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Private sector development as poverty and strategic discourse

PSD in the political economy of EU-Africa trade relations

Bibliographic Data

ID4782040
AuthorsMark Langan (University of Stirling, corresponding author)
Year2011
Volume49
Issue1
Pages83-113
Publication date2011-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Modern African Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-278X • E-ISSN: 1469-7777
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0022278x10000662
OpenAlexW2082765108
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited23

Private sector development (PSD) has emerged as a core component of donor strategies aimed at making free markets work for 'the poor' through assistance to business sector capacity in low-income states. PSD initiatives cannot be understood, however, as technical exercises aimed solely at promoting development through business competitiveness. Instead they serve as normative concessions through which developmentally questionable market-opening has been rationalised by donors in pursuit of lucrative commercial opportunities in emerging economies. Examining the European Union's (EU) PSD framework in bilateral relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, the article examines the utilisation of PSD discourse in the 'development branding' of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). PSD discourse is seen to facilitate a 'double-veiling' of asymmetric ACP-EU trade ties via legitimising images of equitable market-opening and the trickle-down of business wealth to 'the poor'. Nevertheless, the reality of reciprocal trade structures combined with Europe's anaemic PSD resources bears little resemblance to the strategic illusions of PSD. In particular, the interventions of Europe's Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) in cotton and textiles sectors in East Africa are seen to have dubious outcomes for 'development' in ACP former colonies

Business · Economic growth · Economics · European union · General partnership · International trade · Market access · Political science · Politics · Poverty · Private sector · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · International Development and Aid · Labor Movements and Unions

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Unique citing works9
Citations per year0,6
Citation span2011 - 2026 (16)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 8
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