Lecture week 1 - Introduction to the Course: Structure and Aims
The geo-politics of aid and trade in historical perspective
Themes of study
- Dutch development cooperation policy, (Smiths summarises what Dutch
development through time entailed)
- Historical, political, and socio-economic issues in development
cooperation. How different authors are dealing with the information of
Dutch development policy.
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – I
Decolonisation: the Indonesian trauma and Dutch position as international
“power’’
1949 680,000 euro to UN technical aid programmes, UN has to lead in this
1989 2,5 billion euro / 3,400 civil servants involved from Dutch government.
completely different situation, the UN is no longer the main channel and very
much in-house. What changed?
‘’’Merchant and vicar’’ or ‘’merchant and missionary’’ concept
- Contradiction between economic self-interest and idealistic motives to fight
poverty
- Red line theme throughout Dutch development policy
- How is the Netherlands different from other countries in this respect?
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – II
Self-interest versus idealistic motives
- Opening up new markets
- National and international prestige, how much prestige can you gain by
doing this? Human rights became a prestige issue in the 70s.
- Economic development as instrument against communism Cold war
policy on both parts, because not only the Western bloc used development
as an instrument.
- 1962: more influence for trade and industry (bilateral programmes,
collaborating on a one on one basis)
- 1970s: political motives gain influence: social-democrat minister Jan Pronk
(1973-77), continued to 1981
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – III
1970s: Political motives gain influence: social-democrat minister Jan Pronk
(1973-77)
- Poverty alleviation lots of food shortages in Western Africa triggered
this. Also in connection to civil wars in Asia.
- Factual need for help
- Presence of facilitating social-political structures, structuralized approach
- Human rights
1977-1981: Change in government, minister Jan de Koning
- Economic independence of developing countries
, - International equality
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – IV
Shift of focus in 1980s
- Main objectives stayed intact
- Bigger role for Dutch trade and industry: taking into account ‘’the
possibilities and capacities of the Dutch economy’’
- Emphasis on structural and sustainable character of aid
General themes of debate
- Bilateral versus multilateral aid
- Technical versus financial aid
- Public authority versus private organisations (including religious
organisations)
Lecture week 2 – International cooperation: A Dutch historical perspective and
the concept of merchants and missionaries
Structures of Dutch Development Policy I
Main topics of Dutch development policy (Smits article + Hoebink and
Kaziemierczuk articles)
- The colonial element to be continued next week
- Merchant and vicar / merchant and missionary concept
- Changing politics of development through 1960s, 70s, 80s
- Bilateral versus multilateral aid
- Technical versus financial aid
- Public authority versus private organisations (including religious
organisations)
Structures of Dutch development Policy II
Periodisation (using Kaziemierczuk)
- 1949-1962: Beginning of development aid and transition period; focus on
Dutch interests (‘’inventing the post-colony’’)
- 1962-1972: Development cooperation takes off, an increasing focus on
Dutch interests (re-inventing ‘’colonial’’ relations)
- 1973-1981: Strong growth of development cooperation and more focus on
poverty alleviation (responses to food and climate crises in Africa and
elsewhere)
- 1982-1989: The main years of structural adjustment programmes and
balance of payments support (IMF and WB kick in)
- 1990-1998: Aid as a catalyst for development (‘’a bigger picture’’)
- 1999-2009: The main years of the sector-wide approach (Swap) and
budget support, with a strong focus on MDGs
- 2010-to date: Budget cuts and a greater role for Dutch business (How
about SDGs?)
Why Pronk and how to read him?
Pronk’s Evert Vermeer lecture as original source
The geo-politics of aid and trade in historical perspective
Themes of study
- Dutch development cooperation policy, (Smiths summarises what Dutch
development through time entailed)
- Historical, political, and socio-economic issues in development
cooperation. How different authors are dealing with the information of
Dutch development policy.
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – I
Decolonisation: the Indonesian trauma and Dutch position as international
“power’’
1949 680,000 euro to UN technical aid programmes, UN has to lead in this
1989 2,5 billion euro / 3,400 civil servants involved from Dutch government.
completely different situation, the UN is no longer the main channel and very
much in-house. What changed?
‘’’Merchant and vicar’’ or ‘’merchant and missionary’’ concept
- Contradiction between economic self-interest and idealistic motives to fight
poverty
- Red line theme throughout Dutch development policy
- How is the Netherlands different from other countries in this respect?
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – II
Self-interest versus idealistic motives
- Opening up new markets
- National and international prestige, how much prestige can you gain by
doing this? Human rights became a prestige issue in the 70s.
- Economic development as instrument against communism Cold war
policy on both parts, because not only the Western bloc used development
as an instrument.
- 1962: more influence for trade and industry (bilateral programmes,
collaborating on a one on one basis)
- 1970s: political motives gain influence: social-democrat minister Jan Pronk
(1973-77), continued to 1981
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – III
1970s: Political motives gain influence: social-democrat minister Jan Pronk
(1973-77)
- Poverty alleviation lots of food shortages in Western Africa triggered
this. Also in connection to civil wars in Asia.
- Factual need for help
- Presence of facilitating social-political structures, structuralized approach
- Human rights
1977-1981: Change in government, minister Jan de Koning
- Economic independence of developing countries
, - International equality
Main topics of Dutch development policy, 1949-1989 – IV
Shift of focus in 1980s
- Main objectives stayed intact
- Bigger role for Dutch trade and industry: taking into account ‘’the
possibilities and capacities of the Dutch economy’’
- Emphasis on structural and sustainable character of aid
General themes of debate
- Bilateral versus multilateral aid
- Technical versus financial aid
- Public authority versus private organisations (including religious
organisations)
Lecture week 2 – International cooperation: A Dutch historical perspective and
the concept of merchants and missionaries
Structures of Dutch Development Policy I
Main topics of Dutch development policy (Smits article + Hoebink and
Kaziemierczuk articles)
- The colonial element to be continued next week
- Merchant and vicar / merchant and missionary concept
- Changing politics of development through 1960s, 70s, 80s
- Bilateral versus multilateral aid
- Technical versus financial aid
- Public authority versus private organisations (including religious
organisations)
Structures of Dutch development Policy II
Periodisation (using Kaziemierczuk)
- 1949-1962: Beginning of development aid and transition period; focus on
Dutch interests (‘’inventing the post-colony’’)
- 1962-1972: Development cooperation takes off, an increasing focus on
Dutch interests (re-inventing ‘’colonial’’ relations)
- 1973-1981: Strong growth of development cooperation and more focus on
poverty alleviation (responses to food and climate crises in Africa and
elsewhere)
- 1982-1989: The main years of structural adjustment programmes and
balance of payments support (IMF and WB kick in)
- 1990-1998: Aid as a catalyst for development (‘’a bigger picture’’)
- 1999-2009: The main years of the sector-wide approach (Swap) and
budget support, with a strong focus on MDGs
- 2010-to date: Budget cuts and a greater role for Dutch business (How
about SDGs?)
Why Pronk and how to read him?
Pronk’s Evert Vermeer lecture as original source
