Document Actions
Political economy expert
Q: Can someone who is not an expert do political economy analysis?
A.It should be within the capacity of all HEA practitioners to carry out a basic amount of political economy analysis. The sections above should indicate that at the heart of this type of analysis is simply an openness to and an awareness of how political and economic interests can interact to affect livelihoods. By reading some of the articles listed below, most people should be able to do a basic level of analysis. For very detailed analysis - for example if your research is primarily about the interaction of power and conflict with livelihoods and what might be done to address those issues in order to reduce poverty and food insecurity - it is recommended that someone with greater expertise is used to lead that analysis.
Further Reading
Boudreau, Tanya & Philippa Coutts, 2002: Food Economy in Situations of Chronic Political Instability, Working Paper 188, London: ODI
Collinson et al., 2002: Politically Informed Humanitarian Programming: Using A Political Economy Approach, HPN Network Paper 41, London: ODI
DFID, 2002: Conducting Conflict Assessments: Guidance Notes,London: DFID
Hammond, Laura, et al., 2005: Livelihoods & Conflict: A Toolkit for Intervention, Washington: USAID
Jaspars, Susanne & Jeremy Shoham, 2002: A Critical Review of Approaches to Assessing & Monitoring Livelihoods in Situations of Chronic Conflict & Political Instability
Keen, David, 1994: The Benefits of Famine: A Political Economy of Famine & Relief in Southwestern Sudan, 1983-1989. Princeton: Princeton University Press
Pain, Adam & Sue Lautze, 2002: Addressing Livelihoods inAfghanistan, Kabul: Afghanistan Research & Evaluation Unit
