Complex Coherence: Unpacking the EU’s Trade and Development Policy Dilemma

By Frederik Stender and Tim Vogel / Part of the European Development Policy Outlook Series

Trade liberalisation, traditionally seen as a means to promote economic growth and prosperity, has increasingly come under scrutiny for its wider adverse impacts. Increased trade is now also held responsible for environmental degradation, fuelling climate change, and growing inequality, both between high-income countries and developing countries and within the latter. Issues such as child labour remain significant and unresolved, further highlighting the complex challenges associated with global trade practices.

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Reflecting on our Lens: Decolonising Imagery within International Development

By James Andrews / part of our “Share your Decolonising Story” project

When selecting a photo to bring colour to the blog you’ve spent hours copy-editing, have you considered whether it disrupts the colonial gaze, or might it—perhaps inadvertently—reinforce these entrenched power structures? When arranging an interview for your lively development podcast, are you giving a platform to a Western academic who has conducted research ‘in the field,’ or would it be more impactful to interview someone who has spent their entire life living and working in that ‘field’? How do you create multimedia content that not only attracts donor funding but also remains sensitive to the unique circumstances of the individuals whose stories you aim to tell, while being aware of your own cultural, class and gender biases?

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