Short Abstract

This roundtable will convene participants from the arena of development studies on the importance of engaging citizens more deeply and effectively in their national contexts to address the issues of foreign aid cuts and impact of populism on the practices of global development.

Description

This roundtable will explore the potential for development studies to help surface and amplify citizen voices in promoting greater public support for global development. In the UK, a perceived lack of public support for development is used as a rationale for cutting ODA and failing to make ambitious commitments on “beyond aid” issues. Many citizens in the Republic of Ireland see their nation having a different role to play in global development, owing to its ‘neutral positions’ and history of decolonisation; despite escalation of populism and anti-immigrant campaigns. Evidence from multiple polls and surveys reveal significant differences in public support for development between nations. There is also a growing body of evidence that many UK citizens feel a sense of powerlessness and lack of agency in their own lives and within their communities, and their voices are not being heard, in turn influencing their attitudes towards global development. This timely roundtable will explore, drawing on relevant data and evidence, existing gaps and opportunities in public engagement on global development which may help elevate perceptions on powerlessness and agency. We will explore questions around: To what extent and how does the notion of “agency” call for new conceptualisations and practices of public engagement in global development issues? What do these terms mean? To what extent and how does public engagement differ and intersect from one nation to other? Can we reimagine practices and experiences of public engagement around development in an era of populism and foreign aid cuts?