Research Award for Dr. Patty Gray
Published: Fri 3rd October
Congratulations to Dr. Patty Gray of the Dept. of Anthropology, NUIM. Patty has been awarded a considerable grant from the IRCHSS for the project: Changing Vectors of Development: Locating Russia in Development Discourse and Practice
In the 1990s, Russia was the recipient of development aid flowing from the U.S. and Europe; in 2008, Russia has sent aid to Kosovo, Gaza, China and North Korea. The global configuration of donors and recipients is changing, and all countries engaged in international aid – Ireland being among the foremost donors – need research that follows these trends and provides interpretation informed by social and cultural theory, as well as historical context. This project investigates Russia’s past and current relationship to international development aid as a cultural phenomenon, innovatively examining not only aid flowing into Russia (which was the dominant story of the 1990s), but aid flowing out of Russia as well (which had been common prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union). In addition, the project will theoretically examine Russia’s seemingly awkward position within the development discourse of ‘global North vs. global South’ and ‘East vs. West’, drawing not only from anthropological theories but reaching across disciplinary boundaries to engage in a wide-ranging dialogue on Russia’s role in international development. This project will result in new ideas about the vectors of development in the international community, which will be shared in discussions with development professionals and policymakers, presented at conferences, published in scholarly articles, and woven into teaching. Moreover, this project will lay the groundwork for a larger and more comprehensive research project on Russia and international development, aid, and charity that will be collaborative, international, interdisciplinary, and that will incorporate training of PhD students and support of postdoctoral researchers in Ireland. Given Ireland’s increasingly global profile – including the presence of Russian and East European immigrants in the country for education and employment – this project will contribute to helping Ireland develop its capacity and resources for engaging on multiple levels with a Wider Europe conceived to include
Degree Courses
A number of degree courses related to the study of wider Europe are available at NUI Maynooth, including:
