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Approximately 40 billion US $ went to the Central and East European countries in the form of technical assistance during their transition between 1990 – 2004. This book argues that much of this assistance was ineffective and traces the causes thereof. It follows the money and blame through the aid-chain of recipients, foreign advisors, donor-organizations and responsible politicians. Based on in-depth case-studies it concludes that it is due to the structure in which technical assistance is embedded, that professionals who care, listen, and have clients’ interests in mind, flee away, while professionals, who just want to do their trick and make money, without caring about the impact of their work, have entered this business.

Because this book combines the research into this problem with an overview of relevant social science theories, it is not only of interest for practitioners in the field but also for bachelor and master students in development studies, public administration, political and social sciences.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. What This Book is About

Abstract

1.1 The aim of this research project

1.2 Technical assistance within the poisoned debate about foreign aid

1.3 Explaining the inefficiency of foreign aid by managerial factors

1.3.1 Is it the amount of aid that matters ?

1.3.2 Does the form in which aid is provided matter ?

1.3.3 Does the organization through which aid is provided matter ?

1.3.4 Do the individuals involved matter ?

1.3.5 Does the content of aid matter ?

1.4 The research approach

1.5 A note on methodology

2. Technical Assistance Within the Context of Foreign Aid

Abstract

2.1 Introduction

2.2 What is technical cooperation ?

2.3 Theories about the reasons for giving aid

2.4 Data (OECD DAC data)

2.5 Time series on the aid and technical assistance to CEE countries in general

2.5.1 An aggregated picture of aid and technical assistance to CEE countries

2.5.2 Disaggregating the figures: Aid to different regions

2.5.3 Disaggregating the data further: Aid and technical assistance to specific countries

2.6 Hypotheses following from the time-series analysis

2.7 Explaining the total volume of foreign aid provided to CEE countries

2.7.1 Correlations

2.7.2 A regression analysis of foreign aid

2.8 Reflections

3. Lodz – The Promised Land in Transition

Abstract

3.1 The old identity of Lodz

3.2 The Balcerowicz plan and the first Western advisors

3.3 The consequences for Lodz

3.4 Some basic facts about the Lodz Voivodship in 1989–2003

3.5 The socioeconomic structure of Lodz after 1989 in figures

3.6 Strategy for the city’s development

3.7 Reflections

4. The Role of Outside Advisors in Local Government:

The Recipients’ View

Abstract

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The theoretical debate about the role of expertise in policy-making

processes

4.2.1 Advisors as standard-setters limiting policy-makers’ choices

4.2.2 The influence of advisors

4.3 The case of Western advisors in a Polish municipality

4.3.1 Indicators for a large dependence

4.3.2 The inclination to listen to advisors

4.3.3 The actual role of the outside advisors

4.4 Reflections

5. The Advisors’ View

Abstract

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Theoretical angles

5.3 Main criteria to provide the aid recipients with advice

5.4 The advisory process from the point of view of Swedish advisors

5.4.1 The advisors about themselves and their competences

5.4.2 The Swedish advisors about the aid programs in which they were involved

5.4.3 The advisors’ understanding of their role for decision-making processes in CEE

5.5 Reflections

6. The View of Donor Organizations

Abstract

6.1 Introduction

6.2 The theory of social exchange

6.3 Data and methods

6.4 Swedish donor organizations

6.4.1 The major instruments of the Swedish assistance to CEE

6.4.2 The major objectives of the Swedish assistance to CEE, 1989–2005

6.4.3 Reflection on the shifting goals

6.5 The operational side of Swedish aid

6.5.1 Did the projects achieve their goals ?

6.6 Reflections

7. The Politicians’ View

Abstract

7.1 Introduction

7.2 The logics of consequentiality and appropriateness

7.3 Data and methods

7.4 Swedish government and its aid to CEE countries

7.4.1 The independence of the decisions

7.4.2 Following the logic of appropriateness

7.4.3 Official and hidden agendas

7.5 Reflections

8. Conclusions: Searching for Professionalism

Abstract

8.1 Introduction

8.2 A summary of previous findings

8.3 Analyzing the outcomes

8.3.1 Individual professionalism

8.3.2 Power and professionalism in the organizational context

8.4 Final conclusions

References

Abbreviations

Index

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