Desmond McNeill

Emeritus
Image of Desmond McNeill
Norwegian version of this page
Phone +47-22858991
Mobile phone 95031848
Username
Visiting address Sandakerveien 130 0484 Oslo
Postal address P.O. Box 1116 Blindern 0317 Oslo

Academic Interests

  • Governance
  • Sustainable Development
  • Research and Policy
  • Interdisciplinarity

Courses taught

Background

Desmond McNeill graduated in economics from the University of Cambridge in 1969, and received a Ph.D in economics at University College London in 1988. From 1969 – 71 he was a volunteer in Tanzania, and from 1971 – 75 a consultant undertaking studies in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Since that time he has worked primarily as an academic, but with an interest in linking research with policy. From 1992 - 2001 he was Director of SUM. From 2001-2018 he was Head of Research, and Director of SUMs Research School.

Positions held

  • Lecturer, and later Director of Overseas Services, at the Development Planning Unit, University College London from 1976-84
  • Lecturer at the Department of Economics, University of Edinburgh from 1985-87.
  • After moving to Norway in 1987 he worked as a consultant, and later adviser to NORAD.
  • From 1992 - 2001 he was Director of the Centre. Since then he has been Professor, and Director of SUMs Research School.

Partners

McNeill has worked with numerous partners, largely through the following EU financed projects and networks:

Membership

McNeill was the director of the Independent Panel on Global Governance for Health, established by the University of Oslo in collaboration with The Lancet. McNeill is also a member of the High Level Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food). Through these, McNeill is involved in issues of health and food governance and global-local links.

Tags: Aid, Globalisation, Governance, Natural Resource Management, Africa, Asia, Research School, Global South

