.com

In the near future, the ISS would like to develop

Bulgaria Bulgarian-Dutch Alumni Association Tel: 359.2.769230 Fax: 359.2.518601 Burkina Faso Netherlands Alumni Associations of Burkina Faso Tel: 226.31.81.56 Chile Corporación Cultural ChilenoHolandesa Tel: 56.2.2641700 Fax: 56-2-2642763 Email: eroman@cepri.cl Website: www.ccchh.cl Egypt Netherlands Alumni Association in Egypt Tel: 00.20.2.2746513 Fax: 00.20.2.746327 Email: erian@link.net Ghana Ghana Netherlands Alumni Association (GNAA) Tel: 233.21.773664 Fax: 233.21.773655 India Netherlands Alumni Association of India Tel: +91-11-06192217 / 6198615 (office) Fax: + 91-11-6196571 E-mail:spjakhanwal@yahoo.com Indonesia IKANED Netherlands Alumni Association email: cw3@indosat.net.id Tel: 62.21.5241079 Fax: 62.21.5700734 Korea Korea Netherlands Alumni Association (KNAA) Email: bongsonnl@yahoo.com Tel: 82.2.880.7703 Fax: 82.2.871.0635 Malaysia c/o Royal Netherlands Embassy Fax: 60.3.26948268 Email: jps28@pop.moa.my

to play such an ambassador’s role will be supported with relevant PR materials.

innovative ways of increasing contact with its alumni. The Institute’s alumni policy focuses on

Alumni address database

two concrete goals: to establish an inter-active

In the coming years, the ISS would like to provi-

Nigeria Netherlands Alumni Association in Nigeria Tel/fax: 234.1.4974684

network between alumni and the ISS and to pro-

de its alumni with more concrete services.

mote a vibrant interactive network between the

However, an efficient interaction between the

alumni themselves. Central to our alumni policy

Institute and its alumni stands or falls with an

Pakistan Netherlands Alumni Association of Pakistan Tel: 92.51.214336/214337

is the exchange of general information and news

up-to-date address database. At the moment

in the field of development studies, and to share

we are updating our alumni database. This ope-

experiences in the broad field of social sciences.

ration can only be successful with the active

Peru Asociación de Ex-Becarios Email: minio7@hotmail.com Hermi@terra.com.pe

Below we would like to explore in more detail

support of alumni themselves. We therefore ask

different ways of achieving these two goals.

alumni to keep us informed of changes of

Philippines Netherlands Fellowship Foundation of the Philippines inc. (NFFPI) Fax: 63.2.9288544 Singapore Netherlands Alumni Association of Singapore (NAAS) Fax: 65.7382979 Sri Lanka Netherlands Alumni Association of Lanka (NAAL) Tel: 94.1.695590 Fax: 94.1.677877 Email: Kumar4@sri.lanka.net Thailand Netherlands Alumni Association of Thailand (NAAT) Tel: 66.2.2464085/2461174 Fax: 66.2.2487987 Vietnam Vietnam-Netherlands Alumni Club (VNAC) Tel: 84.4.08044057 Fax: 84.4.8432756 Email: vnac@fpt.vn

address through the alumni website. The ISS Organizing ISS alumni

alumni officer will also be contacting individual

All students who finish their studies automatical-

alumni, ISS Alumni Associations and Dutch

ly become ISS alumni. The networking between

embassies (through the NAA network) to request

alumni and the Institute could be strengthened if

their assistance in tracing lost ISS alumni or in

alumni were to be organised in some way. There

checking changes of address.

are two options. We would advise ISS alumni in the first instance to join the Netherlands Alumni

Alumni website

Association in their own countries. The NAAs are

The new ISS alumni web page, which can be

supported by Dutch embassies and are open to

accessed through the ISS website (www.iss.nl),

all students who have studied at a Dutch univer-

can play an important role in building up the

sity or at one of the five international higher edu-

network between the ISS and its alumni and

cation institutes. On this page, you will find a list

between alumni themselves. The alumni page

of 22 NAAs. Another option is to establish an

offers up-to-date information on ISS alumni acti-

ISS alumni association. These already exist in

vities, frequently asked questions about alumni

some countries, such as Japan. Please contact

matters, the addresses of NAAs and general

the alumni officer if you would like more informa-

information on the ISS, such as this year’s activi-

tion on how to join a Netherlands Alumni

ties to celebrate the Institute’s 50th Anniversary.

Association.

There is also a direct link to Development Issues, which provides information on subscrip-

Development ISSues

tions, guidelines for contributors, and how to

Development ISSues is an important way of

send articles or letters to the editors.

keeping our alumni informed. Alumni News is a

5

D

E V E L O P M E N T

ISSues 50 years of the ISS

‘You trained our women!’

Professor Hans Opschoor has been rector of the Institute of Social Studies since 1996. In this contribution to our series on the history of the ISS, he looks at the changes that have occurred during his term of office.

I came to the ISS in 1996, finding an institute of

managed. With a lot of effort – and some

ISS entered a new phase in its evolution, in

change and it accelerated our developing

some 75 academic staff distributed over twelve

puffing and panting – the changes were insti-

which it must compete to secure its activities

– at least partly – a new identity. The strategy

or so different programmes, and an equal num-

gated and the ISS succeeded in getting itself

and thereby consolidate its financial base. We

of making the ISS and its staff more ready

ber of technical and administrative staff who

out of the red.

also came out with a new governance structu-

and able to face new circumstances was

re that will enable the institute to move and

necessary. The actual form it took is debatable

were even more widely dispersed. In the eyes of our evaluators and funders we were capable

… and round 2

develop in this new environment. And we came

and will no doubt be improved on. The

(if a little inflexible) of delivering programmes

We had just started to stretch our legs a little

out with a portfolio full of new ideas, which

question is not whether change was necessary,

that perhaps had been on our calendar for too

again when, in 1998, the next external shock

were elaborated in our Development Strategy

but whether we are changing sufficiently. I see

long. There may have been some truth in this,

wave began to rock the boat. This time the epi-

2002-2006.

