On 18 September 2026, Dr Guido Machhaupt successfully defended his PhD thesis investigating the politics of social protection, comparing cases of agricultural input subsidies and social cash transfers in Malawi and Zambia.
For his defence, Dr Maschhaupt argued 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.
His thesis 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?
Dr 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.
Rewatch Guido's defence introduction
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