Living with Paradox in International Development: An Extended Case Study of an International NGO
(2019) In European Journal of Development Research 31(5). p.1263-1286- Abstract
- International non-governmental organisations (NGOs) combine practical and advocacy efforts to address global challenges like poverty and climate change. However, NGOs are embedded within the same global system they seek to challenge. This article explore the tensions this raises from the vantage point of one particular organisation (Concern Universal). Drawing on a paradox perspective, we find that despite the structural constraints, NGO actors and the poor people they work alongside are active and well-informed participants in the development process. However, a focus on the communicative labour of NGOs uncovers the power relations at play in that work. Nonetheless, our paper challenges ideas about development as ‘us versus them’. Rather,... (More)
- International non-governmental organisations (NGOs) combine practical and advocacy efforts to address global challenges like poverty and climate change. However, NGOs are embedded within the same global system they seek to challenge. This article explore the tensions this raises from the vantage point of one particular organisation (Concern Universal). Drawing on a paradox perspective, we find that despite the structural constraints, NGO actors and the poor people they work alongside are active and well-informed participants in the development process. However, a focus on the communicative labour of NGOs uncovers the power relations at play in that work. Nonetheless, our paper challenges ideas about development as ‘us versus them’. Rather, by focusing our analysis on the relationships between NGO actors and multiple others, we show how the organisation is effectively constituted by these and other relationships. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/113dc021-c54c-45cb-b752-e77fb53658e2
- author
- Wadham, Helen ; Urquhart, Cathy LU and Warren, Richard
- publishing date
- 2019-04-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Contradiction, Development, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Paradox, Partnership
- in
- European Journal of Development Research
- volume
- 31
- issue
- 5
- pages
- 1263 - 1286
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85063919717
- ISSN
- 1743-9728
- DOI
- 10.1057/s41287-019-00210-w
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 113dc021-c54c-45cb-b752-e77fb53658e2
- date added to LUP
- 2023-11-23 09:36:14
- date last changed
- 2023-11-24 04:10:19
@article{113dc021-c54c-45cb-b752-e77fb53658e2, abstract = {{International non-governmental organisations (NGOs) combine practical and advocacy efforts to address global challenges like poverty and climate change. However, NGOs are embedded within the same global system they seek to challenge. This article explore the tensions this raises from the vantage point of one particular organisation (Concern Universal). Drawing on a paradox perspective, we find that despite the structural constraints, NGO actors and the poor people they work alongside are active and well-informed participants in the development process. However, a focus on the communicative labour of NGOs uncovers the power relations at play in that work. Nonetheless, our paper challenges ideas about development as ‘us versus them’. Rather, by focusing our analysis on the relationships between NGO actors and multiple others, we show how the organisation is effectively constituted by these and other relationships.}}, author = {{Wadham, Helen and Urquhart, Cathy and Warren, Richard}}, issn = {{1743-9728}}, keywords = {{Contradiction; Development; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); Paradox; Partnership}}, language = {{eng}}, month = {{04}}, number = {{5}}, pages = {{1263--1286}}, publisher = {{SAGE Publications}}, series = {{European Journal of Development Research}}, title = {{Living with Paradox in International Development: An Extended Case Study of an International NGO}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41287-019-00210-w}}, doi = {{10.1057/s41287-019-00210-w}}, volume = {{31}}, year = {{2019}}, }