us looking ahead with - as the Dutch say - ‘our

but there were plenty of achievements we

centre was the Ministry of Finance which, in

could be proud of (and we were!). We were

the wake of a review of funding arrangements

Development under challenge

developing a promising and increasingly attrac-

between the public sector and agents such as

Just before this all happened, I was in Namibia

tive PhD programme. We were engaged in

utilities, universities and the like, turned its

to attend the opening of a Masters programme

Hans Opschoor can be contacted at

some very interesting activities overseas, such

attention to development-oriented higher edu-

delivered at the University in Windhoek,

opschoor@iss.nl

as our capacity development programmes in

cation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs saw this

together with the ISS. President Nujoma came

Vietnam. We had done interesting research in

as an opportunity to tear down obsolete cartels

to deliver the opening speech. ‘You trained our

the field of finance and development, the

and privileges, such as the fixed allocations of

women!’ he exclaimed when I was introduced

results of which were now coming out.

money to institutes like the ISS. Even if our

to him. He meant the ISS, of course (I myself

missions were considered justifiable, the

claim no part in this, as it all happened before

Our prime asset was our reputation. Second

question arose whether they should still be

my time), and he was right, at least up to a

came our critical and pluralistic way

fulfilled by institutes in the North. As one civil

point. The ISS had indeed trained some of the

of teaching. Creativity and agility were some-

servant put it at a conference at the Institute:

female SWAPO cadres, and that was still

what lower on the list. Too low, it was felt

‘If International Education did not exist, would it

remembered. ISS staff have received similar

externally as well as internally, to meet the

be invented today? And if so, would it have a

tokens of appreciation from countries through-

toes twisted’, but much more than that, with

changing tide in development policies and

out the world for the Institute’s efforts in the

the rougher winds in funding development-

early decades of its existence, during the

oriented education that one could see coming in 1996. The existing structures would be unlikely to change that.

Reputation alone will not help us very much in the decades to come

period of decolonization and the construction of national societies and economies. But reputation alone will not help us very much in the decades to come. The internationalization of

Rethinking – round 1…

economic relations, the liberalization of mar-

So, the ISS again looked at itself. We overhau-

kets, the free movement of capital and enter-

led the internal financial mechanisms: they

facility for development studies like the ISS?’

prises, rapid and widespread technological

would become incentives-based and output-

Pertinent questions, and tough ones! The

and institutional innovation are manifest

oriented. Budgets would be decentralized.

Ministry of Education looked at all of this with

(though with very different repercussions and

Four academic staff groups were formed on

some concern: after all, it had invested in the

unevenly spread impacts) in countries and

the foundations of the existing demarcation of

International Education institutes for decades.

regions whose political history as newly inde-

research fields, to replace the many small

It wanted a secure future for the institutes,

pendent states goes back about as far as the

teaching groups. This was to boost creativity

but was not sure how to achieve it. It took an

history of the ISS. The phrase ‘development’ is

and enhance flexibility by having staff work in

old remedy out of the cupboard (see the article

under challenge (as the theme of our 50th anni-

(or rather from) larger units, which was assu-

by former rector Dirk Wolfson in the previous

versary this year testifies). We are pleased that

med to lead to more intensive cross-fertilization

Development ISSues): embedding or integra-

our founding fathers called us an institute of

with spin-offs in both teaching and research.

ting the International Education institutes in the

social studies and stated our objective to be

It was expected that there would be more

university system, and forced us to swallow it.

the study of development and change. We

cohesion and cooperation, more bottom-up

Like most medicine, it did not taste much like

have picked that up, added transition to our

innovation. To facilitate this all, the technical

champagne, but it helped rejuvenate the ISS.

domain, and are now also interested in the

and administrative staff were re-grouped into

This led to a second round of rethinking our

wider societal repercussions of global econo-

five departments – again in the expectation of

ways, means and mission. We emerged from

mic change.

more effectiveness and efficiency. All of this

that with a partnership arrangement with

could not happen without cherished ways of

Utrecht University – and no longer with the pro-

The structural internal changes that have

doing things coming under pressure and

tection of fixed funding arrangements for fel-

occurred at the ISS in recent years are poten-

sometimes having to be abandoned. Human

lowships and for institutional capacity develop-

tially more important than they were designed

relations came under pressure, too, but we

ment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So the

to be. No one predicted the second wave of

confidence.

New Book Announcement We are happy to announce the publication of three new books in the ISS/Palgrave Series: ALEMAYEHU GEDA Finance and Trade in Africa: Macroeconomic Response in the World Economy Context (International Finance and Development Series) Basingstoke: Palgrave, on behalf of the Institute of Social Studies, 2002 (427 pp).

nt e m op J -AelW v e D Development Administration in the UDITH

NN

ALKER

Caribbean: Independent Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago Basingstoke: Palgrave, on behalf of the Institute of Social Studies, 2002 (257 pp).

and

SASKIA WIERINGA Sexual Politics in Indonesia Basingstoke: Palgrave, on behalf of the Institute of Social Studies, 2002 (390 pp).

ge n a h These books are partC of the ISS series published by Palgrave (formerly known as Macmillan Press), Houndmills, Basingstoke, UK. Books in the series are obtainable from the ISS bookshop and from good booksellers everywhere.

5 0 Ye a r s o f t h e I S S w i l l b e c o n t i n u e d i n t h e n e x t D e v e l o p m e n t I S S u e s 6

D

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ISSues SCHOLAS

Universality of Human Rights in the Dock John M. Alexander Human rights are universal primarily because they advance in very tangible ways the aspirations and needs of the powerless rather than the interests of the powerful.

Deeply rooted in different cultures and communities, they support and sustain ordinary people’s struggle for human dignity and respect. They evoke sympathy and solidarity for the victims of repressive governments and oppressive social practices.

