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The Implications of Closing Civic Space for Hunger and Poverty in the Global South

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  • Naomi Hossain
  • Marjoke Oosterom

Abstract

Concerns about closing civic space have focused on human rights, and little to date has been known of the impacts on development. This article traces impacts of closing civic space on civil society and social movements addressing poverty and hunger in Brazil, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Countries that clamped down on civil society and social movements have not all fared badly in terms of poverty and hunger, as the ‘developmental states’ of China and Vietnam demonstrate. This article proposes that how closures of civic space affect development outcomes will depend on the role civil society plays in development, and specifically on the ‘fit’ between civil society and the state with respect to development policy and programming. Despite diversity in political and economic context, restrictions on civic space commonly prevent broad civic engagement in policy processes, in particular critique or scrutiny of government policy and practice, and hamper non‐governmental organizations’ service delivery. Because civic engagement matters most for marginalized and disempowered people, their exclusion from policy processes and services will deepen. Reversals or stagnation in progress towards addressing poverty and hunger indicate that as civic space narrows, the most marginalized and disempowered groups face a growing risk of being left behind.

Suggested Citation

  • Naomi Hossain & Marjoke Oosterom, 2021. "The Implications of Closing Civic Space for Hunger and Poverty in the Global South," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 12(S5), pages 59-69, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:glopol:v:12:y:2021:i:s5:p:59-69
    DOI: 10.1111/1758-5899.12979
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Logan Cochrane & Y. Tamiru, 2016. "Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program: Power, Politics and Practice," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 649-665, July.
    2. Husen Ahmed Tura, 2019. "Achieving zero hunger: implementing a human rights approach to food security in Ethiopia," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(9), pages 1613-1633, September.
    3. Lovise Aalen & Kjetil Tronvoll, 2009. "The End of Democracy? Curtailing Political and Civil Rights in Ethiopia," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(120), pages 193-207, June.
    4. Fox, Jonathan A., 2015. "Social Accountability: What Does the Evidence Really Say?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 346-361.
    5. Davison Muchadenyika, 2017. "Civil society, social accountability and service delivery in Zimbabwe," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 35, pages 178-195, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Danielle Resnick & Shilpa Deshpande, 2023. "Illiberal democracy and nutrition advocacy," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(6), November.

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