Topic 1: People-centred development and environmentalism Flashcards
What is this approach and when did it arise?
It arose in the 1980s as a reaction against the way development had been attempted - large scale governmental projects. This had not been lifting people out of poverty.
What 4 tenets, should development be based on?
1 - Sustainability: eg, use locally sourced resources and knowledge.
2 - Participation: communities set their own goals and make decisions.
3 - Justice: eg, democratic decision-making, including all groups.
4 - Meeting people’s basic needs.
What is people centred development described as?
A “grassroots” or “bottom up” approach to development.
Who tends to run projects, and how large are they?
NGOs tend to run small-scale projects that are decided upon by local communities.
How does it fit with neoliberalism?
It advocates for a lesser role for the state in development.
Is it successful?
It can alleviate poverty for individuals, but doesn’t usually lift them out of it completely. Further, it can be used as a means for govts to evade responsibility in advocating development.
What do environmentalist approaches usually focus on?
Sustainability.
It is in their view that economic growth cannot be environmentally sustainable. Therefore, there must be “degrowth”: a reduction in production and consumption but will lead to greater happiness.
