Change and transformation in international development cooperation: assemblage thinking, transdisciplinary research design and the curious case of localisation

Susan P. Murphy and Ruby Paterson

Chapter 11 in How to Organise Transdisciplinary Research for Transformative Action and Knowledge Co-Production, 2026, pp 169-184 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter shares methodological insights from GEOFORMATIONS, a European Research Council-funded project exploring governance relations in international development cooperation. We apply transdisciplinary research (TDR) principles and assemblage thinking (AT) to track and analyse the distribution of power, decision-making, and funding across civil society partnerships involved in development interventions. Since 2016, key stakeholders have committed to fostering localisation, ensuring that local voices and actors are central in decision-making processes and funding allocations in development efforts. However, data show little change in practice, and the underlying structural barriers to transformation remain poorly understood. Through critical policy analysis and stakeholder engagement, this chapter offers insights into the obstacles and opportunities for improving localisation. It reflects on the methodological implications of employing TDR and AT, outlining why and how crossing disciplinary and professional boundaries, along with the active co-production of knowledge, can generate new insights with the potential for broader societal impact.

Keywords: International Development; Assemblage thinking; Locally Led Development; Localisation; Transdisciplinary Research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035346547
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