Africa Humiliated? Misrecognition in Development Aid

Abstract

Critiques of development aid from its recipient's sometimes draw our attention to the perception of paternalism on the part of 'development industry' actors. Even within participatory project designs, critical voices recount experiences of clear power divides and informal hierarchies determining the content and form of 'cooperation'. While neoliberal as well as neo-Marxist scholars base their critiques on a distributive scheme of global justice, post-development theory emphasizes respect and recognition as the central aspect of justice Indeed, post-development theorists continue to complain of neo-colonial power structures between nations as well as on a micro-level between the 'experts' and local people. The latter feel misrecognized in being judged according to the parameters of Western actors within the international community. This article explores how charges of misrecognition within development cooperation challenge the assumption by many liberal political theorists that more global justice could be achieved through more aid.

A ‘forgotten’ whakapapa: historical narratives of Māori and closed adoption

“…Finally, the lack of verifiable numbers leads to a reliance on ''experiential' access to the past' (Charbakaty 2007, p. 79). Lived experience may be contested as a source of knowledge, in itself a form of misrecognition, an 'epistemic injustice' which limits those who are misrecognised in having their knowledge claims heard (Dübgen 2012). Though non-Māori and/or non-adopted historians narrated histories that included Māori adoptees, it was the lived experience of being-Māori-and-adopted that led to this re-interrogation of the historical record.…”

Intervening on Behalf of the Human Right to Health: Who, When, and How?

“…Another concern for humanitarian intervention is that it may become an exacerbating influence. This concern has received considerable attention in the literature surrounding development aid and humanitarian interventions (see Moyo 2001;Lentz et al 2005;Assal 2008;Dübgen 2012;Cunningham 2012, among others). Some researchers, like Lentz et al (2005), found no causal link between the provision of food aid and dependency.…”

Epistemic Ignorance, Poverty and the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…A common explanation for this type of ignorance is the lack of inclusion of people who have epistemic authority and first-hand knowledge on the subject matter. This is an issue that is commonly brought up by scholars from feminist and decolonization studies (Dübgen 2012). In some cases, these mistakes are a product of well-meant intentions; the firm commitment to treat everyone as equals may hinder people to recognize vulnerabilities and privileges even in cases where they ought to.…”