Politically informed programming

How much do we really know about what 'thinking and working politically' can achieve – and where it might present dangers – in challenging political and sectoral contexts?

Why it can be hard to start a conversation with the people who might know what really works in the fight against corruption.

How do anticorruption messages influence people’s views about corruption and about anticorruption efforts?

Learning how to balance the technically possible and politically feasible in volatile, conflict-affected contexts.

Can the World Bank's flagship World Development Report inspire a good governance revolution that delivers development gains?

The poor aren't simply 'easy targets' - they necessarily come into contact with corrupt state officials more often.

Promoting and sustaining individual behavioural change is as important as building flexibility into development programming.

Understanding how to make democratic transitions as economically painless as possible.

The key role of leadership succession rules and effective institutions in sustaining the success of high-growth autocracies.

Many different paths, but all leading to similar destinations - and adding useful nuance to development thinking and practice.  

Replacing the traditional aid narrative with a more grown-up - and more inspiring - development story. 

Why, despite the best of intentions and the investment of significant resources, do peace processes so often fail to lead to a stable and lasting peace after civil war?

Emerging lessons from the Central Land Council’s community development program to strengthen Aboriginal people’s participation in mainstream Australia.

Anna Naupa's 2016 Adrian Leftwich Memorial Lecture discussed where most transformation happens - in drafting the rules, or in putting them into action.

The parallels between - and ethical dilemmas of - anthropology's focus on context and international development's ‘thinking and working politically’ concept.