- Dr. Sohn is the dean of Graduate School of Public Governance and Civic Engagement and director of Center for Internat... moreDr. Sohn is the dean of Graduate School of Public Governance and Civic Engagement and director of Center for International Development Cooperation (CIDEC), Kyung Hee University. He had served as the president of Korean Association of International Development & Cooperation (KAIDEC), editor for Korean Political Science Review and Vice President of Korean Political Science Association. Outside his academic engagements, he had a position of non-standing board director of KOICA and ODA policy advisor to Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 2012, he had been a civilian member of Prime Minister Office’s Working Committee for International Development Cooperation. In 2016, he has been appointed as a member of the Committee for International Development Cooperation of Prime Minister Office. He has actively participated in the civil society advocacy activities as a member of Global Facilitating Group (GFG) of Open Forum for CSOs Development and member of the Operation Committee of Korean Civil Society Forum of International Development Forum (KoFID), and co-organizer of Busan Civil Society Forum held during the HLF4.
His research interests are political economy of development, international development cooperation, development NGOs, and development evaluation. He is currently leading a research team working on the subject of development partnership supported by the Social Science Korea (SSK) program of Korean Research Foundation. His articles have appeared in World Development, Pacific Focus, Korea Observer, Korean Journal of International Studies, and Korean Political Science Review. His book, Civil Society and International Development Cooperation: Current Situation and Challenges of Korean Development NGOs(in Korean), was published in 2015. His current research project focuses on analyzing the evaluation results of development partnership projects.edit - Chong-Sik Leeedit
At the turn of the century, social policy in both developed and developing countries confronts new challenges and risks caused by the multiple crises in finance, food, energy and climate change. Changes in the structures of risks are... more
At the turn of the century, social policy in both developed and developing countries confronts new challenges and risks caused by the multiple crises in finance, food, energy and climate change. Changes in the structures of risks are particularly significant. In addition, the global economic crisis starting in 2008 has provided a new context of the global political economy. Both developed and developing countries have responded to these new challenges and risks differently. What risks do these responses aim to address? How can these responses address these risks? Can these diverse responses offer lessons for lower income economies attempting to address social development challenges alongside economic growth in the globalised and increasingly uncertain 21st century context? This paper aims to provide a critical review of the new trends, phenomena or directions of social policy discourse and practice to respond to the new risks in the context of development. Explaining the nature and forms of new challenges and risks and pointing out the potentials and limitations of social policy discourse, it introduces the key points of the previous research we have to keep in mind in formulating alternative social policy approaches. General principles and core elements of social policy in addressing new challenges and risks in the 21 st century, which are particularly visible in social policy reforms in emerging economies, are highlighted as a conclusion.
This paper aims to contribute to the discussions on the development effectiveness through the examination of the two Asian cases of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea (hereafter, Korea) with a focus on aid and non-aid policy... more
This paper aims to contribute to the discussions on the development effectiveness through the examination of the two Asian cases of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea (hereafter, Korea) with a focus on aid and non-aid policy coherence and the mechanisms to create synergies of donors and recipients from a comprehensive perspective encompassing social as well as economic policies. Both countries were often compared with each other in the literature to describe and explain the developmental success of South Korea. This paper focuses on the interactions between the recipient and donor on the one hand and between aid and social and economic policies of recipient countries in the period 1945-the 1980s. We show that institutional complementarity is a result of interactive process of politics and policies arguing that interactions between policies intermediated by political interests in recipient countries and interests and objectives of donor countries' foreign policies also shape the nature, forms and degree of institutional complementarity. We also highlight historical legacies and institutional initial conditions lay institutional environment where institutional complementarity is formed and developed.
This study sets out to discover the potential linkages creating synergies between the expansion of social protections and the emergence of various forms of social and solidarity economy (SSE), both of which have been proactively... more
This study sets out to discover the potential linkages creating synergies between the expansion of social protections and the emergence of various forms of social and solidarity economy (SSE), both of which have been proactively identifiable within development discourses and practices for developing countries over the recent decades. These two expansion processes have also been producing interfaces where social policy and SSE are able to interact with each other. Focusing on the interfaces created by development strategies, participation and partnership, the study not only explains actors, institutions, and processes involved in the interactions between social policy and SSE, but also identifies opportunities and challenges created by specific tensions in each interface, and strategies to scale up both social policy and SSE in a synergistic way.
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the UN General Assembly in September 2015, interest in building effective development partnerships has grown in the both the... more
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the UN General Assembly in September 2015, interest in building effective development partnerships has grown in the both the international development discipline and practitioner community. Responding to this trend, many scholars and policy-makers highlight participatory development cooperation among state actors and non-state actors as a means of achieving comprehensive development goals. Despite this emphasis, however, only a handful of empirical studies have examined whether such partnerships have any meaningful relationship with project outcomes. This study aims to answer whether and to what extent different types of implementing partnerships (i.e. state or non-state implementing agencies) affect the outcome of development projects. Using the World Bank Independent Evaluation Group (WBIEG) project data with newly constructed implementing-partnership variables, this study shows that implementing-partnerships with host country governmental agencies tend to produce a less successful outcome compared to partnerships with non-state actors, and on average only attain moderate level outcomes. Projects implemented by non-state actors, on the other hand, are likely to result in higher level project outcomes. The paper further tests these findings by analyzing the relationship between the number of state and non-state partners interacting in a project and the subsequent project outcome. This result suggests that an increased number of non-state actor participants leads to a better project outcome; this positive participatory effect, however, diminishes as the number of governmental implementers increases.