Publications

  • McNeill, Desmond (2021). Global Public Goods:A Threat to Nordic Humanitarianism? In de Bengy Puyvallée, Antoine & Bjørkdahl, Kristian (Ed.), Do-Gooders at the End of Aid: Scandinavian Humanitarianism in the Twenty-First Century. Cambridge University Press. ISSN 9781108772129. p. 222–240.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2019). Reflections on IPES-food: Can power analysis change the world? IDS Bulletin. ISSN 0265-5012. 50(2), p. 27–36. doi: 10.19088/1968-2019.116. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bull, Benedicte & McNeill, Desmond (2019). From market multilateralism to governance by goal setting: SDGs and the changing role of partnerships in a new global order. Business and Politics. ISSN 1369-5258. 21(4), p. 464–486. doi: 10.1017/bap.2019.9. Full text in Research Archive
  • McNeill, Desmond (2019). 'Natural Capital','Human Capital','Social Capital': It's All Capital Now. In Jordheim, Helge & Sandmo, Erling Sverdrup (Ed.), Conceptualizing the World: An Exploration across Disciplines. Berghahn Books. ISSN 978-1-78920-036-2. p. 123–135. doi: 10.2307/j.ctvw04kj6.12.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2019). The Contested Discourse of Sustainable Agriculture. Global Policy. ISSN 1758-5880. 10, p. 16–27. doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12603. Full text in Research Archive
  • McNeill, Desmond & Fukuda-Parr, Sakiko (2019). Knowledge and Politics in Setting and Measuring the SDGs: Introduction to Special Issue. Global Policy. ISSN 1758-5880. p. 5–15. doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12604. Full text in Research Archive
  • McNeill, Desmond (2018). Å skrive rapporter: en dialog. In Bjørkdahl, Kristian (Eds.), Rapporten: Sjanger og styringsverktøy. Pax Forlag. ISSN 978-82-530-4052-3. p. 88–106.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Furuly, Maria Marmande & Vatn, Arild (2018). REDD+, NGOs and local government in Tanzania. International forestry review. ISSN 1465-5489. 20(3), p. 375–389. doi: 10.1505/146554818824063087.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Barlow, Pepita; Birkbeck, Carolyn Deere; Fukuda-Parr, Sakiko; Grover, Anand & Schrecker, Ted [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Trade and investment agreements: Implications for health protection. Journal of World Trade. ISSN 1011-6702. 51(1), p. 159–182. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hermansen, Erlend Andre T.; McNeill, Desmond; Kasa, Sjur & Rajao, Raoni (2017). Co-operation or co-optation? NGOs' roles in Norway's international climate and forest initiative. Forests. ISSN 1999-4907. 8(3). doi: 10.3390/f8030064. Full text in Research Archive
  • McNeill, Desmond; Deere Birkbeck, Carolyn; Fukuda-Parr, Sakiko; Grover, Anand; Schrecker, Ted & Stuckler, David (2016). Political origins of health inequities: trade and investment agreements. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31013-3.
  • Roalkvam, Sidsel & McNeill, Desmond (2016). What Counts as Progress? the Contradictions of Global Health Initiatives. Forum for Development Studies. ISSN 0803-9410. 43(1), p. 69–88. doi: 10.1080/08039410.2015.1134645.
  • McNeill, Desmond & Ottersen, Ole Petter (2015). Global Governance for Health: How to motivate political change? Public Health. ISSN 0033-3506. 129(7), p. 833–837. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.05.001.
  • Fukuda-Parr, Sakiko & McNeill, Desmond (2015). Post 2015: A new era of accountability? Journal of Global Ethics. ISSN 1744-9626. 11(1), p. 10–17. doi: 10.1080/17449626.2015.1004738.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2015). Norway and REDD+ in Indonesia: The art of not governing? Forum for Development Studies. ISSN 0803-9410. 42(1), p. 113–132. doi: 10.1080/08039410.2014.997791.
  • Wilhite, Harold Langford & McNeill, Desmond (2015). Making sense of sustainable development in a changing world. In Hansen, Arve & Wethal, Ulrikke Bryn (Ed.), Emerging Economies and Challenges to Sustainability: Theories, strategies, local realities. Routledge. ISSN 978-0-415-74732-5. p. 34–51.
  • McNeill, Desmond & Sandberg, Kristin Ingstad (2014). Trust in Global Health Governance: The GAVI Experience. Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations. ISSN 1075-2846. 20(2), p. 325–343. doi: 10.1163/19426720-02002009.
