GDP - The Global Development Primer

A long, long time ago, I can still remember how foreign aid used to make me smile, and I knew if there was a chance that it could make those people dance, and maybe they’d be happy for a while.  But February made me shiver, with every paper I’d deliver, bad news on the doorstep, I couldn’t take one more step.  I can’t remember if I cried when I read about the widowed brides, but something touched me deep inside…the day development died.

January 20, 2025. Donald Trump orders a freeze on USAID. Health, food, and education programs that impacted billions of people were defunded and effectively destroyed. Aid workers were suddenly unemployed. Locally engaged workers and NGOs shut out and shut down. Is this a natural death? An accident, or "murder 1"?

In the last 25 years, development has helped humanity through poverty alleviation, global health interventions, and work to mitigate climate change acts and conflict impacts. With a stroke of a Sharpie, the progress made is at risk of disappearing. How bad is it? Tune in to this expert panel to understand how deep this development crisis goes and whether development may survive in the future, or is it really bye bye, Miss American Pie?

This week, we have:

Adam Sneyd is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph. Adam has conducted research on trade and the prospects for sustainable development in Tanzania, Senegal, and Cameroon. Back when times were normal, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization invited him to moderate a high-level plenary of trade ministers and heads of international organizations on US trade policy in Africa. Adam is the author of Hidden Politics in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Fernwood Publishing, 2024),

Professor Marc Froese is a scholar of global political economy with degrees from the University of Toronto and York University in Canada. He has written books on the politics of trade dispute settlement and the fragmentation of international economic law. Most recently, Dr. Froese co-authored Has Populism Won? The War on Liberal Democracy (ECW 2022). He and Professor Drache identify the rhetorical tactics and electoral strategies deployed by 35 right-wing populist governments and oppositions around the world.

Blayne Haggart is an associate professor of Political Science at Brock University, a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and a BSIA Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, both in Waterloo.. He is the author most recently of The New Knowledge: Information, Data and the Remaking of Global Power, co-written with Natasha Tusikov and published in 2023 with Bloomsbury Press

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Political polarization and disinformation is not just out of control - it is crippling Global Development. The 2023/2024 UNDP Human Development Report makes the case with sound methods and transparent data that political polarization is creating a trench in human development. We know about the supply of political populism and disinformation. What about the demand for it? Where is this coming from? Pedro Conceição, lead author of the Human Development Report, joins us this week to get into the data and details about the global gridlock in development from the fog of misrepresentation.

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India is experiencing dramatic change economically and politically. As India's influence continues to grow globally, what happens at home? And what happens in regions that have highly diverse populations along religious or cultural lines? Srijana Karki has worked in, and between, diverse communities in India. She joins us on GDP to share her experiences of how diversity and cooperation can flourish at the community level and why it matters significantly for India's growing place globally.

Srijana Karki leads World Neighbors office and programs in Nepal and India as the Regional Director for South Asia.

With a rich experience spanning over 13 years in the development field, Srijana Karki brings a wealth of knowledge to World Neighbors. She has led and managed numerous projects and programs, assuming diverse roles such as team leader, consultant, trainer, facilitator, assistant manager, program coordinator, and program officer. This extensive experience underscores her credibility and makes her insights all the more valuable.

Before joining World Neighbors in 2012, Srijana worked for Underprivileged Children’s Educational Programs, a national non-government organization in Nepal; Training for Employment Project, a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in Nepal; Butwal Power Company, a pioneering and leading hydro-power company with over 300 staff members; and Alliance Nepal for Social Mobilization, a consulting firm working in the field of training. In addition, Srijana has extensive experience with major clients in research, project and program design, planning, implementation and facilitation.

Srijana holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

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We're 6 years out from the Sustainable Development Goals, and it's not looking good. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's war against Ukraine, and now war in the Middle East have put a handbrake on the global goals. What's more, the cost of everything has gone up, and it will likely mean that hundreds of millions of people will not ascend out of poverty by 2030. To help us understand the rough ride ahead, Oliver Schwank joins us to explain why we're off track, and what we need to do to get back on.