Research Interests:
Despites Development Public-Private Partnership’s importance and popularity in international development, evaluations on the partnership has not produced sufficient evidence of partnership’s synergy on intended outcome of the project. The... more
Despites Development Public-Private Partnership’s importance and popularity in international development, evaluations on the partnership has not produced sufficient evidence of partnership’s synergy on intended outcome of the project. The authors argued one of reasons for such lack of evidence is that existing evaluation framework for Development Public-Private Partnership often did not fully appreciate the objective measures of outcome achievement and relied solely on the subjective measures of partnership dimension. Suggested alternative evaluation
In development cooperation, there has been a long-standing debate on the effectiveness of multilateral versus bilateral aid. Many middle-power countries have utilized multilateral approaches strategically to overcome geopolitical... more
In development cooperation, there has been a long-standing debate on the effectiveness of multilateral versus bilateral aid. Many middle-power countries have utilized multilateral approaches strategically to overcome geopolitical restrictions and advance their national causes in the world powers-centered order. This study aims to identify the key characteristics of middle power countries' multilateral aid, including the case of South Korea. By doing so, we attempt to discover whether, and to what extent, a middle power prefers the multilateral approach of ODA to a bilateral one. This study will also analyze the emerging pattern of multi-bi aid of middle powers. The multi-bi aid tends to blur the clear distinction between multilateral and bilateral assistance. At the moment of a big transformation in the international development paradigm from Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study attempts to show that the middle power countries have made substantial efforts to enhance their influence in the world through the means of multilateral aid support.
This study explores how Japanese development non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had altered their patterns of advocacy and accountability after changes in political structure that occurred in the 2000s when the Democratic Party of... more
This study explores how Japanese development non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had altered their patterns of advocacy and accountability after changes in political structure that occurred in the 2000s when the Democratic Party of Japan created the two-party system and the Liberal Democratic Party took power again. After the 1990s, a unique feature of development NGOs actively performing advocacy and accountability within the ODA domain, while also eagerly reaching political authorities by forming networks, was found. Behind their efforts were the appearance and expansion of the Democratic Party of Japan through its systematic and political ties. As concluding remarks, the active participation of civil society not only represents the level of internal resources mobilized within the civil society network, but is also an indicator on how supportive the policy space at the bottom is towards civil society.
At the HLF-3 in Accra in 2008, developed and developing countries recognized civil society as an independent development actor in its own right, and they agreed to create a legal and institutional environment enabling CSO contributions to... more
At the HLF-3 in Accra in 2008, developed and developing countries recognized civil society as an independent development actor in its own right, and they agreed to create a legal and institutional environment enabling CSO contributions to development. The Korean government also announced the Plan for the Advancement of ODA in 2010, which committed it to an unprecedented increase in the volume of NGO assistance and called for methods of multidimensional cooperation with NGOs. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to analyze the government-NGO partnership for development cooperation in Korea. After reviewing the mechanisms of OECD DAC members’ partnerships with their NGOs and then Korean government-NGO partnerships in a comparative perspective, we conclude that both the Korean government and development NGOs are still facing many challenges for better partnership: for NGOs: accountability and sustainability issues, a tendency toward service delivery, proselytizing activities of Christian faith-based organizations, and a lack of capacity; for government: uncertainty about its public commitment, an unclear vision and philosophy regarding ODA, an insufficient civil society partnership program, and a need for clear policy objectives for NGO support programs.
This paper aims to conduct a comparative study of South Korean and Japanese ODA policies. Korea has been generally considered to follow in Japan's footsteps in its ODA policies and in its institutional mechanisms. Are Korea's ODA programs... more
This paper aims to conduct a comparative study of South Korean and Japanese ODA policies. Korea has been generally considered to follow in Japan's footsteps in its ODA policies and in its institutional mechanisms. Are Korea's ODA programs simply modeled after those of Japan? This paper tries to test the validity of the hypothetical proposition that Korea's foreign assistance development policy was established based on the Japanese experience by conducting comparative inquiries on the philosophy and purpose, implementation system, and the regional allocation and sectoral distribution. After analyzing the two countries, this paper argues that even though Korea and Japan share many traits in ODA polices, Korea is more likely to pursue humanitarian objectives with its ODA rather than the politico-strategic goals of Japan.
This paper will explore the constraints and opportu
This paper studies the determining factors of Korean ODA allocated by KOICA and EDCF during the last two decades. Empirical research is conducted with eight variables from economic, politico-strategic, cultural/interactive, and... more
This paper studies the determining factors of Korean ODA allocated by KOICA and EDCF during the last two decades. Empirical research is conducted with eight variables from economic, politico-strategic, cultural/interactive, and humanitarian categories in order to show what factors have influenced Korea s aid allocation and selection of primary partner countries of grants and loans respectively. The results indicate that the allocation of grants has not been influenced by a single dominant factor but by all four categories, while the loan aspect has been influenced in large part by economic motivation. This research also uncovers the underlying factors for being selected as primary partner countries of both KOICA and EDCF. It finds that there is no single outstanding factor influencing the selection of primary partner countries for the grant again and it is noteworthy that there is no variable from the humanitarian category which has an impact on determining primary partners for the grant. On the other hand, when it comes to primary partners for the loan, all humanitarian factors do not contribute to selecting the partners in a positive way. The countries with a higher Human Development Index (HDI), lower Political Rights Index (PRI), and higher GNI per capita are more likely to be selected as primary partners. Among other categories, only cultural and interactive ones, number of visitors has a strong correlation. As a result, we are unable to validate the two hypotheses built in this paper that humanitarian factors have been more likely to play a prominent role in both allocating and selecting primary partner countries for grants.
