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In Pursuit of Development

Dan Banik
Global South
Climate Change
Corruption
Poverty Reduction
Global Development
China
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Democracy
Serbia
Inequality
Active Non-Alignment
Vietnam
Malawi
India
Bangladesh
European Union
Protests
Balkans
Economic Growth

Step into conversations that travel across continents and challenge the way you think about progress. From democracy and inequality to climate resilience and healthcare, Dan Banik explores how societies navigate the complex terrain of democracy, poverty, inequality, and sustainability. Through dialogues with scholars, leaders, and innovators, In Pursuit of Development uncovers how ideas travel, wh... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes183Founded6 years ago
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Social SciencesNewsPoliticsScience

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Artwork for In Pursuit of Development

Latest Episodes

Can Africa achieve its own economic miracle? Despite persistent challenges of poverty, inequality, weak institutions, and political instability, there are growing reasons to be optimistic about the continent's economic future. But what will it take t... more

What if foreign aid is not just funding development, but also shaping who wins elections and who holds political power? As governments across the world reconsider their foreign aid commitments, an important question deserves greater attention: Does f... more

Who gets to decide how the world develops, and why have the same countries dominated that conversation for so long? Across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, countries are increasingly challenging the traditional hierarchies of international developmen... more

Is corruption the world's favorite scapegoat for failed development? And why are wealthy democracies so eager to lecture poorer countries about good governance while struggling with corruption at home?

In this episode of In Pursuit of Development, D... more

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Recent Guests

Ryan Jablonski
Associate Professor of Political Science at the London School of Economics and author of Dependency Politics
London School of Economics
Episode: Does foreign aid help or hurt democracy? | Ryan Jablonski
Dima Al-Khatib
Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.
United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation
Episode: The rise and promise of South-South Cooperation | Dima Al-Khatib
Michael Johnston
Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Colgate University and corruption scholar.
Colgate University
Episode: Why fighting corruption is more complicated than we think | Michael Johnston
Tikhala Itaye
Human rights lawyer and public health specialist; founder and executive director of HeR Liberty
HeR Liberty
Episode: How civil society adapts when aid shrinks | Tikhala Itaye
Pritish Behuria
Associate Professor in Politics, Governance and Development at the University of Manchester's Global Development Institute
University of Manchester
Episode: Is Rwanda a development success? | Pritish Behuria
Elizabeth Dávid-Barrett
Professor of Governance and Integrity, Director of the Centre for the Study of Corruption, University of Sussex
University of Sussex
Episode: How public institutions become captured | Elizabeth Dávid-Barrett
Alanna O'Malley
Professor and Chair of Global Governance and Wealth, Head of the Department of History at Erasmus University
Erasmus University
Episode: Why the UN looks different from the Global South | Alanna O’Malley
Madhukar Pai
Professor and Canada Research Chair in Epidemiology and Global Health at McGill University
McGill University
Episode: The poverty trap that kills a million people a year | Madhukar Pai
Elina Scheja
Chief economist at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and head of the OECD DAC Community of Practice on Poverty and Inequalities
Sida / OECD
Episode: Can aid still fight poverty? | Elina Scheja

Host

Dan Banik
Host of In Pursuit of Development; Professor at the University of Oslo

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 70 ratings
  • Season 6 is spectacular

    After a long break, it is delightful to see Dan back on the airwaves. And season 6 has not disappointed so far. Keep up the good work. We are grateful for this exceptional public good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Derrick_Amh
    Norway10 months ago
  • Always something to learn

    I love Dan Banik’s podcast. Excellent selection of speakers and topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joggisjoggis
    Norway5 years ago
  • The best podcast on global development

    I have for long wanted to listen to a thorough discussion on development-related topics. I finally found this podcast where Professor Banik invites many excellent guests and discusses the issues in-depth. This is an outstanding effort and the transcripts are also very valuable. Please continue the good work, Prof Banik. You deserve the thanks of your thousands of listeners.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DevelopmentIssues-junkie
    India5 years ago
  • A real gem

    Stumbled on this recently and the preparation put into each interview is great. Really insightful!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    camwho?
    Australia5 years ago
  • Interesting, nuanced and thoughtful about development, poverty and democracy

    Congratulations to professor Dan Banik for an excellent podcast on a great variety of development issues. Food for thought!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Margunnis
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring high-level expertise and practical insights for policy work.
The host's thoughtful, data-driven approach keeps complex topics accessible.
Listeners appreciate the global perspective and real-world relevance.
Quality transcripts and deep dives set this show apart in development discourse.
The conversations feel rigorous and well-prepared, with clear takeaways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Does foreign aid help or hurt democracy? | Ryan Jablonski
Q: From a voter perspective, Ryan, what did you find? What were they saying? How do they put the two and two together and make sense of it all?
Jablonski says voters care about the origins of development and can identify the donor or politician responsible about half the time, but complicated delivery systems and weak transparency make it difficult to assign credit reliably.
Does foreign aid help or hurt democracy? | Ryan Jablonski
Q: Can you make a persuasive case, Ryan, that aid is good for development?
Jablonski says aid can provide essential services and capacity that governments cannot yet supply, while politicians and voters remain involved in decisions and accountability. He cautions that abrupt aid cuts can disrupt services.
The rise and promise of South-South Cooperation | Dima Al-Khatib
Q: Do you have any concrete examples of where you think this kind of triangular cooperation is already making an impact?
Al-Khatib describes a Korea-supported initiative involving four countries around the Mekong River, using technical expertise and local institutions to develop water, environment, and food nexus projects while encouraging regional learning.
The rise and promise of South-South Cooperation | Dima Al-Khatib
Q: Do you see this growing sort of talk about SSC now that wasn't the case maybe five, six, seven years ago?
Al-Khatib says the voice of the Global South and South-South cooperation have grown, including peer learning and exchanges of solutions, especially in response to shared development challenges.
Why fighting corruption is more complicated than we think | Michael Johnston
Q: What is your take on this corruption perception index?
Johnston says the index has kept corruption on the international agenda and helped research, but it treats different kinds of corruption as comparable, excludes many societies for lack of data, and may not show where reforms should focus or whether they are working.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About In Pursuit of Development

What is In Pursuit of Development about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features rigorous conversations on global development, democracy, poverty, and governance with a strong emphasis on evidence-based policy and practical impact. Episodes frequently explore topics such as aid effectiveness, state fragility, corruption, urbanization, health equity, and AI or technology's role in development. A notable strength is the ability to pair scholarly analysis with on-the-ground perspectives from policymakers, researchers, and activists, often challenging conventional narratives and highlighting homegrown solutions. The format tends toward deeply analytic, globally informed discussions that connect local struggles to broader development trajectories, making it especially valuable for listeners who want nuance... more

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Which podcasts are similar to In Pursuit of Development?

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1. Hold Your Fire!
2. The Horn
3. The Foreign Affairs Interview
4. Ones and Tooze
5. Pekingology

How many episodes of In Pursuit of Development are there?

In Pursuit of Development launched 6 years ago and published 183 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on In Pursuit of Development?

Recent guests on In Pursuit of Development include:

1. Ryan Jablonski
2. Dima Al-Khatib
3. Michael Johnston
4. Tikhala Itaye
5. Pritish Behuria
6. Elizabeth Dávid-Barrett
7. Alanna O'Malley
8. Madhukar Pai

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