Rwandan development policy is frequently referred to as ‘social engineering’. As this concept is not analytically clear and carries negative connotations, this article elaborates on its meaning. An analytical framework is developed and applied to selected Rwandan policies and...

This article considers how social capital can contribute to poverty alleviation at the micro-level, based on an analysis of the documentary evidence provided by theoretical perspectives and empirical studies. Across countries and contexts, micro-credit, agricultural production and marketing,...

In this article, we survey a growing body of evidence showing the effects of trust on the wealth of nations. It is important to understand the mechanisms through which trust affects the wealth of nations. This article suggests that trust has effects on the wealth of nations mainly through five...

This article assesses the evidence used in arguments for the role of the media in conflict and post-conflict situations. It focuses on two broad areas within the literature. First, it examines literature on the contribution of media in war to peace transitions, including an assessment of the...

The cultural sector is currently being touted as an undervalued contributor to development, able to support economic growth, while promoting social inclusion and cultural diversity. Targeted arts and culture funds now support artists’ initiatives throughout the developing world. This...

The issue of foreign aid dependency in Africa remains controversial among policymakers. The Euro zone, which provides the bulk of foreign aid to developing countries, is currently implementing some austerity programmes. Consequently, this study investigates what really matters; the quantity or...

Esfahani (1991) shows that the statistically significant correlation between export promotion and economic growth in semi-industrialized countries (SICs) has been mainly attributable to the role of exports in reducing import ‘shortages’, which have impeded output growth in these...

Local and regional development has characteristically focused upon localities and regions in the historically industrialized and urbanized countries of the Global North. Development Studies has been concerned with more recently industrializing and urbanizing nations in the Global South. Each...

Post-war reconstruction and development are no longer viewed as separate conceptual or practical domains. This evolving concept is underpinned by a series of assumptions that assert the necessary links between democratization, economic reform and sustainable peace. This article builds on...

Michael Mann seeks to explain the nature of power and its effects on the development of the state. His work has had a considerable impact within the field of macro-historical sociology, but has primarily been applied to Western case studies. This article builds upon an emerging literature that...