This study sets out to compare the process of the universalization
of health insurance in South Korea and Taiwan, with a particular
focus on the similarities of the commercial elements, such as the
of health insurance in South Korea and Taiwan, with a particular
focus on the similarities of the commercial elements, such as the
These three countries achieved universal health coverage through systems with different degrees of integration and the unification of disparate schemes. Japan still maintains a fragmented system based on occupational and residential... more
These three countries achieved universal health coverage through systems with different degrees of integration and the unification of disparate schemes. Japan still maintains a fragmented system based on occupational and residential insurance schemes, while Taiwan and South Korea have achieved a unified system with single payers and are moving toward a more integrated system in terms of transfer across the different schemes within the system. By focusing on institutions, policies, and actors, this study highlights diverse forms of inter-and intra-sectoral integration mechanisms and pathways that have been used to achieve health equity in these countries. We show that the experiences of these three countries offer good cases for comparative research on how countries with rapid industrial-ization facing the task of developing their welfare systems have overcome fragmentation and unified their systems of welfare provision in equitable and sustainable ways.
... _ Chong-Sik Lee and Hyuk-Sang Sohn When Kim Young Sam declared in his inaugural address of February 25, 1993, that he wanted to create "a new Korea" by rooting out widespread corruption, revitalizing the economy, and... more
... _ Chong-Sik Lee and Hyuk-Sang Sohn When Kim Young Sam declared in his inaugural address of February 25, 1993, that he wanted to create "a new Korea" by rooting out widespread corruption, revitalizing the economy, and restoring national disci-...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
As attention to Sustainable Development Goal 16 is growing since 2015, there has been an active discussion on development cooperation towards North Korea in a perspective of fragile state and peacebuilding. Until now, the majority of... more
As attention to Sustainable Development Goal 16 is growing since 2015, there has been an active discussion on development cooperation towards North Korea in a perspective of fragile state and peacebuilding. Until now, the majority of research on North Korea and fragile state tends to regard North Korea as a fragile state and thus, approaches aid for North Korea by utilizing a development strategy for the fragile state. However, the result of the fragility measurement from major international studies indicates that North Korea does not match the prototype of a fragile state. Against this backdrop, this study begins with questioning whether North Korea belongs to the category of a fragile state or not. After critically reviewing the measurement result on North Korea’s fragility, this study argues that the development cooperation strategy
for North Korea should be based on the development need and priority of both North Korea and international society such as United Nations.
for North Korea should be based on the development need and priority of both North Korea and international society such as United Nations.
The global society has acknowledged civil society and civil society organizations (CSOs) as independent actors within the international development. Donor countries have supported local CSOs in developing countries to give them new roles... more
The global society has acknowledged civil society and civil society organizations (CSOs) as independent actors within the international development. Donor countries have supported local CSOs in developing countries to give them new roles in effective poverty eradication and democratization.
This article is concerned with analyzing local CSOs support policies of OECD DAC(the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Assistance Committee) members. To this end, first, the theoretical discourse on necessity and aims of local CSOs support is explicated. Second, we examine the policies and programs of local CSO support of OECD DAC Members focusing on its aims, aid volume, modality, duration and areas. Based on this analysis, we intend to clarify the issues and characteristics of local CSO support policies and programs and reflect on the way forward for the future. Finally, we look for suggestion and implication of local CSOs support of OECD DAC members for Korea’s development cooperation.
This article is concerned with analyzing local CSOs support policies of OECD DAC(the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Assistance Committee) members. To this end, first, the theoretical discourse on necessity and aims of local CSOs support is explicated. Second, we examine the policies and programs of local CSO support of OECD DAC Members focusing on its aims, aid volume, modality, duration and areas. Based on this analysis, we intend to clarify the issues and characteristics of local CSO support policies and programs and reflect on the way forward for the future. Finally, we look for suggestion and implication of local CSOs support of OECD DAC members for Korea’s development cooperation.
Diversified architects of current international development cooperation put an emphasis on the roles of many new actors including the parliaments. In order to enhance the aid effectiveness, research on the role of parliaments in... more
Diversified architects of current international development cooperation put an emphasis on the roles of many new actors including the parliaments. In order to enhance the aid effectiveness, research on the role of parliaments in development cooperation has been paid attention to the empowerment of parliament not only in the sense of institutionalization but also in real activities. This study demonstrates that Canadian parliament and the U.S. Congress show differentiated role in foreign assistance. Although the parliamentary state limits the influence of the parliament over the executive, recently Canadian parliament has made effort to enhance the oversight regarding the activities of the relevant ministry regarding the ODA budget. At the same time, U.S. Congress showed relatively strong control power over the foreign assistance policy. The study shows that the role of the parliament on ODA issues has increased over time, from which policy implication for Korean parliament would be derived.
Apart from improving the atmosphere between the two Koreas in the process of promoting development cooperation for North Korea, internal and external political problems of South and North Korea can be a stumbling block to the direct... more
Apart from improving the atmosphere between the two Koreas in the process of promoting development cooperation for North Korea, internal and external political problems of South and North Korea can be a stumbling block to the direct contact between the two Koreas. This study notes that in these situations, a tripartite cooperation in which a third country or a multilateral organization acts as a connecting link may be presented as an alternative or complementary approach. The OECD and the UNESCO regard multilateral organizations as a key actor in tripartite cooperation. This study focuses on North Korea’s development needs by analyzing North Korea’s economic development strategy and the strategic framework agreed between North Korea and the United Nations, rather than approaching the tripartite cooperation from a donor perspective. In conclusion, the candidate for the pivotal states who play an intermediate role in the triangular partnership are proposed by applying the criteria of the development needs of North Korea, the economic and diplomatic relations with North and South Korea, the scale, continuity of aid to North Korea, and the experience of transitional economy.