Mr. Oliver Schwank is a senior economist in the Financing for Sustainable Development Office of the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the author of the thematic chapter of the 2023 Financing for Sustainable Development Report: Financing Sustainable Transformations. He is part of the policy analysis team that leads the substantive follow-up to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, and focuses on debt sustainability and integrated financing frameworks. 

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Mass migration and climate change are urban crises. The lack of preparedness of cities around the world to handle climate adaptation is lagging. What's more the current and future stresses on mass migration due to climate and conflict will impact cities the most...and in particular a handful of cities in the global South. How can cities be better prepared for what lies ahead? Vittoria Zanuso has a plan. Empower cities with the resources and expertise necessary to get the job done. She has assembled a global coalition of more than 200 mayors who are willing to step up the challenges that are looming on the horizon.

Vittoria Zanuso is the Executive Director of the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), a global coalition of 200+ mayors working to accelerate action on migration and displacement. As MMC chief executive, Vittoria built the MMC startup from concept incubated by the Open Society Foundations and Swiss Government to a successful nonprofit organization, raising over US$20+ million and growing the funder base from two to 12 donors; working with Leadership Board mayors to facilitate organizational oversight and strategic input; recruiting, overseeing, and developing a team of 10+ full-time employees; and representing the MMC in multilateral fora, such as the UN General Assembly, and in external governing bodies, including the Steering Committee of UN Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund. Vittoria has positioned mayors worldwide as influential players in emerging policy frontiers — from climate migration to municipal finance. Her impact and thought leadership has been recognized in high-profile outlets, such as Time, Al Jazeera, The Hill, Bloomberg, Inside Philanthropy. Prior to the MMC, Vittoria held several positions at the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative (100RC). As a founding staff member of 100RC, Vittoria helped establish a network of 100 cities from the ground up and created the organization’s urban migration practice. Vittoriabegan her career in the field of strategic communications, first at the Spokesperson’s Office of the Vice-President of the European Commission in Brussels and then on the Communications team of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. Originally from Milan, Italy, Vittoria holds an MPA in International Policy and Management from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a BA in Politics from Queen Mary University of London. 

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"We all remember Alexander the Liberator [Alexander II] and Yaroslav the Wise [Yaroslav I]. Well, now we’ll have Vladimir the Poisoner of Underpants...and it is the duty of every person to defy him" Some of the final words from the late Russian Opposition Leader Aleksei Navalny. Navalny was a ferocious opponent to Vladimir Putin, and he was also pretty hilarious. Telling jokes until his final hours in a Russian prison camp, Navalny's sense of humour made him relatable to many in Russia. Considering that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a comedian too, it appears that Putin's fiercest opponents are comics. Why is Putin afraid of a joke?

Comedian, writer, and all around funny guy Kyle Hickey joins us on GDP this week to talk about how comedy plays out in global politics. Why is Putin scared of a good joke? What do Trump supporters joke about? How did Barack Obama use comedy while in the Whitehouse? Is the entirety of British politics held together through wisecracks and jokers? As is turns out, a bit of live comedy may be a fundamental ingredient to strong and inclusive democracies.

After starting stand-up comedy over a decade ago at an open mic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Kyle Hickey has blossomed into a talented writer, actor and comedian, making appearances at the Boston Comedy Festival, CBC's Ha!ifax Comedy Festival and JFL42 in Toronto, as well as acting roles on both YTV and MTV. His two live comedy albums, Experimental Phase and The Fresh Prince of Donair can be heard in rotation on channel 168 Canada Laughs on SiriusXM Radio as well as being found on iTunes and Spotify. 

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Check out Kyle's comedy here: https://kylehickey.com

In so many parts of the world children with intellectual disabilities are excluded from education opportunities. Once they are shunned, they are stigmatized. Once stigma sets in, entire families can fall victim to various acts of hatred. It is why inclusive education for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities needs to count. The Honourable Mike Lake (PC MP) travels widely to tell audiences about the story of him and his son Jaden, who lives with non-communicative autism. Mike and Jaden's story is touching, inspiring and revealing. Revealing in how people who learn and work with Jaden gain a great deal from him when they begin to understand the world from his perspective rather than try to drag him into theirs. It's a powerful message that extends well into politics, and one that Mike Lake joins us today to discuss.

