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Decoloniality in Germany's foreign aid? Exploring the case of the 'Marshallplan with Africa' and the role of public personnel in official development assistance

Lindemann, Jens LU (2023) SIMV29 20231
Department of Political Science
Graduate School
Master of Science in Development Studies
Abstract
This thesis examines the role of public servants in official development assistance (ODA), a form of foreign aid administered by states. While research on foreign aid highlights its potential to improve living conditions, it also reveals issues of ineffectiveness and overconfidence within the aid sector. Moreover, certain forms of foreign aid continued and can still continue to perpetuate colonial legacies within public service structures. The primary objective of this thesis is to explore the potential for decolonial praxis among public servants in the context of ODA. Employing an exploratory and qualitative research design, this study utilizes a least-likely-case study logic to shed light on this underexplored topic. Historical... (More)
This thesis examines the role of public servants in official development assistance (ODA), a form of foreign aid administered by states. While research on foreign aid highlights its potential to improve living conditions, it also reveals issues of ineffectiveness and overconfidence within the aid sector. Moreover, certain forms of foreign aid continued and can still continue to perpetuate colonial legacies within public service structures. The primary objective of this thesis is to explore the potential for decolonial praxis among public servants in the context of ODA. Employing an exploratory and qualitative research design, this study utilizes a least-likely-case study logic to shed light on this underexplored topic. Historical Institutionalism is included as a theory to better understand the institutional dynamics in public administration. Specifically, this thesis empirically examines the German ODA-policy 'Marshallplan with Africa'. It argues that despite the structural challenges within public administration, public servants can act as agents of decolonial change within ODA policies. Bureaucratic autonomy and the role of intentions have been identified as two crucial factors influencing the strategic choices made by public servants. (Less)
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author
Lindemann, Jens LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV29 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
decoloniality, Historical Institutionalism, Official Development Assistance, foreign aid, public administration, qualitative elite interviews
language
English
id
9142682
date added to LUP
2024-02-01 10:03:30
date last changed
2024-05-07 12:36:38
@misc{9142682,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the role of public servants in official development assistance (ODA), a form of foreign aid administered by states. While research on foreign aid highlights its potential to improve living conditions, it also reveals issues of ineffectiveness and overconfidence within the aid sector. Moreover, certain forms of foreign aid continued and can still continue to perpetuate colonial legacies within public service structures. The primary objective of this thesis is to explore the potential for decolonial praxis among public servants in the context of ODA. Employing an exploratory and qualitative research design, this study utilizes a least-likely-case study logic to shed light on this underexplored topic. Historical Institutionalism is included as a theory to better understand the institutional dynamics in public administration. Specifically, this thesis empirically examines the German ODA-policy 'Marshallplan with Africa'. It argues that despite the structural challenges within public administration, public servants can act as agents of decolonial change within ODA policies. Bureaucratic autonomy and the role of intentions have been identified as two crucial factors influencing the strategic choices made by public servants.}},
  author       = {{Lindemann, Jens}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Decoloniality in Germany's foreign aid? Exploring the case of the 'Marshallplan with Africa' and the role of public personnel in official development assistance}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}