Korea has become one of a few countries who emerged as a donor country form a recipient. With the growing concern of global agenda such as poverty and MDGs in the international community, Korea is also trying to meet the purpose of... more
Korea has become one of a few countries who emerged as a donor country form a recipient. With the growing concern of global agenda such as poverty and MDGs in the international community, Korea is also trying to meet the purpose of international development assistance, but the work done so far has not been quite successful. Under these conditions, this study on Korea’s ODA towards ASEAN, which takes up 40% of its whole ODA budget, can serve as a critical case to understand and help set a direction of Korea's ODA policies in the future. Hence, this study attempts to analyze Korea’s ODA policy toward ASEAN by first looking at its characteristics and problems and then searching for its new paths congruent with the international standard. Korea’s ODA tends to be more centered on economic cooperation with its strong correlations with trade and foreign direct investment. When compared to other OECD/DAC countries, Korea’s ODA/GNI ratio remains among the lowest rank and it shows a tendency of following Japan's experiences especially in its policy objectives and budget distribution. This study stresses that it's necessary to focus on the development rather than economic cooperation, meeting the demand and purpose of the
ODA plan set by international society.
ODA plan set by international society.
Canada became the first OECD/DAC member state that legislated the ODA Accountability Act in 2008, which prescribe Canada ODA policies to meet the guidelines and norms of international human rights while other OECD/DAC member states was... more
Canada became the first OECD/DAC member state that legislated the ODA Accountability Act in 2008, which prescribe Canada ODA policies to meet the guidelines and norms of international human rights while other OECD/DAC member states was just emphasizing the importance of abiding by the international human rights norms. Paying attention to the Canadian case, this article critically examines under what structural environments and process this Act was passed.
This article argues that the legislation of the ODA Accountability Act is closely related with Canada's international position as middle power and diplomatic strategies. Bring up the human security issues as a niche market, Canada demonstrates the characteristics of middle power state by emphasizing human rights agenda as new foreign policy strategies. Reflecting on the negative outcomes from neoliberal aid policy of structural adjustment and promoting the new aid norms in post cold war era would also help foster the enabling environment for the value-oriented aid policies and enactment of the Accountability Act. Civil society organizations were also playing catalyst role in constructing Canada's state identity of human rights defender.
This article argues that the legislation of the ODA Accountability Act is closely related with Canada's international position as middle power and diplomatic strategies. Bring up the human security issues as a niche market, Canada demonstrates the characteristics of middle power state by emphasizing human rights agenda as new foreign policy strategies. Reflecting on the negative outcomes from neoliberal aid policy of structural adjustment and promoting the new aid norms in post cold war era would also help foster the enabling environment for the value-oriented aid policies and enactment of the Accountability Act. Civil society organizations were also playing catalyst role in constructing Canada's state identity of human rights defender.
South Korea has newly emerged as an ODA donor country in recent years. Nevertheless, it still faces various challenges to overcome both in quantitative and qualitative aspects of aid policies. This paper will examine aid strategies of... more
South Korea has newly emerged as an ODA donor country in recent years. Nevertheless, it still faces various challenges to overcome both in quantitative and qualitative aspects of aid policies. This paper will examine aid strategies of Japan and the Netherlands to Indonesia because distinct features among their policies could give an invaluable opportunity to redefine and establish Korea’s aid policy. At the same time, the paper also aims to find further implications for a broad direction of Korean foreign aid policy.
The reason why we chose Japan and the Netherlands for comparison of ODA policies to Indonesia is their distinctive strategic approaches. Japanese aid policy direction more focuses on promoting the country’s economic interest. On the other hand, Dutch aid policy has been oriented toward humanitarian causes.
The paper will examine general features of ODA policies of Japan, the Netherlands and Korea first, then it will compare and analyze each country’s ODA strategies to Indonesia including policy stance, volume, channels and allocations, and sectors. With this process, the paper will demonstrate an existing pattern of Korea’s aid policy and suggest strategies for Korea to carry out the roles and responsibilities as a donor country which joined the DAC at the end of 2009.
The reason why we chose Japan and the Netherlands for comparison of ODA policies to Indonesia is their distinctive strategic approaches. Japanese aid policy direction more focuses on promoting the country’s economic interest. On the other hand, Dutch aid policy has been oriented toward humanitarian causes.
The paper will examine general features of ODA policies of Japan, the Netherlands and Korea first, then it will compare and analyze each country’s ODA strategies to Indonesia including policy stance, volume, channels and allocations, and sectors. With this process, the paper will demonstrate an existing pattern of Korea’s aid policy and suggest strategies for Korea to carry out the roles and responsibilities as a donor country which joined the DAC at the end of 2009.
As to regional integration and the membership expansion process of regional coalition, this study is mainly analyzed the experience of ASEAN about how the development gap has been applied as barriers and the availability of policies and... more
As to regional integration and the membership expansion process of regional coalition, this study is mainly analyzed the experience of ASEAN about how the development gap has been applied as barriers and the availability of policies and programs to mitigate. The development gap is not a new phenomenon confined only to ASEAN. It already appeared in the experience of the European Union, therefore the EU has implemented diverse programs to decrease the development gap between a new member state and existing member states during the process of entry.
