Claire Mcloughlin is a political sociologist with more than 15 years’ experience of researching, teaching, and advising international aid agencies on development. She is lead author and editor of The Politics of Development (Sage, 2024). She was director of research for the Developmental Leadership Programme (2017-2022). Best known for her work on the politics of service delivery, its effects on state legitimacy, and the role of non-state actors in providing services, she has published in numerous journals, including World Development, Governance, Public Administration and Development, and Development in Practice.