  • Ottersen, Ole Petter; Dasgupta, Jashodhara; Blouin, Chantal; Buss, Paulo Marchiori; Chongsuvivatwong, Virasakdi & Frenk, Julio [Show all 24 contributors for this article] (2014). The political origins of health inequity: Prospects for change. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 383(9917), p. 630–667. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62407-1.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Bursztyn, Marcel; Novira, Nina; Purushothaman, Seema; Verburg, René & Rodrigues-Filho, Saulo (2014). Taking account of governance: The challenge for land-use planning models. Land Use Policy. ISSN 0264-8377. 37, p. 6–13. doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.09.006.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Roalkvam, Sidsel & Blume, Stuart (2013). Have means become ends? Getting children's health back in focus. In Roalkvam, Sidsel; McNeill, Desmond & Blume, Stuart (Ed.), Protecting the World's Children: Immunisation policies and Practices. Oxford University Press. ISSN 978-0-19-966644-7. p. 187–204. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199666447.003.0007.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Roalkvam, Sidsel & Blume, Stuart (2013). Concepts and Approaches. In Roalkvam, Sidsel; McNeill, Desmond & Blume, Stuart (Ed.), Protecting the World's Children: Immunisation policies and Practices. Oxford University Press. ISSN 978-0-19-966644-7. p. 31–58.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2013). UN-REDD and the global discourse on climate change and poverty. In Sygna, Linda; O'Brien, Karen & Wolf, Johanna (Ed.), A Changing Environment for Human Security - Transformative Approaches to Research, Policy and Action. Routledge. ISSN 978-1-84971-301-6. p. 216–223.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Andresen, Steinar E & Sandberg, Kristin Ingstad (2013). The Global Politics of Health: Actors and Initatives. In Roalkvam, Sidsel; McNeill, Desmond & Blume, Stuart (Ed.), Protecting the World's Children: Immunisation policies and Practices. Oxford University Press. ISSN 978-0-19-966644-7.
  • Verburg, Rene; Bursztyn, Marcel & McNeill, Desmond (2012). Institutional context for sustainable development, Land Use Policies for Sustainable Development: Exploring Integrated Assessment Approaches. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781849802925. p. 24–44. doi: 10.4337/9781781002476.00009.
  • Brouwer, Floor; McNeill, Desmond & Nesheim, Ingrid (2012). Conclusions and policy recommendations, Land Use Policies for Sustainable Development: Exploring Integrated Assessment Approaches. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781849802925. p. 282–285.
  • Brouwer, Floor; Nesheim, Ingrid & McNeill, Desmond (2012). Introduction, Land Use Policies for Sustainable Development: Exploring Integrated Assessment Approaches. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781849802925. p. 1–8.
  • Nesheim, Ingrid; McNeill, Desmond; Bezlepkina, Irina; Brouwer, Floor; Cisse, Youssouf & Feng, Shuyi [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2012). Lessons from a comparative analysis of case studies, Land Use Policies for Sustainable Development: Exploring Integrated Assessment Approaches. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781849802925. p. 219–247.
  • Wertz-Kanounnikoff, Sheila & McNeill, Desmond (2012). Performance Indicators and REDD+ Implementation, Analysing REDD+: Challenges and choices. Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). ISSN 9786028693806. p. 233–246.
  • Angelsen, Arild & McNeill, Desmond (2012). The Evolution of REDD+, Analysing REDD+: Challenges and choices. Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). ISSN 9786028693806. p. 31–50.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2012). Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Environment and Development: From Practice to Theory – and Back Again. In Nielsen, Kenneth Bo & Bjørkdahl, Kristian (Ed.), Development and Environment: Practices, Theories, Policies. Akademisk Forlag. ISSN 9788232100330. p. 23–40.