This study begins with a question: on which aspect, the issue should be approached if the development gap has not been mitigated, although the ASEAN has strived to mitigate the development gap last ten years. For this, the study sheds light on the status, strategies, and policies about ASEAN's development gap.
Through the status of ASEAN's development gap and analysis of mitigation programs, it reviews that the development gap is not an issue only for the ASEAN as well as it is hard to implement independent programs for regional integration since mitigation programme' finance and contribution has strongly depended on the exterior. In addition, the ASEAN shows a property of which the effort for mitigation of the development gap is not internalized because of member states' systemic fragility which is considered as soft infrastructure.
This study begins with a question: on which aspect, the issue should be approached if the development gap has not been mitigated, although the ASEAN has strived to mitigate the development gap last ten years. For this, the study sheds light on the status, strategies, and policies about ASEAN's development gap.
Through the status of ASEAN's development gap and analysis of mitigation programs, it reviews that the development gap is not an issue only for the ASEAN as well as it is hard to implement independent programs for regional integration since mitigation programme' finance and contribution has strongly depended on the exterior. In addition, the ASEAN shows a property of which the effort for mitigation of the development gap is not internalized because of member states' systemic fragility which is considered as soft infrastructure.
Research Interests:
While evaluations on the MDGs are controversial, the consultations on the Post-2015 development agenda has been initiated and actively discussed. However, most studies on the MDGs mainly focus on the contents and its achievements without... more
While evaluations on the MDGs are controversial, the consultations on the Post-2015 development agenda has been initiated and actively discussed. However, most studies on the MDGs mainly focus on the contents and its achievements without examining the theoretical perspectives on norm construction. Therefore, this study attempts to analyze the theoretical signification and limitation of the Post-2015 framework as international norm, and suggests methods for future improvements of the Post-2015 framework.
For the analysis, the signification of international norm, international norm construction, diffusion and change will be examined on a perspective of constructivism. This study attempts to analyze important factors for international development goals to be successfully developed as an effective international development norm. This study also examines the importance of international norm within constructivist perspective compared to realism and liberalism. Furthermore, it identifies norm construction, diffusion, change and matter of internalization from the perspective of constructivism. Finally, discussing the MDGs and the Post-2015 framework, this paper reviews challenges and future assignments for the Post-2015 framework in order to be developed as an effective international norm.
For the analysis, the signification of international norm, international norm construction, diffusion and change will be examined on a perspective of constructivism. This study attempts to analyze important factors for international development goals to be successfully developed as an effective international development norm. This study also examines the importance of international norm within constructivist perspective compared to realism and liberalism. Furthermore, it identifies norm construction, diffusion, change and matter of internalization from the perspective of constructivism. Finally, discussing the MDGs and the Post-2015 framework, this paper reviews challenges and future assignments for the Post-2015 framework in order to be developed as an effective international norm.
The partnership between the government and NGO has highly attracted attention of stakeholders in international development cooperation society. Since the 1990s, most of the OECD DAC member countries have institutionalized the government-... more
The partnership between the government and NGO has highly attracted attention of stakeholders in international development cooperation society. Since the 1990s, most of the OECD DAC member countries have institutionalized the government- NGO partnership into a formal aid program and this program has changed institutionally due to various factors. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of the institutional change and identify the main factors that influenced the change by using Historical Institutionalism approach which focuses on the pattern of gradual change, the role of idea and the relationship among actors. For the analysis, this paper examines ‘Netherlands Co-financing program’ which is considered the first institutionalized government-NGO partnership program in the international donor society. The research shows that Netherlands Co-financing program was first implemented with respecting civil society’s autonomy; however, since 2000s, the program was treated as a tool of government aid modality based on the idea of the ‘Aid Effectiveness’, which was the dominant policy norm.
Recently, public-private partnership (PPP) has become the central issue in international development cooperation. The issues are beginning to emerge as a consequence of decrease of ODA volume in the aftermath of the financial crisis. As... more
Recently, public-private partnership (PPP) has become the central issue in international development cooperation. The issues are beginning to emerge as a consequence of decrease of ODA volume in the aftermath of the financial crisis. As various development actors such as business enterprises or charity foundations are becoming more involved in development cooperation, PPP is drawing attention as the upcoming alternative solution. In this respect, international donor communities are trying to expand to implement PPP program in order to cover the limited budget, lack of development financing for developing countries. Since 2010, Korea has also carried out PPP program as one of its many grant types.
The purpose of this study is to discuss current trends and limitations of Korean PPP programs by analyzing 'Global CSR Program' of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This study also aims to search for policy recommendations for more effective PPP programs applying to Korean ODA. From these analyses, this study points out limitations of Korean PPP which include non-linear project identification problem on shared budget system, and limited stakeholders' participation.
The purpose of this study is to discuss current trends and limitations of Korean PPP programs by analyzing 'Global CSR Program' of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This study also aims to search for policy recommendations for more effective PPP programs applying to Korean ODA. From these analyses, this study points out limitations of Korean PPP which include non-linear project identification problem on shared budget system, and limited stakeholders' participation.
