Winning policy change

Aid agencies have invested heavily in supporting civil society organisations as change agents, which configure power relations and transform governance structures. In the rush to go global or stay local, however, the national policy sphere was recently neglected. Research on this theme sought to fill the gap by exploring cases of citizen activism that resulted in national policy change. The examples from South Africa, Morocco, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Turkey, India and the Philippines illustrate the important role of champions of change inside government, and the potential of their engagement with citizens outside.

Key documents

Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen

Gaventa, John and Rosemary McGee, eds.

Zed Books: London , 2010
Building Responsive States: Citizen Action and National Policy Change

Gaventa, John and Ruth Mayne

IDS InFocus Briefing Issue 5, Institute of Development Studies: Brighton , 2008
Champions of Participation: Engaging Citizens in Local Governance. An International Learning Report

Dunn, A., Foot, J., Gaventa, J. and Zipfel, T.

International Learning Report’, Brighton: Development Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability , 2007

Related Publications

Reducing Maternal Mortality in Mexico: Building Vertical Alliances ...

Layton, M, Campillo Carrete, B, Ablanedo Terrazas, I & AM, Sanchez Rodriguez
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Re/forming Laws to Secure Women's Rights in Turkey: The Campaign on...

Ilkkaracan, P
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Gaining Comprehensive AIDS Treatment in South Africa: The Extraordi...

Friedman, S
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Protecting the Child in Chile 2010

Fuentes, C
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Winning Women's Rights in Morocco: Cultural Adaptations and Islamic...

Pittman, A & R, Naciri
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Making Change Happen: Citizen Action and National Policy Reform (in...

McGee, R & Gaventa J
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. London: Zed

This is the full introduction to the edited volume that explores cases of citizen activism that resulted in national ...

This is the full introduction to the edited volume that explores cases of citizen activism that resulted in national policy change.
Redistributing Land in the Philippines: Social Movements and State ...

Borras, Jr SM
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Winning the Right to Information in India: Is Knowledge Power?

Baviskar, A
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Democratizing Urban Policy in Brazil: Participation and the Right t...

Avritzer, L
In J Gaventa & R McGee (eds) Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. London: Zed

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordere...

Due to copyright restrictions, we can only share the first three pages of this chapter online. The book can be ordered from Zed Books at www.zedbooks.co.uk/citizenship or purchased at the IDS bookstore.
Civil Society, Democratisation and Foreign Aid in Africa

Robinson, M & S, Friedman
IDS In Focus Policy Briefing, 5

This two-page document summarises research into how civil society is contributing to democratisation in Africa and th...

This two-page document summarises research into how civil society is contributing to democratisation in Africa and the impact of foreign aid upon this process. This IDS Research Summary addresses these important questions by highlighting the conclusions of a comparative research project based on empirical case studies of 12 leading civil society organisations (CSOs) in South Africa and Uganda, and related material from Ghana. The studyâs implications and recommendations are far-reaching for both donors and CSOs. Examples of effective advocacy in specific contexts are given, but the findings also emphasise the limited overall influence of CSOs upon policy and they downplay the role of foreign aid.