Participatory Development and Empowerment, The Dangers of Localism |
Author: |
Mohan, G. et al.
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Author Background: |
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Date |
4/2000
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Type |
Journal
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Journal Title: |
Third-World-Quarterly
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Volume/Pages |
21(2) 247-268
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Publisher |
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Subject Matter |
Community Development
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Population |
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Pedagogies |
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Abstract |
Recent discussions in development have moved away from holistic theorization toward more localized, empirical, & inductive approaches. In development practice, there has been a parallel move toward local participation & empowerment, which has produced,
albeit with very different agendas, a high level of agreement between actors & institutions of the New Left & the New Right. Here, the manifestations of this
move are examined in four key political arenas, (1) decentralized service delivery, (2) participatory development, (3) social capital formation & local development, & (4) collective actions for radical democracy. It is argued that, by focusing so heavily on the local, the manifestations tend to underplay both local inequalities & power relations as well as national & transnational economic & political forces. Following from this, a stronger emphasis on the politics of the local, ie, on the political use of the local by hegemonic & counterhegemonic interests, is advocated. Adapted from the source document
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