Bridges, platforms and satellites: Theorizing the power of global philanthropy in international development

Abstract

Global philanthropy, especially that of large US philanthropic foundations, has played an active but not unproblematic role in international development. In this paper, we theorize the institutional strategies by which global philanthropy exercises its disproportionate influence. In particular, we offer bridges, interdigitates, leapfrogging, platforms and satellites as metaphors for theorizing the connections and disconnections that philanthropic foundations engineer. We draw on the interdisciplinary scholarship on philanthropy and development to identify three epochs: scientific development (1940s–1970s), partnerships (1970s–2000s) and philanthrocapitalism (2000s–present). In each of these, we outline how philanthropic foundations have used the above metaphorical institutional mechanisms – separately and increasingly in combination and more sophisticated ways – in making connections and disconnections across developmental geographies, histories, imaginaries and institutions. Potentially generative, metaphors, we conclude, both offer ways to interpret the disproportionate power of philanthropy as well as challenge it by identifying philanthropy's underlying assumptions, telos and exclusions of development.

Keywords:

• metaphor
• international development
• philanthropy and US foundations
• power

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the three reviewers and the editorial board for their thoughtful comments and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Founded in 1971, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research is a consortium of 15 agricultural research centres over five continents and leading funders. It works on agrifood science and innovation to enable the poor to improve productivity, nourishment and resilience.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arun Kumar

Arun Kumar is a Lecturer in International Management and a member of the Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre at the University of York. He researches the histories and practices of development, with a particular emphasis on the influence of individuals, institutions and logics from the worlds of business and management on development.

Sally Brooks

Sally Brooks is an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Social Policy and Social Work and a member of the Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre at the University of York. She has more than 25 years’ experience of research and practice in international development. Her research critically examines decision making in globalized networks formed around technocratic development visions and designs; paying particular attention to issues of accountability and responsiveness to diverse local contexts.