Jörg Wiegratz Address The Department of Politics Nationality German University of Sheffield Elmfield, Northumberland Road Date of Birth: 18.03.1976 Sheffield, S10 2TU UK E-mail j.wiegratz@sheffield.ac.uk joergwiegratz@hotmail.com Position PhD Candidate (October 2007 - present) Research Interests international and cultural political economy and related aspects of sociology & anthropology, Sub-Saharan Africa/Uganda, neoliberalism, moral economy, development, global capitalism (production, global value/commodity chains, business culture, economic malpractice/crime), capitalist/market society, aspects of socialization Teaching Interests International Political Economy (IPE), the politics of globalization, development politics and policy, global production and trade, the political economy of Africa, neoliberalism and market society, aspects of international business and economic crime PhD Research Supervisors The cultural political economy of embedding neoliberalism in Uganda: an analysis of changes in trade practices and moral norms in the rural economy since 1986 Dr. Graham Harrison, Dr. Tony Heron For a summary, see end of CV; see also: http://www.shef.ac.uk/politics/research/phd/jwiegratz.html Academic Degrees 2003 MA in IPE, University of Warwick, UK, Dissertation: Reshaping the Consensus: An Analysis of Restructuring in Britain in the Thatcher Era ; application of Foucault s governmentality concept to the analysis of shifts in the notion of freedom and the self (Supervisor: Prof. M. Zehfuss) 2002 MA in Economics (Diplom-Volkswirt), University of Cologne, Germany, Thesis: The Efficiency of Economic Sanctions: Insights from Game Theory and Politico-Economic Theory (Supervisor: Prof. J. B. Donges) Details of Academic Education 2002-03 Specialisation within the IPE Course (Warwick): Theories and Issues in IPE; The Politics of International Trade; Globalisation, Governance and Development 1999-2002 Graduate Studies in Economics (Cologne), Specialisation: International and European Economy; Business Cycle, Growth, Distribution; Public Finance; Political Science 2000 Graduate Studies in Business Administration & Economics, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, Foreign Exchange Student at the Kelley School of Business, MBA-Program, one term 2000 Russian Language Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Federation, one month 1998-99 Undergraduate Studies in Political Science (major), Sociology, Journalism and Communication Science (minors), Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Germany 1997-99 Undergraduate Studies in Economics, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Germany 1
Employment, Research, Consultancies 2008-9 Associate Tutor, University of Sheffield, Department of Politics, Undergraduate Level: The Globalization of World Politics (Module leader: Dr. Graham Harrison), The Politics of Globalisation (Prof. John M. Hobson), Participated in Teaching and Learning Programme for Associate Tutors, see attached teaching assessments 09/2004-09/2007: full-time based researcher/consultant in Uganda (Kampala) 2007 Visiting Scholar, Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), Kampala, August-September 2007 Part Time Lecturer, Makerere University, Faculty of Economics and Management, Department of Economic Policy and Planning, Contributed to the Teaching of International Economics (PhD Level, led by Ass. Prof. G. Ssemogerere), Topics of Teaching: Late-comer development, Catching-up strategies, Competitiveness, Value chains, and Human resource development, April- May 2007; Appointed Part-Time Lecturer, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Department of Marketing and International Business, April 2007 Lead Researcher and Team Leader, Case Studies of Lead Firm Governance in the Context of Commercialization of Smallholder Agriculture in Uganda, Research Study for the Uganda Programme for Trade Opportunities and Policy (UPTOP, a joint Programme of the Government of Uganda and the European Union), Co-funding by Land O Lakes International Development (NGO arm of the U.S. Farmer owned-cooperative Land O Lakes), March - September 2007 2006 Lead Researcher and Team Leader, Competing and Learning in Global Value Chains: Firms experiences in the case of Uganda, A study of five sub-sectors with reference to trade between Uganda and Europe, Research Study for UPTOP, Co-funding: Secretariat of the Competitiveness and Investment Climate Strategy in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Uganda), Uganda Sustainable Tourism Development Programme (EU), and Makerere University Business School, July 2006 - February 2007 Consultant, Background report: An analysis of macro-economic characteristics and related issues of competitiveness and economic development in Uganda: Implications for Human Resource Development, Research Study for the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), January - June 2006 2004-05 Junior Consultant in Industrial Competitiveness for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), assigned to the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry (MTTI) of the Republic of Uganda, Department of Industry and Technology (DIT), Focus of Work: As Part of a Team, Research and Analysis in Industrial Competitiveness and Industrial Human Resource Development and related Policy Aspects, with view to Producing an Industrial Policy for Uganda. Further