Aid, Politics and Development: A Donor Perspective

ABSTRACT

Political governance and state effectiveness are enjoying something of a resurgence in aid-policy debates. While adherence to the principles of the Paris Declaration may be necessary for developmental progress, there is a growing recognition that politics is the ultimate determinant of developmental outcomes. This article argues that a political governance sensibility harnessed to the Paris principles may be the best and only hope for developmental progress in the twenty-first century. But it has challenging implications – not least for development professionals and agencies, who will find themselves requiring new and unfamiliar skills.