In light of the proclaimed crisis or even end of ODA-development aid, this roundtable discusses how the siloed discipline of  Development Studies and its diverging understandings of the term itself can patch things up given the current world order turmoil. Development economics typically focuses on growth and, poverty reduction, critical and postcolonial accounts highlight power, coloniality or structural inequalities, while practice-oriented approaches seek to enhance the effectiveness of policies. Meanwhile the pressing  planetary crises such as climate change, migration, inequality, and digital transformations emphasize the need for meaningful dialogue across these perspectives.

“Development’s” dominant understandings, practices but also its critics face increasing scrutiny.  Recent events and longer-term trends, including contested global priorities, declining legitimacy of global cooperation arrangements and the rise of multipolarity, have placed development research and policy under pressure. These trends do not only challenge the established norms of development cooperation, but also multilateralism and global solidarity.

Motivated by these challenges, the panelists, working at the Institute for Development Research and Development Policy in Bochum, Germany, propose to challenge given silos and bring multiple perspectives into dialogue. Despite epistemological and disciplinary differences (including economics, geography, political science and sociology) we believe that Development scholars share a commitment towards the improvement of well-being and the reduction of inequalities.

Our proposed roundtable will begin with short pitches where participants illustrate how their research navigate disciplinary silos, drawing on fieldwork and professional experiences in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In the open discussion, we will reflect on the major pitfalls of siloed approaches, and the broken promises, and continued desire of practicing development . Finally, we will explore alternative, holistic, and progressive futures of Development as a research and policy area, considering possibilities at both local and global levels while recognising where disciplinary and methodological boundaries remain meaningful. 

Speakers

• Simon Rahn - Ruhr University Bochum
• Camilo Ucrós - Ruhr University Bochum
• Ricardo París - Ruhr University Bochum
• Oluwaseun Kuye - Ruhr University Bochum
• Dave Lefor - Ruhr University Bochum and International Institute of Social Studies