Activities related to: (a) Strengthening Analytical Capacities and Capabilities for Policy Research, Analysis, and Development in the DIT, (b) Enhancing Relationships between the DIT/MTTI and Actors from the Public and Private Sector, including the Research and Donor Community, and (c) Coordinating the Field Activities of the UNIDO Policy and Governance Component, e.g. Organization of a Workshop on Strengthening Competencies for Governance and Economic Management, September 2004 - December 2005 Publications, authored Getting the relationship dimension right - European buyers and Ugandan sellers: Three examples from the organic fruits and vegetables industry, Makerere University Business School, Occasional Paper, forthcoming Fake capitalism? The dynamics of neoliberal moral restructuring and pseudo-development: the case of Uganda, Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE), 37 (124), pp. 123-37, 2010 Uganda s Human Resource Challenge: Training, Business Culture and Economic Development, Fountain 2
Publishers, Kampala, ISBN: 978-9970-02-968-6, 434pp., 2009 Beyond harsh trade!? The relevance of 'soft' competitiveness factors for Ugandan enterprises to endure in Global Value Chains, African Journal of Business and Law, 2 (1), pp. 2-22, 2008 Capabilities for catching-up: Economic development and competitiveness in Uganda: Implications for Human Resource Development with particular focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Uganda, Summary of the Background Report, Kampala, GTZ, 2006 Background report for GTZ on Human Resource Development in Uganda, 420pp., 2006 Publications, co-authored Case studies of lead firm governance systems in the context of commercialization of smallholder agriculture in Uganda, with P. Nyabuntu and C. Omagor, 416pp., Kampala, UPTOP, 2007 Competing and Learning in Global Value Chains - Firms experiences in the case of Uganda, A study of five export sub-sectors with reference to trade between Uganda and Europe, with P. Nyabuntu and C. Omagor, 471pp., Kampala, UPTOP, 2007, Book Funding Search Ongoing for both Reports Publications in newspapers/periodicals The neglected side of Uganda s liberal economic reforms, The Independent, Issue 107, 16.-23.04.2010, http://www.independent.co.ug/index.php/column/opinion/86-opinion/2808-the-neglected-side-of- ugandas-liberal-economic-reforms- The effects of economic liberalization on Uganda, The Uganda Record, Vol. 1, No 65, 09.04.2010, http://ugandarecord.co.ug/index.php?issue=65&article=810&seo=the%20effects%20of%20economic %20liberalization%20on%20Uganda Publications, contributed Uganda - Integrated Industrial Policy for Sustainable Industrial Development and Competitiveness, Report, Vienna, UNIDO, 2007 Inserting Local Industries into Global Value Chains and Production Networks: What Opportunities and Challenges for Upgrading?, Working Paper, Vienna, UNIDO, 2005 Conference Papers Forcing a market society into being: The destructive dynamics of moral restructuring in neoliberal Uganda, Re-thinking Global Society, University of Leeds, in recognition of the launch the Bauman Institute, 06.-07.09.2010. Cultural occupation? Analysing the foreign forces of neoliberal moral restructuring in Uganda, Postgraduate Conference, The Commonwealth at 60: Transitions, Belonging and Identities, Panel 2: Africa and the Commonwealth, University of Sheffield, Department of History, 03.06.2010 Can neoliberal reforms reshape moral norms? The cultural political economy of moral restructuring in Uganda, Biennial conference of the German Association for African Studies (VAD), Continuities, Dislocations and Transformations: Reflections on 50 Years of African Independence, Panel 24: Privately regulated spaces: Articulations and disarticulations of neoliberalism in Africa, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 07.-11.4.2010 The cultural political economy of embedding neoliberalism in Uganda: Moral restructuring, rural trade and the rise in malpractice since 1986, Democratization in Africa: Retrospective and Future Prospects, Panel: Democracy and Local Power III (ROAPE panel), University of Leeds, 04.- 05.12.2009 The cultural political economy of embedding neoliberalism in Uganda: an analysis of changes in moral norms and trade practices in the rural economy since 1986, Millennium Annual Conference, After Liberalism?, Panel: 'Liberalism in Africa: putting theory into practice', London School of Economics and Political Science, 17.-18.10.2009 Integrating, Competing and Learning in GVCs: The relevance of soft competitiveness factors for Ugandan enterprises to succeed, Pre-CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) Conference on Transforming society: Commonwealth Perspectives on the nexus between civil society and business, Kampala, 03.-05.10.2007 Is export-led growth a possibility? A qualitative assessment of Uganda s export policies over the last 15 years 1990/91-2005/06, Paper with G. Ssemogerere (Makerere University) presented at the 3
