معرفی
David McDonald is a Professor of Global Development Studies at Queen's University, Canada, and Director of the Municipal Services Project since 2000. He holds cross-appointments in the Department of Geography and the School of Environmental Studies. His research focuses on public versus private service delivery (water, electricity, healthcare), urbanization, environmental justice, and public banking in the Global South. He has led collaborative projects with social movements, unions, and community groups to advance alternatives to privatization.
McDonald earned a PhD in Political Studies from the University of Toronto. His work bridges political economy and socio-cultural analysis, examining how neoliberalism reshapes conceptions of the 'public.' Recent publications include Meanings of Public and the Future of Public Services (2023) and Public Banks and Public Water in the Global South (2025). He advocates for equitable, participatory public service models and collaborates globally on remunicipalization strategies.
Research Interests: Public services reform, urban inequality, environmental justice, public banking, and the human right to water. Key projects include the Municipal Services Project, analyzing service delivery in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. He emphasizes grassroots engagement and policy relevance in his scholarship.
Advising: Supervises graduate students in Global Development Studies, Geography, and Environmental Studies. Focus areas include public service alternatives in the Global South. No specific grant details provided in text.
Labs/Teams: Leads the Municipal Services Project, a research initiative fostering global collaboration on public service delivery alternatives.
