Researchers in international development in the School of Global Studies are based in the Departments of Anthropology, Geography and International Relations. Our work on development is strongly grounded in these disciplines. We also work collaboratively with researchers in the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), History, Economics, the Science and Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU), and in International Education.
Research contributes to understanding and addressing some of the most important current issues in international development. We have a strong interest in environmental management in developing countries including the Brazilian Amazon and West African Sahel and rainforest zones. Other areas of particular expertise include human rights, migration and poverty, gender and development, and corporate social responsibility
We also come together in research centres centred on particular themes. These include the Sussex Centre for Migration Research, the Centre for Global Political Economy, and the Justice and Violence Research Centre, all of which are led from the School of Global Studies.
Realising Rights to Global Health: An ethnographic analysis of rights-based organisations in promoting reproductive health in India.
The research is an empirical and theoretical study tracking the transmission of rights ideas and practices transnationally and through to local recipients, producing an analysis of how rights operate within different discursive spaces. The empirical study is based in Rajasthan, which has amongst the worst reproductive and child health indicators in the country. The fieldwork focus is on rights discourse and practice at three sites: 34 civil society organisations (health related and legal), the private health sector and the state.
For more information visit the Realising global rights to health research theme page
New Economies of Development: Critical Engagements with the Bottom of the Pyramid
In recent years “bottom-of-the pyramid” (BoP) schemes have attracted significant interest from international development institutions seeking to harness private sector resources for development purposes. Yet despite the growing number of BoP initiatives across the world, there has been comparatively little engagement from development studies with this new paradigm.This project seeks to address this gap by creating a space for new thinking, approaches, research methodologies, and evidence that critically engage with the development implications of the BoP model, and examine the distribution of gains and losses and risks and vulnerabilities in BoP markets. We seek to ask how such models work in practice, what processes of inclusion and exclusion they give rise to, and whether they can deliver development that is both ethical and sustainable.
For more information visit the responsible bopweb page
Pathways of Women’s Empowerment
Pathways of Women’s Empowerment is an international research and communications programme established in 2006 which links academics with activists and practitioners to find out what works to enhance women’s empowerment. We are identifying where women are achieving real gains and discovering the positive and negative factors which have influenced their journey. Pathways has been funded by UKAid from the Department for International Development and has received additional financing from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that enabled the programme to expand to include countries in conflict, post-conflict and crisis situations.
For more information visit the Pathways of Women’s Empowerment website
Charity and Philanthropy in Development
Roderick Stirrat and Filippo Osella
An innovative study looking at the role of charity and philanthropy in economic, social and health development is being launched. The study is being conducted in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital city, and is investigating Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim and secular forms giving, assessing their contribution towards achieving development goals.
For more information visit the Charity, philanthropy & development website
Where we do research
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