In tackling context, the paper deals mainly with thinking about development, rather than with changes in the objective reality confronting the FARD sectors. However, a small deck-clearing operation examines whether the changes experienced and to come constitute slow trends or substantial discontinuities. Beyond that, the paper identifies a current conventional wisdom on FARD and then tests it against themes in current thinking about development. From a long list of candidates, the paper focuses particularly on thinking about

1. poverty, social exclusion and sustainable livelihoods,
2. globalization,
3. the `post-Washington Consensus', and
4. aid.

The paper ends with a summary of the implications for economic and policy research in the FARD sectors..... (for full article see link above)