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The colonial present in international development? The case of German interventions in obstetric care in Tanzania

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  • Daniel Bendix

    (Department of Development and Postcolonial Studies, Institute of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kassel, Germany)

Abstract

This article investigates whether colonialism is alive in contemporary German development cooperation (GDC) on obstetric care in Tanzania. Drawing on archives and interviews, it compares present-day interventions to German policy in ‘German East Africa’ (GEA) at the beginning of the 20th century. It argues that contemporary development cooperation can be considered colonial to a certain extent in that it is marked by a combination of racialization, developmentalism and trusteeship. However, colonial power today is fractured as German development professionals’ accounts of their work display a considerable degree of hesitancy and doubt. This article contributes to the knowledge on colonialism and development by discerning colonial power in the under-researched case of GDC as well as in the context of concrete policy and practice in a particular field of intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Bendix, 2016. "The colonial present in international development? The case of German interventions in obstetric care in Tanzania," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 16(3), pages 229-243, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:prodev:v:16:y:2016:i:3:p:229-243
    DOI: 10.1177/1464993416641579
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. David Slater & Morag Bell, 2002. "Aid and the Geopolitics of the Post‐Colonial: Critical Reflections on New Labour’s Overseas Development Strategy," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 33(2), pages 335-360, April.
    2. Michael Woolcock & Simon Szreter & Vijayendra Rao, 2011. "How and Why Does History Matter for Development Policy?," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(1), pages 70-96.
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