This study aims to analyze the research trends of Japanese Official Development Assistance in Korean academic journals. This study focus on three key research questions. First, what are the main subjects for Japanese ODA?; and then what... more
This study aims to analyze the research trends of Japanese Official Development Assistance in Korean academic journals. This study focus on three key research questions. First, what are the main subjects for Japanese ODA?; and then what academic fields are Japanese ODA research rooted in? Lastly, what are its main characteristics? We collect the 55 journal papers listed in the Korean Citation Index (KCI) from 1994 to 2015. We also categorize these papers into five subjects; 1) Japanese ODA strategy and policy, 2) the regional and sectoral ODA allocation, 3) governance of the Japanese ODA, 4) main actors, and 5) ODA related social issues in Japan. We use a text network analysis software; UCINET. After analysis, we draw three findings. Firstly, academic disciplines dealing with Japanese ODA have been growing more than ever before. Secondly, most Korean scholars, before 2010, tend to focus on the governance issues of Japanese ODA systems. Finally, after 2010, the issues of Japanese ODA studies has broadened to cover norm subjects like human security and diverse characteristics of Japanese foreign aid.
In the area of international development cooperation, civil society has attracted attention as an alternative to the failure of the nation-centered development. This awareness of the international community extends to direct attention to... more
In the area of international development cooperation, civil society has attracted attention as an alternative to the failure of the nation-centered development. This awareness of the international community extends to direct attention to CSOs in the developing countries. However, in order for CSOs in developing countries to faithfully fulfill their roles, the importance of an enabling environment for CSI has been emphasized in order to maximize their unique capabilities through strengthening capacity, equal opportunity, and sufficient financial support. The conceptual approach to enabling environment for CSO is divided into the institutional approach and socio-economic approach. On the other hand, CIVICUS's Enabling Environment Index(EEI), announced in 2013, suggests the importance of individual capability building for civil society to develop. This paper emphasizes the importance of the citizen participation on the index production of the enabling environment for CSO and suggests to create an enabling environment for CSO in order to achieve the goals of international development cooperation.
The purpose of this study is to analyze the ex-post evaluation reports of KOICA’s grant aid project in terms of criteria, methods, and contents. To this end, we will examine the evaluation history and process with particular reference to... more
The purpose of this study is to analyze the ex-post evaluation reports of KOICA’s grant aid project in terms of criteria, methods, and contents. To this end, we will examine the evaluation history and process with particular reference to EDCF and KOICA. Our key research questions are: 1) How are the evaluation standards of the OECD DAC reflected in the KOICA ex-post evaluation reports? 2) Whether did Korea’s practices of development evaluation change after its entry into the OECD DAC. The paper attempted an content analysis on the key words used in findings and recommendation section of the reports since 1998 that ara available on the website of KOICA. The main results can be summarized as follows. First, the frequency of OECD DAC criteria(relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability) and the use of quantitative methods have been increasing after joining the OECD DAC. Second, in the ex-post evaluation reports issued after 2010, the reference indices including the Project Design Matrix (PDM), baseline data, and performance have increased exponentially
The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility and contributions of social enterprises for international development which have become more active internationally. ``The Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in 2011``... more
The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility and contributions of social enterprises for international development which have become more active internationally. ``The Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in 2011`` emphasized on the use of resources in private sector to complement government-oriented ODA (Official Development Assistance). The use of resources also include ODA leveraged policy for cooperatives and social enterprises. In the developed society such as United State and the United Kingdom, social enterprises support policies have already existed in private sector policy. Social enterprises and cooperatives are fundamentally pursuing a small village as an economic unit. Therefore they possess an advantage which it could create an economic management system in a short period. For this reason, social enterprises has been spread out to enhance global fair trade, appropriate technology, and agricultural cooperatives for the Third World countries. This paper explains a concept and present conditions of social enterprises to succeed in their projects. For more comprehensive understanding, the research investigates the present condition and conducts a literature review of social enterprise. Exploring the cases of social enterprises` participation, we confirm that there are many possibilities for social enterprises contributing to achieving the goals of international development cooperation.
The 2011 High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan led the global society to experience frame contestation. Aid effectiveness, the master frame for the past decade, received wide criticism while the global civil society introduced a... more
The 2011 High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan led the global society to experience frame contestation. Aid effectiveness, the master frame for the past decade, received wide criticism while the global civil society introduced a new frame called ‘development effectiveness’ as an alternative. However, development effectiveness frame failed to become a master frame.
The goal of this paper is to identify why development effectiveness failed in becoming the master frame in Busan Forum given that the global community is aware of the limits of aid effectiveness. This paper presents Framing theory, a part of constructivist approach, as a tool to analyze the process of discursive contestation. The chapter 2 discusses the relationship between constructivist approach and framing theory and the research approach of framing theory. The next chapter provides the definitions of development effectiveness and aid effectiveness, the process of each frame contestation and then analyzes critical factors responsible for failed master frame formation of development effectiveness using framing as an analytical tool. Finally, concludes the paper by examining how development effectiveness influenced post Busan aid architecture after the frame contested process and probing the possibility of future contestation.
The goal of this paper is to identify why development effectiveness failed in becoming the master frame in Busan Forum given that the global community is aware of the limits of aid effectiveness. This paper presents Framing theory, a part of constructivist approach, as a tool to analyze the process of discursive contestation. The chapter 2 discusses the relationship between constructivist approach and framing theory and the research approach of framing theory. The next chapter provides the definitions of development effectiveness and aid effectiveness, the process of each frame contestation and then analyzes critical factors responsible for failed master frame formation of development effectiveness using framing as an analytical tool. Finally, concludes the paper by examining how development effectiveness influenced post Busan aid architecture after the frame contested process and probing the possibility of future contestation.
The Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) issue in Korea has enlarged recently mainly because of OECD-DAC Peer Review conducted in June 2012. This study aims at critically analyzing policy environments for introducing PCD to Korean... more
The Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) issue in Korea has enlarged recently mainly because of OECD-DAC Peer Review conducted in June 2012. This study aims at critically analyzing policy environments for introducing PCD to Korean government and providing policy recommendations for adopting and improving PCD circle in developmental policy procedures.
The PCD is neither familiar nor popular issue in Korea with its short history of international development cooperation, while the international community, since the mid-1990s, has actively raised the issue, refined the concept and developed the action plans. Given its severely fragmented ODA management system, enhancing internal policy coherence among aid-related agencies has been a more urgent issue than others so that PCD tends to be pushed back on the priority list in Korea. Moreover, some perceive that PCD would interfere with national sovereignty or contradict with national interests, and this perception has limited the progress of PCD in Korea. Therefore, the study will analyze global trend on PCD (Ch.2), critically examine current policy environments for PCD in Korea (Ch.3), and finally provide policy recommendations to adopt PCD for better development effectiveness(Ch.4).
The PCD is neither familiar nor popular issue in Korea with its short history of international development cooperation, while the international community, since the mid-1990s, has actively raised the issue, refined the concept and developed the action plans. Given its severely fragmented ODA management system, enhancing internal policy coherence among aid-related agencies has been a more urgent issue than others so that PCD tends to be pushed back on the priority list in Korea. Moreover, some perceive that PCD would interfere with national sovereignty or contradict with national interests, and this perception has limited the progress of PCD in Korea. Therefore, the study will analyze global trend on PCD (Ch.2), critically examine current policy environments for PCD in Korea (Ch.3), and finally provide policy recommendations to adopt PCD for better development effectiveness(Ch.4).
Korea became the 24th member state of Development Assistance Committee(OECD/DAC) in November 2009. It draws huge attention because it is, among others, the first case that a former recipient country joined the exclusive donor club.... more
Korea became the 24th member state of Development Assistance Committee(OECD/DAC) in November 2009. It draws huge attention because it is, among others, the first case that a former recipient country joined the exclusive donor club. However, Korea now has to deal with the demands to meet the international norms and responsibilities from both donors and recipients.
This paper aims to probe the policy agenda for South Korea after joining the OECD/DAC. A wide range of aid policy issues that the Korean government, NGO activists, and scholars of international development cooperation have raised are selected.
For each issue, the level of research and opposing arguments are analyzed, and the author s view is supplemented. Instead of simply listing every policy agenda debated so far, this paper chooses prior agenda such as people s awareness of ODA, the efficiency of aid implementation institutions, the volume, the tied aid issue, civil society
partnership, integrated evaluation process, and Korean ODA Model and etc.
This paper aims to probe the policy agenda for South Korea after joining the OECD/DAC. A wide range of aid policy issues that the Korean government, NGO activists, and scholars of international development cooperation have raised are selected.
For each issue, the level of research and opposing arguments are analyzed, and the author s view is supplemented. Instead of simply listing every policy agenda debated so far, this paper chooses prior agenda such as people s awareness of ODA, the efficiency of aid implementation institutions, the volume, the tied aid issue, civil society
partnership, integrated evaluation process, and Korean ODA Model and etc.
Under the international economic system that characterized as an increased interdependent system, the development of developing countries needs a comprehensive approach with cross-border dimensions. By adopting the concept of Policy... more
Under the international economic system that characterized as an increased interdependent system, the development of developing countries needs a comprehensive approach with cross-border dimensions. By adopting the concept of Policy Coherence for Development (PCD), OECD and EU advocate that progress towards policies that are more coherent and supportive of development is an important part in achieving sustainable and broad-based development of developing countries.
Since being the member of OECD DAC in 2010, South Korea is expecting its first Peer Review by DAC in 2012. Given this operational environment, this research aims to explore the relationship between the internalization of PCD and political environment. By examining the cases of Sweden and Germany's internalization of PCD, this research demonstrated that social consensus, the state policy making structure of policy-making and implementation, institutions linking the state and civil society, the degree to which the state accommodates international norms and institutions advocating norms are import factors that facilitate the norm internalization.
Since being the member of OECD DAC in 2010, South Korea is expecting its first Peer Review by DAC in 2012. Given this operational environment, this research aims to explore the relationship between the internalization of PCD and political environment. By examining the cases of Sweden and Germany's internalization of PCD, this research demonstrated that social consensus, the state policy making structure of policy-making and implementation, institutions linking the state and civil society, the degree to which the state accommodates international norms and institutions advocating norms are import factors that facilitate the norm internalization.
This article intends to explore the relationship between civil society and foreign aid policy in Japan. In particular, this article places an analytical focus on the voice and role development NGOs in shaping the aid policy. The Japanese... more
This article intends to explore the relationship between civil society and foreign aid policy in Japan. In particular, this article places an analytical focus on the voice and role development NGOs in shaping the aid policy. The Japanese aid policy has been characterized by its strategic purpose of securing the natural resources and market in the third world since World War II. How the Japanese civil society, especially development NGOs were influenced by these polices are examined. In addition, how Japanese NGOs changed its perception on the Japanese ODA policy and reacted accordingly through experiences of monitoring the aid for the development of the Ache oil fields and participating in the reconstruction efforts after Kobe earthquake is examined. This study further analyzes the NGOs' impact on the change of recent Japanse ODA policy change. In this context, we provide an analysis of the background for the recent policy changes and its key characteristics. Second, it is argued that right after the Second World War, Japanese government pursued its ODA policy in order to boost its international status, but advocacy activities of Japanese NGOs pressed the government to change its policies with limited success. Third, by looking into the relationship between ODA policy and civil society in Japan, the article searches more positive dynamics of NGOs interaction with the state. Finally, implications for
Korean civil society in monitoring Korean ODA policies are explored considering Korea's affinity with Japanese development path in ODA history.
