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Post-development theory - Coggle Diagram
Post-development theory
Key points
- Argues that development is a hoax and it was never about improving humanitarian or environmental problems but allowed the industrial world to dominate
- Criticise western models of development
Escobar, 2008
Criticised modernisation theory for being ethnocentric. He argued that it was only ever interested in making poor countries like rich countries and was dismissive of many ancient philosophies and traditions which had worked in poorer countries for thousands of years.
This is both arrogant and disrespectful, and created the potential for opposition and conflict.
Argued that the Western model of development justified itself by claiming to be rational and scientific, and therefor neutral and objective.
In reality, modernisation theory was a top-down approach which treated people and cultures as abstract concepts and statistical figures to be moved up and down in the name of progress.
Other Post-development
Argue that modernist explanations of underdevelopment have rarely sought contribution from socialist and economist who actually live in the developing world.
McKay argued that development strategies are too often in the hands of western experts who fail to take account of local knowledge or skills and that development often has little t do with the desires of the target population
Argues that western models of development have created a diverse set of problems for the populations of developing societies.
Indigenous people have been forcibly removed from their homelands, grave environmental damage is being done in the rainforests, children's labour is being exploited and aggressive marketing of unhealthy products.
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Paths to development
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The Islamic model of development - where 'development' means applying Islamic principles to as many aspects of social life as possible, rather than focusing on economic growth as the primary goal.
Indigenous peoples maintain traditional lifestyles, effectively rejecting most of what the west has to offer is also something post-development perspectives support, as in the example of Bhutan