This is what today motivates the world community to look for some minimum of internationally accessible mechanisms to protect human rights.

The event

royal atmosphere to the event with their friend-

and economic deprivation to unequivocally

ties. Human rights are universal primarily

On 25 June, SCHOLAS organized a

ly and encouraging presence. The Dutch

articulate their aspirations for equal dignity and

because they advance in very tangible ways

Cambridge debate on the universality of

Ambassador for human rights, Ms R.V.M.

respect at home and in society.

the aspirations and needs of the powerless ra-

human rights at the ISS to celebrate the twen-

Jones-Bos, was a special guest of honour. The

tieth anniversary of the special graduate pro-

staff and students of the ISS and other guests

These achievements, however, are not without

rooted in different cultures and communities, it

gramme ‘Development, Law and Social

actively participated in the debate by judicious-

setbacks and contradictions. A number of dou-

supports and sustains ordinary people’s strug-

Justice’. So far, the programme has brought

ly casting their votes.

ble standards are manifested in the behaviour

gle for human dignity and respect. It evokes

of leaders, politicians, multilateral lending insti-

the sympathy and solidarity for victims of

together and trained more than 400 human

ther than the interests of the powerful. Deeply

rights activists, experts and academics.

The arguments

tutions like the World Bank and the UN itself,

repressive governments and oppressive social

Elizabeth Solomon (Trinidad & Tobago), repre-

Today, many people and nations advocate that

who seem on the one hand too eager to name

practices. This is what today motivates the

senting the participants of DL&SJ, defended

human rights has become a universal discour-

and shame some countries for human rights

world community to look for some minimum of

the statement: ‘Human rights are based on uni-

se cutting across cultures, religions, societies

violations while on the other hand absolving

internationally accessible mechanisms to pro-

versal values and should be protected by uni-

and nations to serve as what UN Secretary

others of their impunities. Most of the liberal

tect human rights.

versally accessible mechanisms’. Thomas

General Kofi Annan has called the ‘yardstick by

states that enthusiastically preach on the moral

Pallithanam (India), Elena Schitova (Russia),

which we measure human progress’. They also

ideals of human rights continue to pursue eco-

The verdict

Okeremute Okeregha (Nigeria) and Francisco

wish that the articles enshrined in the Universal

nomic policies and political interests that per-

A Cambridge debate involves two rounds of

Lopez-Bermudez (Ecuador) provided eviden-

Declaration of Human Rights could in some

petuate an atmosphere of human rights viola-

voting by the audience. In the first ballot, taken

ces as witnesses for the defendant. Cherryl

way morally and legally bind individuals and

tions. America, for instance, promotes human

after the opening speeches on the statement

Soriano (The Philippines) representing the

nations to agree on international mechanisms

rights norms around the world but doggedly

by the proponents from both sides, 55 voted

Master Programme students argued against

to protect and promote human lives all over the

resists the idea that these norms apply to its

for the defendant and 13 against. In the

the statement. Simon Nangiro (Uganda), Janet

world. Without doubt, there is ample progress

citizens and institutions. Western nations that

second ballot, taken after the cross examina-

Zulu (Zambia), Fanuel Cumanzala (Zimbabwe)

in achieving these aspirations.

intervened in the Balkans hardly showed any

tion of the witnesses and the closing speeches

and Inge van Verschuer (The Netherlands) sub-

interest in human rights violations in East Timor

of the proponents, 23 voted for the defendant

stantiated the opponent’s arguments with testi-

From the moment of its adoption in 1948 until

or in preventing the genocide and its aftermath

and 33 against. What does this narrow margin

monies and examples from the areas of cultu-

today, the Universal Declaration has provided

in Rwanda. These political double standards

between the voters indicate? It reflects, as

re, religion, minority groups, women and poli-

inspiration and guidelines to governments,

pave the way for cultural conflicts. The world

Professor Paschal Mihyo pointed out in his

tics. Acting as judge, Professor Bas de Gaay

national courts, parliaments, non-governmental

community increasingly calls into question the

concluding speech, how we should in fact

Fortman skilfully moderated the debate.

organizations, professionals and social activists

motives for interventions into other nations and

understand the universality of human rights.

in effectively combating atrocities and unjust

cultures in universalizing the reach of human

Human rights are more a set of moral ideals

The main guests, Crown Prince Willem-

social practices in different parts of the world.

rights. Human rights are more and more seen

towards which every society, culture and

Alexander and Princess Máxima, brought a

Its principles have empowered marginalized

as the language of a ‘moral imperialism’ mimic-

nation should progress. They are a contempor-

king the colonial hegemony of yesteryear.

ary democratic idiom that facilitates dialogue

groups and minorities, such as the Black

between cultures and communities. The deba-

Americans in America,

Resolving this stand-off between nations and

ters, as Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess

the Dalits and tribal

cultures in international politics and gathering

Máxima appreciated in their informal conversa-

groups in India, indige-

unforced consensus to carry forward human

tion with the ISS students, highlighted this

nous groups in Australia,

rights are not easy tasks. But this does not in

aspect of human rights discourse in a powerful

Mexico and Latin

any way undermine the universal character of

and interesting way.