Korean civil society in monitoring Korean ODA policies are explored considering Korea's affinity with Japanese development path in ODA history.
Over a decade, there has been a surge of development NGOs in Korea. Along with that, their capacity for development activities has been a problem. However, academic research on that subject in Korea was hard to find yet. This paper aims... more
Over a decade, there has been a surge of development NGOs in Korea.
Along with that, their capacity for development activities has been a
problem. However, academic research on that subject in Korea was hard
to find yet. This paper aims to design a framework for analyzing Korean
development NGOs' capacity and show the current status based on it. In
order to do it, this paper reviews the definitions and various approaches
which identify the key elements of the capacity. After literature survey, we identify six essential elements of the capacity: vision/mission, strategy/goal, governance, implementing ability, human resource management. Based on the framework, we conducted a survey among 72 Korean development NGOs. We find out there were capacity
discrepancies among the elements as well as NGOs. Korean development NGOs are indeed positioned in the critical juncture to build their development capacity and secure the effectiveness and sustainability of their activities.
Along with that, their capacity for development activities has been a
problem. However, academic research on that subject in Korea was hard
to find yet. This paper aims to design a framework for analyzing Korean
development NGOs' capacity and show the current status based on it. In
order to do it, this paper reviews the definitions and various approaches
which identify the key elements of the capacity. After literature survey, we identify six essential elements of the capacity: vision/mission, strategy/goal, governance, implementing ability, human resource management. Based on the framework, we conducted a survey among 72 Korean development NGOs. We find out there were capacity
discrepancies among the elements as well as NGOs. Korean development NGOs are indeed positioned in the critical juncture to build their development capacity and secure the effectiveness and sustainability of their activities.
Development NGOs started to rapidly grow since the mid-20th Century. However, by focusing mainly on service programs and putting their emphasis on the system’s sustainability, the boundary between the state and development NGOs has become... more
Development NGOs started to rapidly grow since the mid-20th Century. However, by focusing mainly on service programs and putting their emphasis on the system’s sustainability, the boundary between the state and development NGOs has become vague and from time to time they face the danger of deteriorating into the role of supplementing
what should be the role of the state. This paper focuses on BRAC, a prominent development NGO in Bangladesh, as a representative case and analyzes the role of their activities and their limitations from a comparative perspective. As BRAC became susceptible to the interests of foreign aid organizations, they started to excessively focus
on the organization’s hierarchy, transparency and effectiveness. The result of this is the limitations on accountability, grassroots mobilization and activism as well as the citizens’ capabilities. By comparing BRAC and Via Campesina, we have found the future tasks for development NGOs working in developing countries. Development NGOs should not be content with just being transparent and having a limited form of accountability but should strive to find a strategy that can encourage the continual participation of grassroots citizens from the bottom and strengthen the capabilities of these citizens. Without these
strategic changes, the activities of development NGOs will be limited in fundamentally alleviating poverty in developing countries.
what should be the role of the state. This paper focuses on BRAC, a prominent development NGO in Bangladesh, as a representative case and analyzes the role of their activities and their limitations from a comparative perspective. As BRAC became susceptible to the interests of foreign aid organizations, they started to excessively focus
on the organization’s hierarchy, transparency and effectiveness. The result of this is the limitations on accountability, grassroots mobilization and activism as well as the citizens’ capabilities. By comparing BRAC and Via Campesina, we have found the future tasks for development NGOs working in developing countries. Development NGOs should not be content with just being transparent and having a limited form of accountability but should strive to find a strategy that can encourage the continual participation of grassroots citizens from the bottom and strengthen the capabilities of these citizens. Without these
strategic changes, the activities of development NGOs will be limited in fundamentally alleviating poverty in developing countries.
Since 2002, the international community have begun to discuss the topic of development fiance in that the financing for development is one of critical factors for the achievement of development goals. However, it seems the mechanism of... more
Since 2002, the international community have begun to discuss the topic of development fiance in that the financing for development is one of critical factors for the achievement of development goals. However, it seems the mechanism of the Post-2015 to establish development agendas replacing the MDGs in 2015 does not pay proper attention on the financing for development. Therefore, there are low consensus on how to secure financial resources required to implement strategies to achieve development agendas and goals among developed and developing countries, international agencies, and NGOs. This article focuses on how the issues of anti-slavery, human rights, environment, woman suffrage movement were able to be the issues of transnational movement and finally affect changes in state policy and practice. Based on the lessons learned from the successful transnational movements, the article aims to find room for the effective agenda setting for financing for development as a transnational development agenda. It seeks to establish a sustainable global aid architecture enabling relevant actors in international development and cooperation to change their policy and practice on financing for development. This article found the three implications. Firstly, it is necessary to exploit the strategy of accountability politics to pressure actors in international development and cooperation to fulfil their pledge of 0.7% ODA/GNI which is accepted as a common goal in the international community in 1970. Secondly, organizing transnational networks is an effective mechanism to influence the behavior changes of states and international agencies in relation to financing for development. Lastly, NGOs and their advocacy is a critical actor to pressure states, international agencies, and private sector to tackle the issue of financing for development more actively, and therefore building enabling environment for NGOs and their advocacy is important for financing for development.