Sweden's Research Aid Policy: The Role of Science in Development

Sweden has been a leading country in promoting science in low-income countries through its agencies, Sarec and Sida. This book examines how these agencies have worked to promote science, addressing questions about knowledge, capacity, agenda-setting, resource distribution, and donor-recipient relationships. It traces how perceptions of the relationship between research and development have shifted over the last five decades and highlights the importance of long-term collaboration for capacity building.

Format: Hardback
Length: 218 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Science and technology have been recognized as vital tools for development, problem-solving, and education in low-income countries. Sweden has been a pioneer in this field, being one of the first countries to formalize research aid. This book examines the efforts of the Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries (Sarec) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to promote science in low-income countries. It addresses challenging questions such as who determines the value of knowledge and capacities, who sets the research agenda, how knowledge resources are distributed, and how complex donor-recipient relationships contribute to and exacerbate these issues. Through a discursive analysis of policy materials and interviews with former directors at Sarec and Sida, as well as other key individuals, the book traces how perceptions of the relationship between research and development have evolved over the past five decades.

The book highlights the importance of long-term collaboration for capacity building and emphasizes the broader tensions surrounding the production of knowledge. It will be a valuable resource for advanced students and researchers in foreign aid, development cooperation, and the history of science and technology.

Weight: 580g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367467258