Brokers and Translators in Development: a focus on civil society

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This course focuses on the changing role of civil society organizations (CSOs), particularly NGOs, in contemporary development processes. It examines the -contested- role in development and democratisation by considering processes of brokerage and translation and the tensions experienced by these organizations when dealing with state institutions, donors, corporations, other transnational social movements and 'communities'. Thereby, the course aims to critically examine and analyze the potent myths -e.g. they are independent, participatory, value-driven and non-profit- surrounding these organizations. This is done in two ways. First by showing that the ethnographic method is valuable in improving our understanding of NGOs and their relationships with other development actors. Second, (an anthropology of development) through a skills exercise, Project Design and Project Proposal Writing, whereby students are confronted with the dilemmas of 'doing development' by having to write a project proposal for a development project.