America and ethnic

human rights. Universality of human rights is

groups in most African

not based on some self-standing moral values

John M. Alexander is currently pursuing his

countries to gain space

abstracted from all cultures, worldviews and

doctoral studies at the Institute of Philosophy,

in the social and political

nations. Nor does it aspire to formulate uniform

Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. His

mainstream. Its provi-

legal standards that could be applied a priori to

research areas are Egalitarianism, Development

sions and mechanisms

different situations all over the world. Human

Ethics, Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum.

have enabled women

rights, on the contrary, are non-foundational

He participated in the 2002 DL&SJ course at

suffering from domestic

and meta-legal resources available to anyone

the ISS. He can be contacted at

violence, social exclusion

who wishes to build better human communi-

joalmichael@hotmail.com

7

D

E V E L O P M E N T

ISSues continued from page 1

Tradition and Vectors of Communication smattering of African critics who love to be ‘in

what they said to each other, but what I obser-

This is no mere speculation. For the past year

fashion’ – however provide a topical and cau-

ved then was that she took out a coin. On his

or more, clinical studies based on extracts from

tionary entry point in any examination of the

instructions, the suppliant muttered to the coin

traditional herbs have been in California on cer-

deployment of discrete language and the

and then laid it down at the edge of the board.

tain sarcoids and carcinogenic diseases. These

essence of communication modes in the many

The Babalawo then proceeded to cast the

diseases are treated with extracts from a plant

creative choices that are confronted by the wri-

opele – the chain of divination – several times,

found in the western Nigeria. Certain types of

ter and artist, especially those from once colo-

making a set of marks on the board. At the end

skin cancer are responding positively to this

nized societies. For a start, even the subject

of a series of casting, he looked at the pattern

treatment. There is no need to belabour this les-

provides its own difficulty when tackled in

of the marks he had made, then recited a verse

son. That language is a repository of mores, of

English. Were we employing the French lang-

narrative. If the suppliant shook her head, the

history, of culture, of a people’s world-view and

uage for instance, our work would be facilitated

process was repeated until she nodded in affir-

philosophy is no longer disputed. What we are

by the fact that we could break that linguistic

mation.

discovering more and more is that even science

code for the vectors of expression into at least

has a lot to lose through the disappearance of

two – langue and langage. The matrix of

The significant factor was that the Babalawo

indigenous languages.

expression bestowed upon the bride in my play

made the suppliant an active vocal participant

This exhibition was made up of contemporary

– even while she appeared deprived of actual

in the process that led to his own diagnosis and

The logos

art works by Africans, as well as samples of

words – was langage, and a langage of a cultu-

prescriptions. The magical incantations, which I

The Yoruba believe that in the word lies ase, a

works by European artists that owed inspiration

re-specific dramatic intent. It is that primordial

would later learn were verses from Ifa, the divi-

word that we may translate as the principle of

to African traditional art. The masquerade as

vector of communal communication that we

nation corpus, linked the suppliant to parallel

animation or potency, the logos. This is what

both artistic and spiritual language was promi-

call ritual, a language that goes beyond even

histories and earlier suppliants, to legendary

often expands the province of orality in contrast

nent, and of course the presence of the deta-

the particularities of the drama of a specific

heroes, now ancestral figures, and to past

to that of the printed word, and of traditional

ched headpiece in repose, now as an object of

time and place and invokes the cosmic world

sages and divinities – all in dense, elliptical and

language in relation to other languages that are

contemplation, was not without some anxious

view of the community in which the play is set.

metaphoric language. These recitations were

alien to the authentic condition of peoples. In

often related to the actual properties of the pre-

moments of intense social desperation, there is

reflections. Would the masks be regarded solely in functional disjunction from their normal pur-

And this is what lies at the heart of the intersec-

scribed herbs, nuts, unguents or barks of trees,

only one direction to which a community turns

pose and habitat? Would they be inert artifacts,

tion of cultures that sometimes gives rise to

animal parts or whatever. You provoked the

and that is inwards, to resources that are lod-

purely aesthetic pointers in an academic exerci-

misreadings. The language of ritual has virtually

curative powers of the medication by reciting its

ged within the innermost being of peoples and

se of comparative styles? It was perhaps in an

been chased off the landscape of Europe,

innate properties.

are unique to them – their language, their ritu-

effort to steer the viewers towards a more com-

though vestiges appear here and there from

als, their closed communication systems that

plete experiencing of those objects that I wrote:

time to time, reminding us that beneath the skin

include their ancestors, their deities and the

‘The original emergence of the masquerade, be

there is a ritual layer somewhere in all humanity.

it for a solemn or secular performance, continu-

But the hunt is on, and the hounds of Political

es to imbue the mask even after use, when it

Correctness are resolved to root out even the

has become static, with instant associative

tentative ritual sprigs that appear from time to

in the refurbishing of

values stemming from its original functions – a

time on Western soil. In a Bible now under pro-

creative resources,

fertility dance, a harvest ritual, a procession of

duction in America, we learn that the expres-

ancestral spirits, or an intercessionary reach

sion ‘sitting on the Right hand of God’ is being

towards the deities. And the same principle

expunged and changed into something else,

applies to caryatids, houseposts, even the

since this reference is considered discriminato-

paraphernalia of Ifa, the divination principle.

ry against left-handed people. Rejected is the

groups went into action, the women had taken

What therefore – for the avid collector – is no

fact that in most cultures, left and right have

to the streets. But not in the usual confronta-

more than a beautifully sculpted [work of art] is,

deep significance. On the ritual stage, the right

tional way. They did not seek to communicate

for those from within this culture, already per-

and left positions in relation to a shrine or presi-

Practical value

with the outside world but to excommunicate

meated with a dynamic essence even in repo-

ding masquerade are rooted in both history and

Is the practical value of this holistic approach to

the very forces that directed that world. What

se.’

mystery.

the curative arts non-existent in contemporary

they did was resurrect the ancient rites of repu-

society? It does not appear so. The search is

diation. They came out at dawn – naked from

Beyond the assured rol of

unborn.

the integrity of language I recall the beginnings of the struggle against

there is quite simply

the self-succession plans of Ibrahim Babangida, after the successful bid of the late Bashorun Abiola for the presidency of Nigeria.

