Contents

• This report is based on the following requirement –
• This report requires you examine a World Bank-initiated anti-poverty project on the Internet known as the Development Gateway, using the four dimensions of power as theoretical lenses. In answering your questions, you are allowed to draw from material that you have read about, or features you have seen on, the Development Gateway. If you feel that there is little (or no) actual material on the Gateway that will help you answer a particular question, then you can speculate by hypothesizing on what “could” be on the Gateway (even if it isn’t actually there now), given its purpose and nature. You can get ideas from other anti-poverty portals that you have seen. Be very clear in your response if you are using actual features of the Gateway, other websites, or something completely hypothetical. Questions are:
• DISCUSS THE FIRST DIMENSION OF POWER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY. Comprehensive answers will define the first dimension of power thoroughly; discuss important stakeholders and what their power bases were before the Development Gateway came along; and explain how the availability of resources on the gateway caused these power bases to change (was a particular stakeholder empowered or disempowered) and why. (750 words, 10 points)
• DISCUSS THE SECOND DIMENSION OF POWER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY. Comprehensive answers will define the second dimension of power thoroughly; discuss three different ways by which the second dimension is exercised in the Development Gateway; and explain how these make the Gateway exclusive and inclusive, sometimes both, in terms of who is brought in and kept out. (750 words, 10 points)
• DISCUSS THE THIRD DIMENSION OF POWER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY. Comprehensive answers will define the third dimension of power thoroughly; provide relevant examples (hypothetical or actual) about how the third dimension of power can be mobilized on the Gateway; and discuss specific strategies used to do so. (750 words, 10 points)
• DISCUSS THE FOURTH DIMENSION OF POWER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY. Comprehensive answers will define the fourth dimension of power thoroughly, and identify and define factors from the broader environment that affect power dynamics within or around the Development Gateway.

Description

The World Bank has come a long way since its inception in the year 1944. However, as the activities of the Bank took shape and progressed over the decades, it was increasing realized that knowledge along with money was required to solve many of the problems that existed in the developing countries. An approach toward self sustenance was given prominence rather than temporary relief which this required considerable knowledge in the process of rebuilding and development of areas that were affected by disasters. The idea that the World Bank needed to be more involved with the spread of knowledge became clear during the mid 1990s and became certain with the World Development Report of 1998-99 (Mehta, 2001). A major initiative toward the sharing of knowledge in overcoming challenges was the setting up of the Development Gateway program in 2000-2001. It was setup as an independent initiative with a CEO and its main purpose was to serve as a portal website on all development activities. Therefore, in the report below we discuss about the Development Gateway initiative. In particular, we deal with the dimensions of power that is exercised by the Gateway and further ways in which it can be improved so as to achieve desired results. The Gateway is analysed from the viewpoint of empowering the stakeholders concerned with its various activities.