PhD defence by Guido Maschhaupt

Maschhaupt argues that addressing poverty through social policy is not just a question of resources, but also one of politics. His thesis interrogates the politics of social protection, which refers to those social policies that directly address the vulnerability of poor and marginalized citizens.

He suggests that domestic elites and international donors have varying interests in social protection and are embroiled in ongoing competition. How does this competition influence the ability of domestic governments to reduce poverty through social protection?

Maschhaupt answers this question by comparing the cases of agricultural input subsidies (AISs) and social cash transfers (SCTs) in Malawi and Zambia, noting that AIS and SCT programmes interact and often compete on the fiscal, ideological, electoral and clientelist levels.

Doctoral Board

Chair

Professor Ruard Ganzevoort

Doctoral dissertation supervisors

Professor Wil Hout, International Institute of Social Studies
Professor Mine Eder, Boğaziçi University
Dr Karim Kniou, International Institute of Social Studies

Full Doctoral Committee

Professor Michael Chasukwa, University of Malawi
Dr Marianne Sandvad Ulriksen, University of Southern Denmark
Professor Fikret Adaman, Boğaziçi University
Dr Zühre Aksoy Terzibaşoğlu, Boğaziçi University
Professor Andrew Fischer, International Institute of Social Studies
Dr Gerard McCarthy, International Institute of Social Studies