News
Bridging knowledge divides
This study examines how the Development Policy Review Network (DPRN) has contributed to more effective research-policy linkages in the field of Dutch Development Cooperation. The objective of the study comes forth from the difficulty DPRN has experienced in involving policymakers (defined as staff of ministries and embassies) in its activities.
Assessment of EU Policy on Sustainable Energy
Climate change and sustainable energy production are high on the political agenda, public debate generally focusing on how the use of fossil fuels can be reduced. Much less attention is given to the lack of access to energy of people living in poverty in developing countries. Remarkably, the solution to both issues is the same: renewable energy.
NEWSLETTER Civil Society in West Asia, Issue 2: 'Democratization Industry' and Challenges faced by Civil Society Concept
15/02/2010 Crisis is a much-overworked word in social sciences generally and in politics in particular. Phrases such as ‘democracy promotion is in crisis’ or ‘civil society can never be a force for democratization’ are simplistic overstatements. However, one cannot deny that there are serious challenges on the road to democratization, both of a conceptual and of a practical nature. The second issue of the newsletter of Knowledge Programme Civil Society in West Asia deals with the challenges faced by th...New Publication on Theory of Change
The Theory of Change approach applied to social change processes represents a thinking-action alternative to other more rigid planning approaches and logics. When living in complex and conflictive times, we need to count with more flexible instruments that allow us to plan and monitor our actions in uncertain, emergent, and complex contexts from a flexible and non-rigid logic. As known, this thinking-action approach is also applied to institutional coaching processes and to the design of soc...
Inclusive economy with a social agenda
This brief report looks at the key issues raised during the intergenerational debate in The Hague on how to place people at the centre of economics. The meeting focused on how to establish collective responsibility for sustainable livelihoods in wake of the crises. Building on an nalysis of the crises by keynote speaker Rick van der Ploeg the panel and the audience sketched out how to resituate themarket within society and how its regulation can be better placed in the hands of citizens. Th...
ISS Seminar announcement: From phantom wealth to real wealth by David Korten
On 25 January, David Korten will lead a Special Development Research Seminar about the content if his most recent book "Agenda for a new economy; from phantom wealth to real wealth". In this book, Korten argues the case for a new community-based economy based on different values and new institutions beyond Wall Street and the Washington consensus.
Urgency Required Out Now
Urgency Required focuses on urgent issues of gay and lesbian liberation, taking a historical perspective and reflecting worldwide geographic diversity. Employing the term ‘LGBT-persons’, the acronym used for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, it explores concepts and strategies for taking steps towards decriminalization and equal rights and treatment regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.
Complex Dynamics Civil-Political Societies and Democratization Processes
07/01/2010 Is there a relationship between civil society and political society in democratisation processes? How do these societies influence each other? What are the potential interrelated (explanatory) variables of both societies which could improve or impede democratization? To find out more about these topics, read the interesting research paper of Stephan de Vries titled: The Downfall of Simplicity and the ‘Complex’ Notion (s) of Democratization: A Revision of the Relation between Political Societ...Workshop Report Moving from Intentions to Action
The Second International Expert Meeting on HIV Prevention for Men who have sex with Men (MSM), Women who have sex with Women (WSW), and Transgenders (TG) brought together 130 activist, community representatives and experts from the areas of policy, research, funding, and implementation of programmes. The format of the Expert Meeting was a mixture of expert presentations on a wide variety of issues concerning sexual minorities, such as decriminalization and destigmatisation; best practices an...
From Brussels with Love
Cooperation across the different domains of academia, practice and policy can contribute to comprehending the complexity of development and intervening effectively. Academic knowledge, for instance, offers a broader conceptual understanding of the issues at hand. Practitioners’ knowledge and experiences can provide new insights into which concrete initiatives best contribute to or fail in development practice. However, cooperation across domains is also challenging: it is not natural or easy.