AID grant no. AID/csd-3294 to the State University of Iowa in support of the comparative legislative studies project

The grant is one of three related grants, the other two going to Duke University and the University of Hawaii, which are expected to produce a body of research and establish a pool of experts upon which A.I.D. can draw when supporting legislative institutions in developing countries. UOI"s program, which will focus geographically upon Asia and Africa, will consist of inter-country comparative studies of: the social and economic background of legislators; legislative performance in strengthening (or weakening) national integration and legitimacy; and the relationship between legislatures" performance and their position within the governmental structure. Additional activities will include conferences, symposia, lecture visits, and collaborative research; training of students in research methods; development of a data bank on legislatures and development; and development of an organizational structure linking the UOI program with similar programs of other universities and organizations. Grant amendment of 8/4/77 funds a 2-year study to investigate the impact of local politics on rural development, more specifically, the role of local leaders and the rural public in implementing small-scale development projects. Building on an earlier study of center-periphery linkages in Kenya, Korea, and Turkey, UOI will examine 15-20 small projects in each of these three countries, addressing the following issues: why do local political leaders and other local leaders initiate and support small development projects; how do center-periphery relationships affect these projects; how do relationships between different authorities and the public affect the projects; and what are the nature and outcomes of public participation in the projects? (XD-ABI-914-A) Amendment of 4/15/81 to project 9300090 funds a conference to report findings of the research on small development projects. (XD-ABI-914-B)