Transnational Governments

This lecture offers an overview of the analysis of international organizations, with a special emphasis on international development and humanitarianism. It does so by exploring the institutional architecture of international aid (governments, international organizations, donors, NGOs) and by critically examining the major theoretical foundations in this field of study. The lecture is divided into three sections. It starts with historical trajectories of development, beginning with colonization. It then focuses on some prominent concepts of international aid. When were notions such as “development”, “poverty”, or “fragile states” construed? By whom? What are the assumptions and central arguments underlying international development and humanitarianism? Finally, it analyzes the technologies used by the development industry (humanitarian drones, biometrics) and their practical and ethical challenges.

Examen terminal.