The Politics of Public-Private Partnerships

The field of international development is intertwined with the debates surrounding the political economy of the state, the market and the civil society. After decades of failed interventions in the Third World, 'partnerships' became the new buzzword in development and brought the public and the private sectors together to work for a common cause. Despite the popularity, the role each sector plays in these partnerships has never been studied. The book attempts to fill this gap in scholarship through textual analysis of proposals approved by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria; the Global Fund is the fastest growing multi-lateral aid agency in history that promotes partnerships. The analysis foregrounds the political aspects of partnerships, and provides insights into organizational strategies that help avoid controversies and enhance credibility of development organizations in a globalized world. Professionals and scholars interested in international development, global health, civil society, the welfare state, and public-private partnerships will benefit from reading this book.