In the ancient city of Abeokuta, the elected pre-

but crucially hidden knowledge

sident’s hometown, even before the trade unions, the student bodies and the civil rights

In Death and the King’s Horseman I placed the

The hidden potency of language

on today everywhere for alternative medicine as

the waist upwards, in itself a powerful state-

bride within such symbolic contexts – the cary-

If I appear to be impatient with the distortions

the more orthodox forms of medication conti-

ment of rejection and mobilization – and went

atid, the ancestral masquerade, the mystery of

placed on language by faddisms of one kind or

nue to reveal a propensity for side-effects, or a

from sector to sector of the city, placing sacrifi-

the world of the Unborn. Did I receive an

another, the explanation could be that a great

decrease in potency against resistant viruses or

ces at the crossroads. They distributed the tra-

acquittal? No, I was ‘cautioned and dischar-

respect for the hidden potency of language was

through an increasing tendency towards abuse.

ditional akara – an unspiced bean-cake, devoid

ged’. In a different culture, my questioner grud-

bred in me quite early. Next to my mother’s

Although in some Western nations it is mere

of condiments except for the curses that are

gingly conceded, it would be read differently.

shop was a traditional healer, a Babalawo,

faddism, many scientists are turning to tradi-

uttered during preparation –whilst intoning dir-

That culture, albeit unvoiced was the cult of

whose consultation room was simply the semi-

tional methods as a far more efficient way of

ges that had not been heard on the streets

Political Correctness. Need I say that I find

open frontage of his mud house. It was quite

healing or preventing certain ailments. Even

since, perhaps, colonial times.

Political Correctness one of the most virulent

visible from the entrance to our own shop and I

Western-trained doctors, who once scoffed at

agencies of subversion in the struggle of tradi-

began to take an illicit interest in the methods of

the claims of the herbalists, now devote a sub-

The dictator was forced out of office within the

tional forms of expression for contemporary

this divine consultant. It was not long before I

stantial part of their research in exploring these

next four weeks. Of course I am not suggesting

creative cooption? As a creative individual, I

began to piece together certain principles of his

options. They will not of course instruct their

that it was the action of these women or the

find most of its strictures downright phillistinic.

curative methods that appeared to hinge on the

patients in the recitation of Ifa verses, but it is

mystic force of their imprecations that drove

mysterious powers of language.

within such resource pools that they will find

him out! What concerns us is the use to which

The extremisms of the lunatic fringe of Political

When the patient arrived, she sat before the

clues to the actual herbs, barks and even per-

a traditional ritual and its liturgy was put. At criti-

Correctness in countries like Canada and the

Babalawo. Between them was the divination

sonal regimen that enhance the body’s ability to

cal moments in a people’s life, such invocations

United States – but also increasingly in Europe,

board on which some white kind of white flour

resist diseases and even to heal itself.

of solidarity can have a far-reaching psychologi-

sad to note, and sadder still, even among a

had been spread. I was too far off to follow

8

cal effect on their morale.

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ISSues

From the psychic to the therapeutic and the

people’s history that leads to a renewed under-

own innate frailties, such glimpses may someti-

constitutes my principal concern as a writer

pharmacological and even the world of metal-

standing, lessons from social experimentation,

mes reveal alternative processes that enhance

and seeker after resources, not so much the

lurgy and its implicated arts and skills, much

the strategies of uprooting and settling, wars

humanity’s quest for survival. In short, beyond

language in which I address any audience

remains to be unearthed within the traditional

and skills of diplomacy, economic modalities or

the assured role of the integrity of language in

community, but the loaded, encrypted langage

vectors of communication. An arcane phrasing

relevant ways for coping with the vagaries of

the refurbishing of creative resources, there is

within language from which the mere means of

may provide clues to some ancient exploration,

nature. These may be no more than glimpses of

quite simply but crucially hidden knowledge.

expression derive.

the secret of alloys, properties of minerals but,

archival value only but, in a world in which exci-

Reservoirs of information that do not know

most commonly, restore a lost fragment of a

ting solutions are constantly overtaken by their

themselves as such. This is one dimension that

Project News

Water and Human (In) Security: Building Innovative Partnerships in Water Max Spoor As part of a consortium of Dutch institutions and the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, the ISS has participated in the organization of two innovative international conferences on the theme of Water and Human (In) Security. The activity brought together students from the Netherlands and many developing countries to work on projects aimed at increasing understanding of global water problems. The conferences were financed by the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), an independent agency established in 1999 to represent government agencies, non-governmental organizations, knowledge and research institutes and business involved in the water sector.

The conferences were held on 25 January and 22 March 2002, the latter coinciding with World Water Day. Most of the participants were international and Dutch students, enrolled in postgraduate courses focusing on water and environment. Nineteen PhD, masters, and diploma students from the ISS participated in the events.

• Water as an economic good (privatization, cost recovery and economic development) • Water for people (poverty reduction, urbanization, migration and health) • Infrastructure for water management (dams, river transfers and polders) • The management of international river basins and water

In the period between the two conferences, a collaborative and interactive electronic platform was established. The electronic

related conflicts

and the Clingendael Institute in The Hague were represented.

This activity forged partnerships between the NWP, the ISS and the other participating Dutch institutions of higher education.

Each institution brings a different expertise and perspective on water issues to the table. Plans are in the works to carry these partnerships further through collaborative research and advisory projects on water issues and more joint activities for students from the institutions.

• Water and climate

platform allowed 11 working groups (each composed of stu-

Dr Max Spoor was a member of the Organizing Committee of

dents from at least three schools) to work together on develo-

Theme experts from the institutions involved supported the work

the Water and Human (In) Security Project. He can be contacted

ping tools to focus attention on issues of water and human

of the platform working groups, by providing documentation and

at spoor@iss.nl.

