FROM A DONORS-BENEFICIARIES RELATIONSHIP TO MUTUAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

New approaches to international development cooperation, focusing on the so called “decentralized cooperation” (i.e. cooperation between communities, territorial systems, co-development etc.) emphasize the relational dimension and the processes of mutual transformation between the subjects belonging to “donor countries” and those belonging to “beneficiary countries”.

Can we speak about a mere statement of principles or rather of processes actually taking place? Has this perception been developed only in the so-called “donor countries” or is this also a theme debated in the discourse and practices of the so-called “beneficiaries countries”?

How decentralized cooperation initiatives change the perception of those involved about issues such as the idea of “cooperation”, “development” or the evolution of paradigms such as “local development” or “sustainable development”? How is the relational dimension weighed and evaluated in the decentralized cooperation projects? How are the dimensions of the relationship and the mutual transformation imagined, experienced and evaluated in the University cooperation initiatives?