Friday, January 29, 2010

The danger of technocracy in Haiti

Duncan Green (from Oxfam) is convincing on his criticism of some of Paul Collier´s ideas for the reconstruction of Haiti. It is still amazing how little many economists understand about politics and the role that DOMESTIC institutions and DOMESTIC social movements must play in the process of development. External actors can help in the short run but will be totally ineffective in the long run unless a real, effective state is created and social movements are strengthened. When are we going to realize that technocratic solutions are both ineffective and also political in themselves?

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