Post-development Theory Flashcards
What are the main premises of post-development theory?
Response to empirical evidence of development as failure
‘one-size-fits-all’ development as inherently problematic
Power of discourse or ‘knowledge as power’ – Foucault
Any change to development practice cannot overcome these issues within current structures
What is the issue of one size fits all?
Structure of international development itself as key problem
Portrayal of targeted communities as passive victims necessary to support discourse
Competition for funding motivates a focus on inadequacies
Development funding often used to support the foreign policy objectives of other states
How applicable is one size fits all?
Communities are too diverse for development as universal application
Lack of space for cultural innovation
Different historical contexts of development
Poverty is multi-dimensional – not exclusively linked to income/income potential/economics/economic growth
Richness may be present in other forms
Denied in labelling of underdevelopment
Basic issues that post-development theory raise
Impossible to extend ‘help’ without being patronising
And over-riding local cultures or beliefs
Reform of the development regime is not possible without global restructuring
Inequality (of wealth and power) in the post-colonial world means that there is no possibility of rich states funding the development of poor states without the level of self-interest and moral superiority that is currently shown
Democratic governments in the rich world are accountable to their populations in terms of how funds are spent, so competition for funds and evaluation demands cannot be avoided
What does post development mean as a practise?
Embracing localism
Fundamental recognition that communities should judge what is best for themselves
Emphasis on assets not needs
Development as boosting assets and existing coping strategies
Focus on resilience and simplicity (as opposed to consumption)
Reducing connections to the GPE in which developing communities are less powerful
Communicating through inclusion/friendship
Exchanging knowledge on an equal basis
Open source technologies
Sharing knowledge/ideas without assumptions of what is ‘best’
Reducing coveting of ‘intellectual property rights’ (aka patents)
What are the critiques of post development?
Development is not uniform or monolithic
Variety of actors, scales and motivations
How can draw conclusions with such diversity?
Destructive rather than constructive criticisms?
Post-development advocates disengagement – but do we have a moral duty help the needy?
Lack of alternatives – all would suffer same structure as development
Some ideas, based on friendship and equality, but arguably impossible to scale up
