So why are we so reluctant to have the same realism about NGO officials? Many condemn any discussion of their motives being anything besides selfless devotion to the poor as hopeless cynicism. But why can’t we do political economy on NGOs?

via Are we allowed to talk about the self-interest of NGO officials? (Aid Watch).

It seems to me that Aid Watch has not been talking to the right people. Having worked in development and studied development for years, it is baffling to hear anybody assert that nobody is asking about the self-interest of NGOs. In my experience, it happens every day, both in print and in hallway discussions. Naturally, press releases and policy reports produced by NGOs don’t ask tough questions, but would we ever expect them to?

Quick searches on Google Scholar leads to a number of interesting leads: here and here