{"product_id":"why-we-lie-about-aid-development-and-the-messy-politics-of-change","title":"Why We Lie About Aid: Development and the Messy Politics of Change","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA provocative look at the truth behind aid and its real\r\nmeaning of political influence and struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n                                                            \u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\n                              \u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 275 pages\u003cbr\u003e\n                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 15 February 2018\u003cbr\u003e\n                              \u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC\u003cbr\u003e\n                          \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eForeign aid is often perceived as a matter of charity, while international development is seen as a matter of technical fixes. However, this perception leads to a highly dysfunctional aid system that mistakenly prioritizes short-term results over long-term transformation. Donor publics are constantly told that this is the way to go, resulting in a system that is criticized from both the right and the left. The right argues that we spend too much on aid, while the left claims that we don't spend enough.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn reality, aid should not be solely about the levels of spending or interventions tied to vague notions of accountability and ownership. Instead, as Yanguas argues in his highly provocative book, aid should be about struggle, about taking sides. It should be about politics. This approach has been quietly applied by innovative development practitioners around the world, providing political coverage for local reformers to open up spaces for change.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYanguas draws on a diverse range of stories from various countries, including Britain, the United States, Sierra Leone, and Honduras, to provide an eye-opening account of what we really mean when we talk about aid. He challenges the conventional wisdom that aid is about providing resources and technical expertise to developing countries, arguing that it is much more than that. Aid is about supporting local reformers who are fighting for their rights and dignity, and it is about creating spaces for them to thrive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the key insights of Yanguas's book is that aid is not just about giving money or resources. It is also about creating political space for local reformers to operate. This means challenging the power of entrenched interests and institutions that often stand in the way of progress. It requires building alliances with local communities and civil society organizations, as well as engaging with the political establishment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYanguas's book provides a valuable roadmap for those who want to make a difference in the world of aid. It challenges the conventional wisdom that aid is a one-size-fits-all solution and emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to the specific needs and contexts of each country. It also highlights the importance of recognizing the political dimension of aid and the role that local reformers can play in driving change.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, Yanguas's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex and challenging world of aid. It provides a fresh perspective on aid that challenges the conventional wisdom and emphasizes the importance of taking a political approach to development. By recognizing the struggle and taking sides\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe reality, as Yanguas argues in this highly provocative book, is that aid isn't – or at least shouldn't be – about levels of spending, nor interventions shackled to vague notions of 'accountability and 'ownership. Instead, a different approach is possible, one that acknowledges aid as being about struggle, about taking sides. It is an approach that has been quietly applied by innovative development practitioners around the world, providing political coverage for local reformers to open up spaces for change. Drawing on a variety of convention-defying stories from a variety of countries – from Britain to the US, Sierra Leone to Honduras – Yanguas provides an eye-opening account of what we really mean when we talk about aid.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eForeign aid is often perceived as a matter of charity, while international development is seen as a matter of technical fixes. However, this perception leads to a highly dysfunctional aid system that mistakenly prioritizes short-term results over long-term transformation. Donor publics are constantly told that this is the way to go, resulting in a system that is criticized from both the right and the left. The right argues that we spend too much on aid, while the left claims that we don't spend enough.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn reality, aid should not be solely about the levels of spending or interventions tied to vague notions of accountability and ownership. Instead, as Yanguas argues in his highly provocative book, aid should be about struggle, about taking. It should be about politics. This approach has been quietly applied by innovative development practitioners around the world, providing political coverage for local reformers to open up spaces for change.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYanguas draws on a diverse range of stories from various countries, including Britain, the United States, Sierra Leone, and Honduras, to provide an eye-opening account of what we really mean when we talk about aid. He challenges the conventional wisdom that aid is about providing resources and technical expertise to developing countries, arguing that it is much more than that. Aid is about supporting local reformers who are fighting for their rights and dignity, and it is about creating spaces for them to thrive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the key insights of Yanguas's book is that aid is not just about giving money or resources. It is also about creating political space for local reformers to operate. This means challenging the power of entrenched interests and institutions that often stand in the way of progress. It requires building alliances with local communities and civil society organizations, as well as engaging with the political establishment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYanguas's book provides a valuable roadmap for those who want to make a difference in the world of aid. It challenges the conventional wisdom that aid is a one-size-fits-all solution and emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to the specific needs and contexts of each country. It also highlights the importance of recognizing the political dimension of aid and the role that local reformers can play in driving change.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, Yanguas's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex and challenging world of aid. It provides a fresh perspective on aid that challenges the conventional wisdom and emphasizes the importance of taking a political approach to development. By recognizing the struggle and taking sides.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n                            \u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 308g\n                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 137 x 215 x 21 (mm)\n                            \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781783609338\n                            \n                          \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pablo Yanguas","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":44094261428474,"sku":"9781783609338","price":17.48,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/5fcc39e718a64a6c7dde6cdd73c85637.jpg?v=1630121978","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/why-we-lie-about-aid-development-and-the-messy-politics-of-change","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}