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Living with Paradox in International Development: An Extended Case Study of an International NGO

Wadham, Helen ; Urquhart, Cathy LU and Warren, Richard (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)
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author
; and
publishing date
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}},
}