Mike is the six-term Conservative Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Wetaskiwin, first elected in 2006. In both 2019 and 2021, he received the highest vote total of any federal candidate, for any party, in Canada.

Mike served for eight years as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry and was appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council in 2012. He has served as Shadow Minister for Youth, Sport, and Accessibility; International Development; and Mental Health, Addictions, and Suicide Prevention.

Prior to entering federal politics, Mike worked for 10 years with the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club where he served as National Accounts Manager, Director of Ticket Sales, and Group Sales Manager.  Mike holds a Bachelor of Commerce (with distinction) from the University of Alberta.

Mike has two adult children, his son, Jaden, and daughter, Jenae.  The Lakes have been active supporters of autism organizations, families and neurodiverse individuals across the country, and around the world, while sharing their story of life with Jaden, who has autism.

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How many times have we pursued Global Development Projects, from agricultural technology to power grids, with the promise that it will all be okay, and then it falls short? All the time. How many times have Global Development Theories encouraged a change in discourse to rest upon idolized examples that mask over important complexities? All the time.

This time Dr. Ilan Kapoor and Dr. Gavin Fridell have written a provocative book Rethinking Development Politics. Where they confront an often invisible, but active unconscious fetish for perfection and simple solutions in Global Development. Whereas mainstream development politics is organized around stability and rationality, psychoanalysis points to disharmony and irrationality, helping to explain the development subject’s often self-defeating behaviour — for example being seduced by growth and shopping, despite being aware of the inherent perils of inequality and climate crisis. From Sweatshops to E-Vehicles, can we grow beyond these fetishes?

Ilan Kapoor is Professor of Critical Development Studies at the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto. His research centers on psychoanalytic and postcolonial theory/politics, and ideology critique. He is the author of seven books. 

Gavin Fridell is a University Research Professor and Chair of Global Development Studies at Saint Mary’s University. His research focuses on fair trade and free trade, global political economy, and critical social and psychoanalytic theory. He is a member of the Trade and Investment Research Project of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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Soledad is a documentary by Peabody Award Winner Lisa Molomot that tells the story of a young woman from Central America who was imprisoned in the Eloy Detention Facility when she sought asylum in the United States. Soledad set out on a perilous journey from her homeland after enduring horrific persecution where she was kidnapped, sex-trafficked, tortured and nearly killed.

Through one woman's story, Soledad illustrates the plight faced by many asylum seekers and refugees arriving at the U.S. border and highlights the incredible work of lawyers and activists who donated their time to fight for another woman's future. Soledad puts a human face to our current immigration system and invites audience members to reflect on what kind of country we want to be and how our stance on immigration impacts real human lives.

Lisa Molomot is a documentary filmmaker based in the American Southwest. Her recent film work (Soledad, The Cleaners, Safe Haven) has focused on immigration and immigrant communities, as well as public education in the U.S. Lisa's feature documentary Missing in Brooks County, about migrant deaths in Texas, won a 2023 Peabody Award. She teaches documentary filmmaking at the University of Arizona. website: https://www.lisamolomot.com/

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To get access to Lisa's film, contact her here: https://www.lisamolomot.com/⁠

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There is a lot of talk amongst Global Development Studies as to whether or not the discipline itself is in decline. One of the key features of global development education was the opportunity to gain real world experience in cross-cultural settings. Dodgy past practices, climate concerns, and decolonial critique have put service learning abroad out of style.

Prof. Anke Schwittay says that before we bury development studies, we should ask "How can university work experiences contribute to reframing International Development from expert saviourism rooted in colonial legacies into a project of social justice and global solidarity?" She joins Dr. Bob in a conversation about approaches to development education that can keep the discipline alive and kicking.

Anke Schwittay is Professor of Anthropology and Global Development at the University of Sussex, UK. She is the author of New Media and International Development: Representation and Affect in Microfinance and Creative Universities: Reimagining Education for Global Challenges and Alternative Futures.

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Check out Dr. Bob's latest piece in the Times of Higher Education.