  • St. Clair, Asuncion & McNeill, Desmond (2011). Poverty, Human Rights and Global Justice: The Response-Ability of Multilateral Organisations. Globalizations. ISSN 1474-7731. 8(1), p. 97–111. doi: 10.1080/14747731.2011.544212.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2011). The Global Politics of Poverty Reduction and Social Policy. Global Social Policy. ISSN 1468-0181. 11(2-3), p. 16–18. doi: 10.1177/1468018111421274f.
  • McNeill, Desmond & St. Clair, Asuncion (2011). The World Bank's Expertise: Observant Participation in the World Development Report 2006, Equity and Development. In Mosse, David (Eds.), Adventures in Aidland - The Anthropology of Professionals in International Development. Berghahn Books. ISSN 9780857451101. p. 103–121.
  • McNeill, Desmond & St. Clair, Asuncion (2011). Poverty, human rights, and global justice: the response-ability of multilateral organizations. Globalizations. ISSN 1474-7731. 8(1), p. 97–111. doi: 10.1080/14747731.2011.544212.
  • McNeill, Desmond & Bull, Benedicte (2010). From Business UNusual to Business as Usual: The future legitimacy of PPPs with multilateral organizations, Democracy and Public-Private Partnerships in Global Governance. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9780230239067. p. 103–121.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2010). Ethics, Politics, Economics and the Global Environment. In O'Brien, Karen; St. Clair, Asuncion & Kristoffersen, Berit (Ed.), Climate change, ethics and human security. Cambridge University Press. ISSN 978-0521-19766-3. p. 97–112.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2010). Social capital. In Hart, Keith; Laville, Jean-Louis & Cattani, Antonio David (Ed.), The Human Economy. Polity Press. ISSN 9780745649795. p. 273–283.
  • Nesheim, Ingrid; McNeill, Desmond; Joy, KJ; Manasi, S; Nhung, DTK & Portela, MM (2010). The challenge and status of IWRM in four river basins in Europe and Asia. Irrigation and Drainage. ISSN 1531-0353. 24, p. 205–221.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Lichtenstein, Gabriela & Renaudeau d'Arc, Nadine (2009). “International Policies and National Legislation Concerning Vicuña Conservation and Exploitation”. In Gordon, Iain J. (Eds.), The vicuña: The theory and practice of community based wildlife management. Springer. ISSN 9780387094755. p. 63–80.
  • McNeill, Desmond; McAllister, Ryan & Gordon., Iain (2009). “Legalizing markets and the consequences for poaching of wildlife species: the vicuña as a case study”. Journal of Environmental Management. ISSN 0301-4797. 90, p. 120–130.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2009). “What is Wrong with Aid? What is Wrong with Africa?”. Forum for Development Studies. ISSN 0803-9410. 35(1), p. 199–211.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). The Ethics of Sustainable Development. In Grenholm, Carl-Henric & Kamergrauzis, Normunds (Ed.), Sustainable Development and Global Ethics. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. ISSN 978-91-554-6894-1.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Social Capital or Sociality? Methodological contrasts between economics and other social sciences. In Ionnides, Stavros & Nielsen, Klaus (Ed.), Economics and the Social Sciences: Boundaries, Interaction and Integration. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 978-1-84064-790-7.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). ’Human Development’: the Power of the Idea. Journal of Human Development. ISSN 1464-9888. 8(1), p. 5–22.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2006). Multilateral Institutions:A Critical Overview. In Banik, Dan (Eds.), Poverty, Politics and Development: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 82-450-0397-2. p. 273–297.
  • McNeill, Desmond & St. Clair, Asuncion (2006). Development Ethics and Human Rights as the Basis for Poverty Reduction: The Case of the World Bank. In Stone, Diane & Wright, Christopher (Ed.), The World Bank and Governance: A decade of reform and reaction. Routledge. ISSN 0-415-41282-X. p. 29–47.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2006). Equity, Development and the World Bank: Can ethics be put into practice? In Palacio, Ana; Sage, C. & Woolcock, M. (Ed.), The World Bank Legal Review: Law, Equity and Development. Brill|Nijhoff. ISSN 90-04-15561-9. p. 1–10.