(in)security. The final projects, some of which were quite exciting

on-line advice. As thematic expert for the ISS, Kristin Komives

and innovative, included board games, a film scenario, a website

participated actively in the theme ‘Water for People’.

and advocacy papers. The possibility is now being explored of presenting and displaying this ‘water harvest’ in the WaterDome

The Crown Prince of the Netherlands, H.R.H. Willem Alexander

during the upcoming conference in Johannesburg (28/8-

of Orange, was present at the second conference, during which

3/9/2002).

prizes were awarded to the winning student teams. Among the winners were two ISS students (Ines Bustamante and Maribel

The sub-themes of the Water and Human (In) Security conferen-

Sinfonte). ISS rector Professor Hans Opschoor had the honour

ces were:

of leading the awards ceremony on behalf of the Organizing

• Water for food and for nature (water scarcity, desertification,

Committee, in which – in addition to the ISS – IHE Delft,

food production and environmental health)

Among the winning student teams were two ISS students: Ines Bustamante and Maribel Sinfonte.

Wageningen University and Research Centre, ITC Enschede,

9

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ISSues

Eurasia in Transition: Conflict, Security and Development Mehdi Parvizi Amineh1 The collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War led to a dramatic change in the configuration of Eurasian geopolitics. One of the most important consequences was the emergence of independent republics in Central Eurasia along the southern frontier of the Russian Federation. Since the disintegration of the SU the conditions for a new ‘Great Game’ have been created among the forces interested gaining access to the region’s energy resources. Unlike the Great Game of the nineteenth century, which was played out between states, with enterprises and missionaries following the flag, the post-Cold War Great Game also involves transnational corporations, the cross-border carriers of political Islam, drugs and people, and NGOs concerned with human rights and democracy.

Rethinking geopolitics

states and outlaw groups. It favours a more

therefore call for a methodological and concep-

tical environment and a standardized legal, fis-

Against the background of the end of the Cold

complex vision of world politics characterized

tual re-evaluation of political geography.

cal and commercial infrastructure. All countries

War and the process of globalization, post-

by states which are themselves enmeshed in

Soviet Eurasian geopolitics can no longer be

transnational techno-economic power structu-

During the Cold War, Western geo-politicians

cy of almost two hundred years of Russian and

understood in the context of traditional or ortho-

res, and technological systems that threaten the

defined world politics by claiming that the

Soviet rule over the region, while to a great

dox geopolitical analysis (if it ever could).

conditions of habitation and survival on the pla-

Soviet Union was dangerous because of its

extent they still depend economically on Russia.

Traditional geopolitical analysis belongs to the

net as a whole. As ÓTuathail states: ‘In a world

expansionist tendencies and its aim to achieve

heritage of realist thought in International

where an infosphere of codes, flows and net-

world domination. This ‘paranoid’ discourse

Countries with an interest in the region are

Relations, which considers the ‘nation state’ as

works is the vital operational system for the

saw a worldwide Communist conspiracy. Since

adopting various forms of strategic cooperation,

paramount and international relations as a

technosphere of cities, states, economic and

the 1990s, new geopolitical scenarios have

but there are tensions resulting from different

balance-of-power approach, as states struggle

megamachinic bureaucracies notions of ‘here’

emerged, focusing on ‘civilizational clashes’ or

political and economic aims and different histo-

for dominance in world politics. Instead we

and ‘there’, ‘us’ and ‘them’, ‘domestic’ and

threats from ‘global terrorist networks’. The

rical backgrounds. The interests of the main

advocate a new approach towards geopolitics

‘foreign’, ‘close’ and ‘far’ are not what they used

catastrophic terrorist attacks of 11 September

regional powers – e.g. Russia, Iran, Turkey and

that we term ‘critical geopolitics’. Critical geo-

to be. Space appears to be displaced by pace

2001 have resulted in the emergence of a

China – are not limited to a single area (such as

politics aims at creating a synthesis between

while telemetricality appears more significant

strong moral and religious geopolitical discour-

hydrocarbon potential) or to a single category of

orthodox geopolitics and geo-economic dis-

than territoriality. Geopolitics is becoming post-

se that visualizes a continuous war between

threat (such as ethnic strife, political Islam, ter-

course, and in doing so to develop a new

modern.’2 The invention of nuclear and chemi-

‘virtuous civilized states’ and ‘barbarian net-

rorism or narcotics smuggling). We believe that

understanding of geographic arrangements as

cal weapons, and the development of genetic

works of global terrorists’ and those that

there is a causal relationship between ethnic

social constructions that are changeable over

engineering are well-known risks for humanity.

harbour them. The failed state of Afghanistan,

conflict, political unrest, and Islamic fundamen-

time. This approach challenges how orthodox

What is new, however, is that these risks beco-

however, is a poor and absurd substitute for the

talist terrorism on the one hand and socioeco-

geopolitics presents the world as ‘us’ and

me connected to transnational social forces

Soviet Union’s Cold War role as the territorial

nomic underdevelopment on the other. The

‘them’. ‘National security threats’ are no longer

which states can neither control nor extricate

home of ‘evil’.

impact of these developments, both on the

defined in terms of military threats from other

themselves from. Environmental pollution,

New Institute Board

in the region wish to rid themselves of the lega-

immediate neighbourhood and on the wider

ozone depletion and global warming are part

Escaping the Russian legacy

world, involves a complex and interwoven

and parcel of the industrialization process. That

The newly independent states of Central

conglomeration of regional factors that we in

process, however is unleashing cross-border

Eurasia are faced with a complex of problems.

the West are only just beginning to understand.

social forces that manufacture the inputs and

With the disintegration of Soviet rule they had to

Political stability and socioeconomic develop-

outputs of industrial production into tools of

create their own formally independent sovereign

ment in this region will be crucial for global

power for non-state actors. In contrast to the

states. The current restructuring of the political

peace and security.