National Policy Conference on Sustaining Growth in Uganda, Kampala, 30.-31.10.2006 Other Presentations People, power, practice: a moral economy approach to rural poverty in neoliberal Africa, insights from Uganda, Workshop on Rural Economies in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Global Politics of Local Change, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Warwick, 14.09.2010 The cultural political economy of neoliberal moral restructuring: insights from Uganda, University of York, Department of Politics, Politics Research Seminar Series, 09.06.2010 Marching towards market societies in Africa? The case of Uganda, University of Leeds, Centre for African Studies (LUCAS), 03.03.2010. The business culture dimension of trade between Africa and the European Union: The case of Uganda (and beyond), School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Centre of African Studies (CAS), Africa Business Group Series, 03.02.2010 The cultural political economy of neoliberal moral restructuring: The case of Uganda, Annual Meeting of the Working Group on Morality and Profession ( Moral und Beruf ), University of Basel, 15.-16.1.2010 Farmer-Buyer relationships and trade practices in Uganda: Recent empirical findings, Agrarian Change Seminars, SOAS, 22.10.2009 The cultural political economy of embedding neoliberalism in Uganda - An analysis of changes in relationships and trade practices between farmers and traders in the context of post-1986 economic liberalisation reforms, held at the following Workshops in Kampala: NGO Forum, 09.04.2009, EPRC, 08.04.2009, Centre for Basic Research (CBR), 08.04.2009, Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), 13.3.2009 Are we really studying 'the economy' yet? Reflections about research on 'markets' and 'actors' in Uganda, MUBS, Faculty of Commerce, Research Day, 13.3.2009 The political economy of neoliberal business culture in Uganda - Conceptual and empirical reflections, Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mbale Campus Study Centre, 07.03.2009 Studying real markets - understanding the embeddedness of economic action, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Mbale, 03.03.2009 Doing chain analysis in the field, Workshop of the Commodity Studies Working Group of the International Initiative for Promoting Political Economy (IIPPE), SOAS, London, 08.03.2008 Case studies of lead firm governance systems in the context of commercialization of smallholder agriculture in Uganda, Research Project Dissemination Workshops (UPTOP and Land O Lakes), Kampala, 05.09./14.09.2007 Integrating, Competing and Learning in GVCs: The relevance of soft competitiveness factors for Ugandan enterprises to succeed, Research Seminar at the Economic Policy Research Centre, Kampala, 29.08.2007 Competing and Learning in GVCs: Firms experiences in the case of Uganda, Research Seminar at MUBS, Kampala, 10.05.2007 as well as UPTOP Research Project Dissemination Workshop, Kampala, 16.03.2007 A Critical Assessment of Trade and Trade Policy in Africa, CBR, Kampala, 11.11.2004 Uganda: Towards an Industrial Policy Framework for Industrial Competitiveness and Sustainability, UNIDO Team Presentation at the National Consultative Meeting on Industrial Development, Kampala, 21.09.2004 Journal Reviewer 2010 Makerere Business Journal (Makerere University Business School, Uganda) Scholarships, Research Grants, Other Funding Support 2009 I@MAK (Makerere University), Book Publication Support, 38.000USD (used by Publisher to produce the book at an affordable price, including 500 copies for free distribution in Uganda) 2007-10 University of Sheffield Studentship, Full Scholarship for PhD Research 2007 UPTOP, Trade Research Competition Grant, 27.000 USD, Co-funding: 7.000USD 2006 UPTOP, Trade Research Competition Grant, 27.000 USD, Co-funding: 5.000USD 2003-04 German National Recruitment Office: Bureau International Organisations Personnel, 4
Germany: Funding for Internship with UNIDO 2002-03 Gymnasial- and Foundation Funds Cologne, Germany, Partial Scholarship for Studies in Warwick 2001-02 E-Fellows.Net, Germany, Funding for Internet Subscription 2000 University of Cologne, PIM Foreign Exchange Student Scheme (Indiana University) 1999-2003 Foundation of German Business (sdw), Germany, Full Scholarship for Studies in Cologne, Moscow, Bloomington and Warwick Member/Associate 2009 Sheffield International Development Network (SIDNET), Centre for Criminological Research (University of Sheffield), The Bauman Institute (University of Leeds), Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA), Working Group of German speaking Morality researchers (Arbeitskreis Moral und Beruf ) 2008 German Association for African Studies many (VAD), Political Economy Working Group of the German Political Science Association 2007 British International Studies Association (BISA), BISA International Political Economy Group (IPEG), BISA Africa and International Relations Working Group, African Studies Association UK, IIPPE Working Group on Commodity Studies and on Neoliberalism, Global Value Chains Initiative, Research Associate of the Economic Policy Research Centre (Kampala), First International Network on Trust (FINT) Other Selected Work Experience 2003-04 UNIDO, Vienna/Austria (six months), Internship, Strategic Research and Economics Branch (Programme Coordination and Field Operations Division), Supervisor: F. J. Richard (Branch Director), Focus of Research: Patterns of Global Economy, in particular, Trends in Global Industrial Production and related Policies and Strategies for Industrial Development; Approaches to Promoting Competitiveness in Developing Countries, involving Concepts and Practices of Industrial Governance; Contribution to the Preparation of a UNIDO Publication on Global Value Chains and Production Networks, Compilation