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  • McNeill, Desmond (2021). Fetishism and the Theory of Value: Reassessing Marx in the 21st Century. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-3-030-56122-2. 322 p.
  • Roalkvam, Sidsel; McNeill, Desmond & Blume, Stuart (2013). Protecting the World's Children: Immunisation policies and Practices. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-966644-7. 248 p.
  • McNeill, Desmond; Nesheim, Ingrid & Brouwer, Floor (2012). Land Use Policies for Sustainable Development: Exploring Integrated Assessment Approaches. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN 9781849802925. 292 p.
  • McNeill, Desmond & St. Clair, Asuncion Lera (2009). Global poverty, ethics and human rights: The role of multilateral organisations. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-44594-8. 192 p.
  • Bull, Benedicte & McNeill, Desmond (2007). Development Issues in Global Governance: Public-Private Partnerships and Market Multilateralism. Routledge. ISBN 13978-0-415-3933. 218 p.

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  • Mcneill, Desmond James (2023). The World Economic Forum: An unaccountable force in global health governance? Global Policy. ISSN 1758-5880. 14(5), p. 782–790. doi: 10.1111/175%208%20-%205%208%209%209.13%202%205%204. Full text in Research Archive
  • Reinertsen, Hilde; Bjørkdahl, Kristian & McNeill, Desmond (2022). Accountability versus learning in aid evaluation: A practice-oriented exploration of persistent dilemmas. Evaluation: International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice. ISSN 1356-3890. 28(3), p. 356–378. doi: 10.1177/13563890221100848.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2021). The Limitation of Bond Schemes. [Business/trade/industry journal]. Development Today.
  • Storeng, Katerini Tagmatarchi; de Bengy Puyvallée, Antoine ; Stein, Felix & McNeill, Desmond (2021). What Norway should ask of the pharmaceutical industry in the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Holsten, Hilde Hartmann & McNeill, Desmond (2018). Hvem skal bestemme hva naturen er verdt? [Business/trade/industry journal]. Forskning.no.
  • Reinertsen, Hilde; Bjørkdahl, Kristian & McNeill, Desmond (2017). Confronting the contradiction. An exploration into the dual purpose of accountability and learning in aid evaluation. Conference poster.
  • Reinertsen, Hilde; Bjørkdahl, Kristian & McNeill, Desmond (2017). Bistandens læringsproblem. Vårt land. ISSN 0805-5424.
  • Reinertsen, Hilde; Bjørkdahl, Kristian & McNeill, Desmond (2017). Vi måste prata om utvärderingarnas syfte. Biståndsdebatten.se.
  • Bjørkdahl, Kristian; Reinertsen, Hilde & McNeill, Desmond (2016). Confronting the contradiction: An exploration of the tensions between accountability and learning in aid evaluation. Conference presentation.
  • Reinertsen, Hilde; Bjørkdahl, Kristian & McNeill, Desmond (2016). Confronting the contradiction: An exploration of the tensions between accountability and learning in aid evaluation. Seminar presentation.
  • Borchgrevink, Axel; Aasen, Berit & McNeill, Desmond (2015). Et linjeskifte i norsk bistand. Klassekampen. ISSN 0805-3839. p. 18–19.
  • Ottersen, Ole Petter; McNeill, Desmond; Dasgupta, Jashodhara; Scheel, Inger B. & Roalkvam, Sidsel (2014). Authors' reply. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 383(9926), p. 1380–1381.
  • Holsten, Hilde Hartmann; Nesheim, Ingrid & McNeill, Desmond (2013). Miljøet taper for økonomien i u-land. [Internet]. www.forskning.no.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2012). Reflections on development assistance.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2012). Africa Human Development Report 2012.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2012). What is Sustainable Development?
  • McNeill, Desmond (2012). Rio+20 i et historisk perspektiv.
  • Hirsch, Cecilie Karina Von; Aguilar-Støen, Mariel & McNeill, Desmond (2012). REDD: Insights from the Field.
  • Banik, Dan; McNeill, Desmond & Aase, Maren (2011). Poster presentation:'Ethics, Rights and Poverty: Global theory and national practice'.
  • Winther, Tanja & McNeill, Desmond (2008). Kontroller pengebruk nedenfra. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2008). Lomborgs spekulative konklusjoner. Morgenbladet. ISSN 0805-3847.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2008). norsk bistand i verdenstoppen. [Internet]. aftenposten.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2008). vil benåde bistandsarbeiderne. [Newspaper]. dagbladet.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2008). “The Moral Authority of Multilateral Organisations: UNDP, World Bank and UNESCO.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2008). “The World Bank's Expertise: Observant participation in WDR2006 Equity and Development".
  • Nesheim, Ingrid & McNeill, Desmond (2008). D2.2 Components of the analytical framework.
  • Nesheim, Ingrid & McNeill, Desmond (2008). WP 5, D5.1 An IWRM assessment report for the four case basins.
  • Bull, Benedicte & McNeill, Desmond (2007). FN og private selskapers interesser. Ny tid. ISSN 0803-3498. 55(4), p. 37–37.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). verdensbanken og wolfowitz. [Radio]. dagsnytt 18.
  • Bull, Benedicte & McNeill, Desmond (2007). Hvem tjener på offentlig-privat samarbeid? [Newspaper]. Apollon.
  • Bull, Benedicte & McNeill, Desmond (2007). Bedrifter som samarbeider med FN om utvikling: mer opptatt av image enn av u-hjelp. [Newspaper]. Ukeavisen ledelse.
  • Nesheim, Ingrid & McNeill, Desmond (2007). WP 5, IWRM assessment, and the conceptual framework.
  • Nesheim, Ingrid & McNeill, Desmond (2007). WP 2 - Design the of analytical framework.
  • Nesheim, Ingrid & McNeill, Desmond (2007). WP 7 - Policy assessment and dissemination.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Ethics, Politics and the Global Environment.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Kampen om vannet - hvem kontrollerer dagens vannfordeling?
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). ‘Sociality’: exploring alternatives to the standard economic concept of the person.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Global Poverty, Ethics and Human Rights: The Role of Multilateral Organisations.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). The Role of Ethical Ideas in Multilateral Organisations: UNDP, World Bank and UNESCO.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). The Role of Ethical Ideas in the Multilateral System: The Case of UNDP, the World Bank and UNESCO.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Culture and Development Ten Years On: Global and Local Perspectives.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Global Institutions, Expertise and Poverty.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Ethics, Responsibility and Expertise in the Multilateral Development System.
  • McNeill, Desmond (2007). Multilateral Institutions, Ethical Discourses, and the Ascription or Avoidance of Responsibility: The Discourses of Human Development-Human Rights-Human Security.
  • Reinertsen, Hilde; Bjørkdahl, Kristian & McNeill, Desmond (2017). Confronting the contradiction: An exploration into the dual purpose of accountability and learning in aid evaluation. Expertgruppen för Biståndsanalys (EBA). ISSN 978-91-88143-28-0.
  • Vatn, Arild; McNeill, Desmond; Trædal, Leif Tore & Angelsen, Arild (2013). Options for national REDD+ architectures. Report from aconference. Noragric.

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Published Aug. 15, 2011 2:53 PM - Last modified Nov. 22, 2023 1:43 PM