New actors and alliances in development

Abstract

New Actors and Alliances in Development brings together an interdisciplinary group of scholars exploring how development financing and interventions are being shaped by a wider and more complex platform of actors than usually considered in the existing literature. The contributors also trace a changing set of key relations and alliances in developmentthose between business and consumers; NGOs and celebrities; philanthropic organizations and the state; diaspora groups and transnational advocacy networks; ruling elites and productive capitalists; and between 'new donors' and developing country governments. Despite the diversity of these actors and alliances, several commonalities arise: they are often based on hybrid transnationalism and diffuse notions of development responsibility; rather than being new per se, they are newly being studied as engaging in practices that are now coming to be understood as 'development'; and they are limited in their ability to act as agents of development by their lack of accountability or pro-poor commitment. The articles in this collection point to images and representations as increasingly important in development 'branding' and suggest fruitful new ground for critical development studies.

NGOs, States, and Donors Revisited: Still Too Close for Comfort?

“…We have also witnessed a staggering rise in inequality and the concentration of economic and political power in the hands of a small proportion of the world's richest countries and people (Houtzager, 2005). Alongside the rollback of welfare states we have seen the emergence of emerging powers (Brazil, India, and China), emerging middle powers (South Africa, Turkey, Indonesia, and others), large philanthrocapitalists and private donors (Herzer & Nunnenkamp, 2013) and new actors and alliances for development (Richey & Ponte, 2014).…”

Shifting conceptualizations of ethical consumption: Cause-related marketing in India and the USA

“…For example, Nickel and Eikenberry (2009) note the business-like methods (such as the use of corporate language and practices, increased reliance on audit-culture, and a focus on NGO-brand promotion) through which NGOs engage with corporate CRM partners, which they see as illustrative of the increased marketization of the philanthropy sector (see McGoey, 2014). Similarly, Richey and Ponte (2014) include CRM as one type of 'new alliance in development' where private sector actors become responsible for funding and often also implementing International Development projects. Concerns over the neoliberal agendas that underpin CRM are widespread and particular attention is given to the problematic ways in which CRM campaigns frame individual acts of consumption as legitimate solutions to global social and environmental problems (Hawkins and Emel, 2014;King, 2006;Richey and Ponte, 2011).…”

Consuming Life after Anti-Trafficking

“…18 Thus, the category of ethical consumption has grown to incorporate various meanings, aims and moralities of ‗doing good', in effect making everyday consumption practices an arena for forming and displaying ‗moral selves' 19 or engaging in what has critically been termed ‗low-cost heroism'. 20 That is, ethical consumption in this form allows consumers to perform moral, heroic acts simply by continuing their everyday consumption patterns. However, as I discuss below, compassionate and ethical consumption presents considerable dilemmas and ambiguities for consumers to navigate.…”