‘natural’ risks of the past these new risks are

system in most of these countries is characteri-

manufactured, sometimes deliberately.

zed by the emergence of new types of ‘authori-

Dr M. Parvizi Amineh is Lecturer and Researcher

Globalization, the transnationalization of infor-

tarian’ regimes. However, these regimes have

in Post-Soviet Eurasia and Middle-East Politics

mation technology, and techo-scientific risks

weak domestic sovereignty. The weak political

at the International Institute for the Asian Studies

have changed the dimensions and territoriality

and socioeconomic situation has given rise to

(IIAS) and Amsterdam School for Social Science

of geopolitics. Threats like organized interna-

various forms of social upheaval, such as in

Research (ASSR). He can be contacted at

tional crime become linked to the proliferation of

Tajikistan, the war between Azerbaijan and

amineh@pscw.uva.nl.

weapons of mass destruction and Islamic fun-

Armenia or the dispute between the Russian

damentalism, creating an intertwined transna-

minority and local Kazakhs in Kazakhstan.

1 Dr Amineh is co-editor, with Dr Henk Houweling,

of a forthcoming book that applies the critical

tional force of global scope. It can be said that the problematic of ‘national security’ itself has

At the same time the region has become an

geopolitical approach. The book, entitled

become globalized.

arena for large-scale competition and coopera-

Eurasia in Transition: Conflict, Security and

tion to exploit its energy resources. The oil and

Development, will be published in 2003 by Sitter

Critical geopolitics criticises orthodox geopoli-

gas reserves in the Caspian region can be

Publications, Ontario.

tics, (neo-)realism, and world system theories

expected to make it a main area of competition

for their assumption that the researcher has an

in the twenty-first century and a determining

2 ÓTuathail, Gearóid, ‘Understanding Critical

objective approach to observable realities of

factor in the region’s future development.

Geopolitics: Geopolitics and Risk Society’, in:

From left to right:

international politics. Critical geopolitical scho-

However, because the former Soviet states lack

Colin Gray and Geoffrey Sloan, Journal of

Dean Dr Des Gaspar

lars believe rather that geopolitical approaches

the capital and technology to exploit the oil

Strategic Studies, special Issue on Geography,

to world politics are part of a common set of

fields and export energy resources, they are

Geopolitics and Strategy, 1999.

conceptual and methodological assumptions

trying to attract investment from Western coun-

about the world. Writers on critical geopolitics

tries and TNOCs. But this requires a stable poli-

Rector Prof. Hans Opschoor Deputy Rector Dr David Dunham

10

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ISSues

continued from page 3

From Policies to Reality

that national governments and civil society

rence, whether the rules are getting more

would never have reached the Millennium

we get is a euro of support, and how many

together in a developing country engage in a

honest. Sometimes the situation is improving,

Goals but hopefully now, with the extra spen-

people are giving those euros is important. Our

serious process of drafting Poverty Reduction

and sometimes there are fallbacks, such as in

ding available, we may have a chance to make

fundraising went up by five percent last year.

Strategy Papers, in a dialogue with the IMF and

Ethiopia and Eritrea. But, yes, I do think we are

a real structural change. Our job is essentially

About 240,000 people support Novib, and 60%

the World Bank, and with bilateral donors. Then

making a difference structurally. Together with

to get from policies to reality and I think this

commit themselves to us on a structural basis,

the development strategies can be ‘owned’

the other Oxfams, we are supporting the kind

campaign made a difference and education

by giving money or buying books, etc. There is

locally, and be more specifically suited to the

of strong civil agents who are engaging with the

has been put back on the political agenda.

a lot of talk about fatigue, but the branch as a

particular problems and opportunities.

development process in their countries and

Child labour, too, is an issue in which we have

whole has grown at an average of about eight

regions.

been involved. The Global March against Child

percent a year. What has changed is that peo-

Labour was a very interesting development and

ple are chopping and changing more between

Is that working in some countries?

It’s early days with the PRSPs, and it’s a very

Take our previous common campaign

will make a difference. And there is the World

different causes. One of Novib’s problems is

mixed bag. Uganda is an example where it is

‘Education Now’. We worked on that with the

Social Forum in Porto Allegre, which has now

that we don’t have a clear and simple messa-

going quite well. The poverty planning process

Oxfams, Education International and a number

met twice – Novib was actually the biggest

ge, like Médecins sans Frontières, for example.

there was participatory, reaching right down

of others. Education was off the political agen-

donor in both years, the second year with the

We are working on a whole complex of issues

into the slums and the poorest rural areas,

da, the promises that had been made at

Oxfams together. It’s a young voice in the inter-

and we have sometimes been accused of

where the people who were living in poverty

Copenhagen and Beijing in 1995 had not been

national arena. In my view, this is not an anti-

being too abstract. The ‘Novib approach’ was

came up with answers that were quite different

kept. The amount of money needed to help the

globalist, but an ethical globalist movement.

an attempt to make a connection between all

from what had been expected. Oxfam was

125 million children who don’t get schooling

Fighting for equity. But whether we will make

those issues. We are also trying to do that now

involved in helping the process and Novib sup-

today and the 250 million who get very little

enough difference, and whether we will make

through the conceptual framework of the five

ported some of the partner organizations.

schooling was figured out in an Oxfam report.

that difference fast enough, I don’t know. I find

rights. The other complicating issue is that we

It’s not very much – eight billion US dollars a

it totally unacceptable that today we still have

don’t do the work ourselves but our partner

In your Multi-Annual Plan, you say: ‘Novib and

year. America has just allocated an extra 48 bil-

slavery, child labour, sexual exploitation of

organizations do it. ‘How big is your world?’ is

Oxfam International are committed to globaliza-

lion a year to its defence budget. Three percent

children, poverty, so many women dying in

rather a philosophical campaign and doesn’t

tion with honest rules of play at global level

of the subsidies going into Western agriculture

childbirth, so many children dying of diarrhoea

actually answer those questions, and yet it has

between market, government and civil society’.

at this moment would provide schooling for

– it’s all totally unnecessary.

been a success. We are often asked: Does it

Do you believe that Novib and its sister organi-

every child in the world. So we adopted an

zations can make a real difference in reducing

advocacy strategy of ‘words to deeds’. We

How is public support these days? Is ‘donor

question. But the real question you have to

the gap between rich and poor in a globalizing

have been engaged in that, with others, for the

fatigue’ a problem?

