1st Edition

Discourses of Development Anthropological Perspectives

Edited By R. D. Grillo, R. L. Stirrat Copyright 1997
    310 Pages
    by Routledge

    310 Pages
    by Routledge

    Development' is clearly a contentious concept. It is common knowledge that there is frequently a troubling divide between what Western developers think development entails and how those people affected understand the ensuing processes. By treating development as problematic, this book seeks to generate new insights into the relationships between the various parties involved and to enhance understanding of the ways in which particular 'discourses of development' are generated. Authors raise provocative questions about the relationship of politics, power, ideology and rhetoric to the institutional practice of development. These hegemonic considerations are shown to have a profound effect on the 'culture of aid' and the interface between development personnel and those whom development is supposed to benefit.

    Contents: R.D. Grillo and R.L. Stirrat, Preface -- R.D. Grillo, Discourses of Development: The View from Anthropology -- Georgia Kaufmann, Watching the Developers: a Partial Ethnography -- Alan Rew, "Folk" and "Pop" in the Orchestration of Development Projects -- Katy Gardner, Mixed Messages: Contested "Development" and the Plantation Rehabilitation Project -- James Fairhead and Melissa Leach, Webs of Power and the Construction of Environmental Policy Problems: Forest Loss in Guinea -- Emma Crewe, The Silent Tradition of Developing the Cooks -- Michael Woost, Alternative Vocabularies of Development? "Community" and "Participation" in Development Discourse in Sri Lanka -- David Mosse, ‘Local Institutions' and Community Management -- David O. Nyamwaya, Three Critical Issues in Community Health Development Projects in Kenya -- Johan Pottier, Towards an Ethnography of Participatory Appraisal -- Maya Unnithan and Kavita Srivastava, Gender Politics and Development in Rajasthan

    Biography

    R. D. Grillo University of Sussex R. L. Stirrat University of Sussex