The global war on terror, development and civil society

The subordination of foreign aid to military, foreign policy and economic interests has altered the context in which development aid is framed and implemented. This affects the way civil society actors are perceived, and unsettles the formerly positive understanding of civil society on the part of donors and the inclusion of civil society organisations in development processes and policy since the late 1980s. In this article the consequences of the global ‘War on Terror’ for civil society and development practice are examined, against a background discussion on the interconnections between development, foreign policy and security. The article concludes by reflecting on the difficulties faced by civil society organisations in addressing issues of social justice, redistribution and ethnic oppression, while preserving public identities that remain separate from the state and military.