answer is a confidence question. Does the

world?

past few years and we have just heard that the

No, we’ve never had a fallback. But we haven’t

public trust us? ‘How big is your world?’ has

I have very little doubt that down at the most

World Bank and a lot of countries are going to

always had the same level of growth. We have

apparently increased the credibility of our work.

micro-level, in terms of the work of our part-

put significant money forward. Minister

grown again this last year, with ‘How big is your

ners, we make a real difference. But the impor-

Herfkens, too, worked very hard on that – we

world?’. We use various image studies to

tant question is whether it is a structural diffe-

were close allies. The way it was looking we

measure public support. Of course, every euro

work? and we feel that we have to answer that

Thank you

STAFF News Welcome new staff

Ms Judith Treanor, Editorial Assistant, Development and Change,

Ms Shirish Baviskar, External Programmes Development Officer, Staff Group Rural Development,

per 15 July 2002.

Environment and Population Studies, per 23 July 2002 for a period of one year for 50%.

Email: treanor@iss.nl or d&c@iss.nl

Email: baviskar@iss.nl Ms Femke van der Vliet, Ms Amy Gammon, Senior Administrative Officer, ORPAS, per 1 May 2002

Administrative Assistant Fundraising, per 1 June

E-mail: gammon@iss.nl

2002 E-mail: vdvliet@iss.nl

Mr Sjef Horsten, Consultant, Fundraising Team, per 1 July 2002.

Email: horsten@iss.nl

Staff leaving Lily Ling, Senior Lecturer International Studies, Staff Group States Societies and World Development, has left the ISS on 1 July 2002 to take up a faculty position at the New School in New York.

Dr Lee Pegler, Postdoctorate project ‘Localised Gendered Impacts of

Congratulations

Incorporation in Global Value Chains’, per 1 September 2002. Email: pegler@iss.nl

Professor Hans Opschoor has been awarded two Honorary Professorships in China: one in Environmental and Research Economics from Nanjing Agricultural University and the other in Environmental Economics from the Research Centre for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

Ms José van der Starre, Secretary to Academic Council and Works Council, per 1 June 2002 (Temporary appointment)

Professor Rhoda Reddock has become the seventh recipient of the prestigious CARICOM Triennial Award for Women. Professor Reddock was active in developing the MA in Women and Development at the ISS in the early 1980s. She is currently Head of the Centre for Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies.

11

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In Memoriam Aat den Hartog

ISS Working Papers can be found on the ISS website at: www.iss.nl/research/working papers. They can also be ordered in hard copy from The Bookshop, PO Box 29776, 2502 LT The Hague, the Netherlands]

It is with great sadness that the ISS heard of the death of Aat den Hartog on 7 June 2002 at the age of

Working Papers

58.

Aat had become an icon of the ISS. He came to the Institute in early 1979 as catering manager and made

ISS WORKING PAPERS

himself visible as more than just the provider of our

GENERAL SERIES • ISSN 0921-0210

lunches. He was always in for a cheerful chat with staff and students. In July 362

1993 he became ISS Facility Manager at a time when we were about to

Peter Waterman, Reflections on the 2nd World Social Forum in Porto Allegre: What’s Left

Publications Internationally? (May 2002)

move into our current location, and was responsible for much of running the

363

building as well as the student housing. If problems had to be resolved he

Thanh-Dam Truong, Gender and Enterprise Development in Vietnam under Doi-Moi: Issues for Policy, Research and Training (July 2002)

always found a solution in his own resourceful way, and often made himself

364

available at weekends if there were activities in the building or if there were

Shanti George, Technocrats and Humanist Intellectuals in the Third World: Cases from a

School of Development Studies in Europe (July 2002)

problems with student housing.

365

Irene van Staveren and Des Gasper, Development as Freedom - Contributions and Shortcomings of Amartya Sen’s Development Philosophy for Feminist Economics (July

We have lost a dear and respected colleague and a great friend of the ISS

2002)

community. We will remember him that way.

366

Jose Cuesta, Economic Reforms and the Deficit of Democratic Legitimacy in Honduras (July 2002)

Rob Vos, 367

On behalf of the Institute Board

N.C. Narayanan, Technical Fixes and Social Relations: the Case of Group Farming in Kerala, India (July 2002)

The journal Development and Change is published five times a year by Blackwell Publishers (Oxford, UK) on behalf of the Institute of Social Studies.

For more information, see the ISS web site, or email us at d&c@iss.nl. Available online at http://www.blackwellpublishers.co.uk/online

Development ISSues is published three times a year by: Institute of Social Studies PO Box 29776

Number 3

HULYA DAGDEVIREN, ROLPH V.D. HOEVEN AND JOHN WEEKS

Poverty Reduction with Growth and Redistribution

TANIA MURRAY LI

Local Histories, Global Markets: Cocoa and Class in Upland Sulawesi

PHILOMINA E. OKEKE-IHEJIRIKA AND

Tel:

+ 31 (0)70 4260 443 or 4260 525

Fax:

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Aid as a Catalyst: Comments and Debate (II)

Democratization and State Feminism: Gender Politics in Africa and Latin America

MICHAEL TAYLOR

The Shaping of San Livelihood Strategies: Government Policy and Popular Values

BRUCE WYDICK

Microfinance among the Maya: Tracking the Performance of Borrowers

ISS website: www.iss.nl Email: DevISSues@iss.nl

June 2002

WIL HOUT

Good Governance and Aid: Selectivity Criteria in Development Assistance

SANTOSH MEHROTRA

International Development Targets and Official Development Assistance

REHMAN SOBHAN

Aid Effectiveness and Policy Ownership

SUSAN FRANCESCHET

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t n e m p o l e v e e g D n a h C d n a

Volume 33

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