Dr. David Mcdonald

Biography

David McDonald is a professor at Queen's University in the Department of Global Development Studies. His research primarily revolves around the debates of public versus private service delivery, with a focus on water, electricity, and healthcare. McDonald's work encompasses a broad spectrum of related questions including urbanization, environmental justice, and uneven development. He has conducted extensive research through the Municipal Services Project, which he founded in 2000, focusing on alternatives to privatization in partnerships with African, Asian, Latin American, and European entities. McDonald engages with academics, social movements, labor unions, and community groups to create research products relevant to communities affected by these debates. His theoretical interests delve into the competing conceptions of 'public' in the context of neoliberal transformations, emphasizing financial, institutional, and ideological structures. Additionally, he has a keen interest in socio-cultural concepts related to space and place, and their connections to public engagement. His research has led him to explore issues of cross-border migration in Southern Africa, although he no longer directly participates in this work. He supervises graduate students in various affiliated departments and encourages applications on topics related to service provision in the Global South.

Research Interests

Experience