ABSTRACT
Building on the arguments presented in Chapter 1 and highlighting that Political Economy Analysis is neither widely adopted, nor unproblematic in conceptual foundations or operational impact, this chapter delves into PEA in more detail by exploring the emergence of PEA as a tool to address the growing recognition of the impact of political factors on development interventions and their impact (or lack thereof). The chapter addresses understandings and use of PEA in diverse institutions, and critiques of PEA at multiple levels within international development. The chapter will explore what has been identified as both definitional and conceptual deficiencies in PEA as currently practised.
