MUCH of the formal interaction between international aid agencies and local officials in countries where they work can be seen as 鈥減erformance鈥�, according to new research published by a anthropology lecturer.
What goes on behind the scenes is often 鈥斅爏ometimes deliberately 鈥� ignored, say and co-author Chris Roche from , whose research explored recent critiques of international aid agencies, particularly in relation to governance and accountability.
Their article All the World鈥檚 a Stage appears in the latest edition of the .
The authors argue that good governance and accountability have been the source of much debate, centring on how international aid can be made to work more effectively for those it seeks to benefit.
鈥淭he performance aspect of developing states is relevant,鈥� Dr Hoffstaedter said. 鈥淚n order to continue to access international aid or funds, developing states may 鈥榩erform鈥� or present a certain image of the Western ideal or 鈥榖est practice鈥�.鈥�
From an anthropological perspective, the authors critique dominant perceptions of development that privilege Western conceptions of governance, both political and economic, and which are based on externally derived notions of best practice.
Dr Hoffstaedter says an expanded space should be created for alternative forms of governance, particularly Indigenous, hybrid and local forms of governance.
鈥淭his is not intended to suggest that corrupt or unstable governments do not exist, but it is rather an understanding that democracy and governance have not 鈥榝ailed鈥� simply by virtue of being inconsistent with Western ideals,鈥� he said.
The authors argue each country has its own historical, political, social and economic context and therefore a generalised development model is inadequate as a program for aid agencies.
This model also embeds the rationale for the separation between what is presented, or 鈥榩erformed鈥� and what occurs outside of the centre, or 鈥榖ackstage鈥�.
鈥淓ssentially, with a starting point of a single generalised state model, we are limited in terms of potential actions as well as a potential for greater understanding of alternative governance models, ones that may be more conducive to successful development outcomes and, which need to reflect the societies from which they emerge,鈥� Dr Hoffstaedter said.
Media enquiries: Gerhard Hoffstaedter +61 7 3365 1211, g.hoffstaedter@uq.edu.au
Kristen Bastian (国产探花 Communications) +61 7 3346 9279 or k.bastian@uq.edu.au