of Information for the Establishment of a Computer-based Resource facility to provide Policy makers and UNIDO Staff with Publications 1999-2002 Institute for Economic Policy, University of Cologne, Germany, Student Assistant, Tasks: Support the Research Staff (Literature Research, Proofreading of Drafts, Partial Work for Research Projects like, for instance, the Institutional Analysis of Central Banks), Library Service and Administration 2000 Delegation of the German Commerce and Industry in the Russian Federation (RF), National Office: Moscow (two months), Internship, Tasks: Analysis of Foreign Investment in the RF, Research and Writing of Reports/Articles for the Delegation s Publications on Matters of Trade, Investment and Economic Development in the RF 1995-99 Intern and/or Freelancer for the following Media Establishments: Public Broadcasting Station for North-Germany (NDR), Broadcasting Centre (News Office): Schwerin (two months Internship), Tasks: Producing Journalistic Pieces about Federal State Politics (Economic and Social Policy) and the Federal State Elections German Press Agency GmbH (dpa, National News Agency), Regional Editorial Office: Schwerin (1.5 months Internship, later Freelance Work), Tasks: Investigating and Writing News for the Regional and National News Service, Covering a Broad Range of Political, Social and Economic Federal State Events References Available on request Schweriner Volkszeitung (SVZ, Regional Newspaper), Local Editorial Office: Hagenow (1.5 months Internship), Local Editorial Office Schwerin: Freelance Work, Journalistic Work: Local Politics, Social and Cultural Issues 5
Summary of PhD research Uganda is regarded as the African country that has adopted the neoliberal reform package most extensively. Notably, neoliberal reforms have targeted the reshaping not only of the economy but also of the society and culture. The reforms aim to create a market society, which includes a corresponding set of moral norms and behaviour. Reforms, therefore, have to undermine, overwrite and displace preexisting non-neoliberal norms, values, orientations and practices (NVOPs) among the population, and foster NVOPs that are in line with neoliberal ideology. Particularly noteworthy is the attempt to change, directly or indirectly, moral norms. That means changing what is regarded acceptable and unacceptable, proper and improper, legitimate and illegitimate behaviour in the light of the moral principles in the country. Reengineering morals therefore also entails changing the criteria by which people evaluate each other s (and their own) actions. My research looks at the process of neoliberal moral restructuring in Uganda since 1986. Extensive interviews in Kampala and eastern Uganda reveal that the cultural dimension of rapid neoliberal reform has negatively affected the relationships and trade practices between smallholder farmer and traders in rural markets. Since the onset of liberal economic reforms, face-to-face rural trade practices have been characterised by higher levels of malpractice and a change in their form. These malpractices include deception, intimidation, theft, collusion, corruption, and various manipulations regarding price, quality and quantity. In general, the changing moral and political economy in the country since 1986 has led to increasingly unconstrained moneymaking, in which those with social, economic and political power pursue their self interest almost without regard for the costs to others. Related to this is a focus on quick profits with little regard for quality or for longer-term considerations. This self-interest is being rationalised, supported and justified by a new set of neoliberal NVOPs that increasingly govern Ugandan economy and society, and they bring with them undesirable consequences (which, in turn, further affect the moral restructuring process and the malpractice trend). The research tries to track and explain these changes, especially the change in business practices and underlying moral norms, by exploring people s experiences, views and interpretations, and by tracing the history of rural trade relationships and practices in the country. The research also considers the part played in the shifting moral economy by a variety of state and non-state institutions that affect people s daily lives. The analysis captures the ways that embedding a neoliberal business culture changes not only the political economy but also the moral order of local markets, communities and the country at large. The research in Uganda was conducted together with the co-researchers Samuel Bbosa, James Nkuubi and Fred Guweddeko. About 180 individual and group interviews with more than 250 people were held between October 2008 and March 2009. In Kampala, interviews were carried out with several officials from state and donor agencies, NGOs, associations and the Church, journalists, academics and observers, as well as some farmers and traders based there. In greater Bugisu, interviews were held with smallholder farmers, traders (including middlemen and brokers; all subsumed under the term traders in this article) and elites. These interviews were complemented by some market observations and attention to pertinent news and debates in Uganda s newspapers and periodicals Keywords: neoliberalism, moral economy, market society, Africa, Uganda, market embeddedness, production and trade, poverty 6