The New Conditionality

'The great value of this book comes from seeing aid as profoundly political, that is, the new poverty reduction consensus is not dismissed as pure rhetoric, nor endorsed as an unquestionable good, but instead analysed in terms of its actual impact and reconfiguration of domestic political arenas. Most revealingly perhaps, the book shows how partnerships can undermine democratic accountability, promoting a distinctively technocratic approach to development. For anyone seeking to understand the contemporary aid relationship, this is both crucial and exciting reading.' Rita Abrahamsen, author of Disciplining Democracy 'A fascinating ground-level exploration of the current development mantras 'civil society participation' and 'country ownership'. The case studies pull no punches in arguing that international institutions, including some international NGOs, have entrenched their places at the policy-making table and helped marginalise independent national civil society formations and indigenous institutions. The analysis shows the dangers of a new generation of one size fits all thinking, but also the importance of national political circumstances in determining outcomes.' Alex Wilks, coordinator of the European Network on Debt and Development 'The arguments presented in this book are thought-provoking and, at times, extremely provocative. The forensic approach to some of the country case material makes the book an important contribution to the growing academic literature that offers a critique of the politics of post-conditionality.' Alison Evans, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex 'The strength of the book is its emphasis on the role of civil society in the aid relatioship, a topic infrequently studied.' Diana Cammack, Overseas Development Institute, London 'This wonderful contribution...captivating...carefully written, with first-hand experience at the local level; this book is a fascinating account about the current situation of the politics of international aid. The book is a useful complementary book for undergraduate or graduate courses in development studies.' Carlos F. Liard-Muriente, Central Connecticut State University