Shared values are deemed necessary as a solid foundation for social cohesion by commentators and observers in many countries. However, when examining what kind of values this is based on, answers often come down to platitudes and national clichés. This discussion paper offers some clarification...

This study adds to the debate on the contribution of digital Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) towards the improvement of local governance.Sub-Saharan Africa has been identified as a region where the achievement of development goals is hampered by a high degree of government...

Think big! The international dynamic to which the global financial crisis has led in the international summit architecture offers a grand opportunity to effect a global governance reform. The paper offers suggestions for various reform scenarios, taking current global dynamics into account (in...

Ongoing experiments with results-based aid (RBA), a development cooperation modality that disburses grants or loans in response to the achievement of pre-defined results, constitute an important and influential trend in international development cooperation. This discussion paper seeks to...

The economic and political rise of China has led to considerable controversy regarding potential repercussions for the current global governance architecture. At least two opposing scenarios are conceivable: China’s adaptation to the rules and norms system shaped by developed countries or the...

Since the 2000s, the international community has increasingly recognised two basic aspects of development cooperation. First, international development cooperation faces a systemic crisis. Because of the way it is organised and implemented, it is part of the problem it wants solve. As a...

This paper contributes to the debate on the effects of women’s political representation. It has a threefold objective: (1) to analyse whether the gender of elected politicians is relevant to the educational achievements of residents of the Indian districts in which they were elected; (2) to test...

The study argues that Egypt has only some of the characteristics of a so-called ‘anchor country’: In particular, it plays an important role for the long-term stability of the Middle East and North Africa as developments in Egypt have a high symbolic significance for all countries in the...

In September 2001, the MDGs were approved by the 56th UN General Assembly. The international community is thus in possession of a common goal system that has been agreed upon by all relevant actors and that is both measurable and set to be implemented by a fixed date. The intention is that both,...

This paper analyses to what extent the aid and development effectiveness agenda has been applied in the area of capacity development support, with a specific focus on the use of developing country systems. The paper is based on a literature review and a limited number of semi-structured...