The Asia Foundation

Occasional Paper No. 2, July 2010

The processes of development are fundamentally shaped by powerful political, economic, and security actors in aid-recipient countries. These actors use their influence to shape formal governance...

Occasional Paper No. 2, July 2010

The processes of development are fundamentally shaped by powerful political, economic, and security actors in aid-recipient countries. These actors use their influence to shape formal governance institutions, policies, and the distribution of development assistance to advance their interests. The political settlements framework is an important new approach that may help international development organizations to better understand and respond to this reality and the challenges to developmental progress that is often affected by political dynamics in developing countries. This paper seeks to translate the concepts underlying political settlements into principles, strategies, and guidelines for practical action by donors and other development assistance organizations.

Thomas Parks, Regional Director for Governance and Conflict, The Asia Foundation
William Cole, Senior Director, Governance, Law, and Civil Society Programs & Program Strategy and Development, The Asia Foundation

Occasional Paper No. 3, September 2010

This paper sketches out the operational features of emerging political economy-based approaches to sectoral economic policy reform. Section 1 traces some of the literature on the political...

Occasional Paper No. 3, September 2010

This paper sketches out the operational features of emerging political economy-based approaches to sectoral economic policy reform. Section 1 traces some of the literature on the political economy analysis of reforms. Section 2 outlines the international development community’s increasing recognition of the political economy aspects of economic governance, and their efforts to undertake sharper political economy analysis of reform challenges. Finally, in Section 3 the paper identifies elements of operational reform approaches that move beyond disengaged political economy analysis towards on-the-ground implementation of political strategies in policy reform processes.

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, Director, Economic Reform and Development, The Asia Foundation

In this issue: "National Geographic and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi Honored at Lotus Awards," "Visionary NGO Leader Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of BRAC is Asia Foundation Fellow," "Asia Foundation at Google's Big Tent on Open Data and Disaster Preparedness,"...

In this issue: "National Geographic and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi Honored at Lotus Awards," "Visionary NGO Leader Sir Fazle Hasan Abed of BRAC is Asia Foundation Fellow," "Asia Foundation at Google's Big Tent on Open Data and Disaster Preparedness," "Renowned Philanthropist Dr. Chong-Moon Lee Launches New Projects to Combat Human Trafficking," "Luce Scholars Report for Assignments in Asia," "Multimedia," "Briefly Noted," "Rockefeller Foundation Supports Post-Flood Recovery and Environment Initiative in Thailand."

Along with hundreds of other undocumented Thais, 21 people from three generations of the Charnsamut family have been recognized as legal citizens of Thailand thanks to The Asia Foundation's Tsunami Rights and Legal Aid Center (T-LAC) DNA...

Along with hundreds of other undocumented Thais, 21 people from three generations of the Charnsamut family have been recognized as legal citizens of Thailand thanks to The Asia Foundation's Tsunami Rights and Legal Aid Center (T-LAC) DNA testing program.

The Asia Foundation supports creative extracurricular activities – including science, math, language, and social studies camps – to improve the quality of education for students of private Islamic schools (pondok) in...

The Asia Foundation supports creative extracurricular activities – including science, math, language, and social studies camps – to improve the quality of education for students of private Islamic schools (pondok) in Thailand.

In January, 2005, the United States, Canada, and Europe completed the phase-out of quotas governing imports of textiles and apparel in accordance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). The Asia Foundation works toward policy reform...

In January, 2005, the United States, Canada, and Europe completed the phase-out of quotas governing imports of textiles and apparel in accordance with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC). The Asia Foundation works toward policy reform in the post-ATC environment.

The Asia Foundation assists a network of community radio presenters in the conflict-torn south to create an interactive radio script that provides listeners with the knowledge and skills they need to actively participate in democratic...

The Asia Foundation assists a network of community radio presenters in the conflict-torn south to create an interactive radio script that provides listeners with the knowledge and skills they need to actively participate in democratic processes.

In this issue: "Afghanistan Poll," "Ten Years in Vietnam," "First-ever Survey on Thailand's Troubled South," "Luce Scholars," "Cambodia: Countering Domestic Violence," "Partner Highlight: Del Monte Foundation Gets Books to Children in the...

In this issue: "Afghanistan Poll," "Ten Years in Vietnam," "First-ever Survey on Thailand's Troubled South," "Luce Scholars," "Cambodia: Countering Domestic Violence," "Partner Highlight: Del Monte Foundation Gets Books to Children in the Philippines," "Spotlight: David D. Arnold Leads The Asia Foundation," and Program Highlights from Malaysia and Mongolia.

Supporting Flood Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Measures

In October 2011, Thailand faced its most severe flooding in half a century. An especially long and heavy monsoon season caused flooding from Bangkok's Chao...

Supporting Flood Relief, Recovery, and Resilience Measures

In October 2011, Thailand faced its most severe flooding in half a century. An especially long and heavy monsoon season caused flooding from Bangkok's Chao Phraya River and several other neighboring river systems. Decades of inadequate planning and water resources management, as well as pressure from rapid urban growth, compromised the efficacy of both natural and built drainage courses from Bangkok to the Gulf of Thailand.

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to...

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to alleviate the impact of the recession in both of these countries, by supporting civil society organizations to provide legal aid and crucial social services to the most vulnerable populations, and working with local communities to develop new income-generation prospects that can link local traditions and institutions to market opportunities.

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to...

The global economic crisis has severely affected the export-dependent economies of Thailand and Vietnam, and threatens to undermine their development progress. The Asia Foundation (Foundation) is partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation to alleviate the impact of the recession in both of these countries, by supporting civil society organizations to provide legal aid and crucial social services to the most vulnerable populations, and working with local communities to develop new income-generation prospects that can link local traditions and institutions to market opportunities.