Effective bureaucracies are pivotal in mobilizing resources, implementing development projects, and ensuring equitable distribution of growth benefits across all societal segments. Conversely, weak administrative systems often result in inefficiency, corruption, and the derailment of vital development efforts aimed at improving health, education, and economic opportunities. The significance of administrative capacity extends beyond immediate program implementation. Strong administrative systems ensure that the achievements of development policies are maintained over time, adapting to new challenges like technological changes, demographic shifts, and environmental sustainability. This adaptability is essential for long-term development outcomes, making the strengthening of bureaucratic institutions a fundamental aspect of enhancing overall state capacity.

Sameen A. Mohsin Ali is an Assistant Professor of International Development at the University of Birmingham. She works in the fields of comparative politics, development studies, and political economy, with a specialisation in the bureaucratic politics of Pakistan. @sameen_mohsin

Resources

• Citizen trust, administrative capacity and administrative burden in Pakistan’s immunization program (open access)
• Networks of effectiveness? The impact of politicization on bureaucratic performance in Pakistan (author's accepted manuscript)
• Pakistan election: the military has long meddled in the country’s politics – this year will be no different, The Conversation UK
• Oral History, Collaboration and Research on Women Public Sector Workers in Pakistan, with Sana Haroon, MHRC blog
• Bureaucratic Reform, Discourse, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics
• The good, the bad and the ugly in Punjab’s new local government laws. Herald, 5 July, 2019.
• Good sifarish, bad sifarish: A look at PML-N’s selective anti-corruption drive. DAWN 19 April, 2018.
• Pakistan: COVID-19, federalism and the first wave response. (open access)

Key highlights

• Introduction – 00:24
• State capacity and administrative capacity – 03:26
• The role of patronage politics – 09:03
• Civil servant strategies to tackle political interference – 16:49
• Socialization strategies, motivation, and demotivation – 25:09
• Networks of effectiveness – 32:14
• Trust between citizens and the state – 45:16

Host

Professor Dan Banik (@danbanik @GlobalDevPod)

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A common concern voiced by leaders in many developing nations is the deterioration of their road systems and the apparent hesitance of the international community to fund infrastructure improvements. In response, China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. This sweeping project has facilitated investments in sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, telecommunications, logistics, energy, and oil and gas. While some African citizens and policymakers view the BRI as an opportunity to expand their policy space for development, opinions are divided. The presence of Chinese investments in Africa's infrastructure has ignited a multifaceted debate about the benefits of such partnerships versus the risks, including debt dependency, sustainability issues, and project prioritization that might not meet the wider needs of the population.

Karuti Kanyinga is a Research Professor of Development Studies at the Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi, who has worked extensively on governance and development. @karutikk

Key highlights

• Introduction – 00:24
• Public perceptions of recent infrastructure projects in Nairobi – 03:18
• Project modalities and demands for greater transparency – 08:09
• Negotiating better deals with external actors – 14:36
• The cost of politics – 22:16
• Expectations of idealism in politics – 28:37
• Strategies for combating corruption – 37:42

Host

Professor Dan Banik (@danbanik @GlobalDevPod)

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The continued reliance on a "business as usual" model is insufficient for countering the detrimental consequences of global warming. Numerous studies, including the influential reports from the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, have sparked a keen interest in understanding the prerequisites for the societal transformations necessary to address climate change effectively. However, a significant disconnect persists between the scientific consensus on global warming and the actions taken by political leaders at international, national, and local levels. In many of my interactions with policymakers from around the world, I often hear that despite being a global challenge, the discourse around global warming is disproportionately influenced by the perspectives and priorities of rich countries. Politicians in the global South in particular claim that this imbalance often results in global agreements that neglect the complexities of local justice and the intricate local politics involving competition for limited resources.

Lan Marie Nguyen Berg is the Deputy Leader of the Green Party and a Member of the Norwegian Parliament. She previously served as Oslo City Commissioner for transport and the environment. @Lan_Marie

Key highlights

• Introduction – 00:24
• The importance of voting as a step for political action– 04:24
• Balancing short-term voter appeasement with long-term climate goals– 08:48
• How Oslo became greener – 14:07
• Radical policies for long-term benefit and trade-offs – 19:28
• The welfare state and growing citizen expectations – 31:10
• Why the Global South reacts to preaching from the Global North – 37:58
• Online abuse and the future of young European leaders – 47:44

Host

Professor Dan Banik (@danbanik @GlobalDevPod)

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Subscribe:

https://in-pursuit-of-development.simplecast.com

https://globaldevpod.substack.com/