Paths to Development
Development is a contested concept. Some would drop it, as colonialist, modernist, old fashioned. We tend to disagree, as many communities, in rich and poor countries, do want to change and they call this development. Development remains a challenge, and the contestation should be part of any attempt at development, as, in essence, it is a matter of politics, of people choosing a different path. New models, tools, new forms of participation, new values and sensitivities appear all the time and all of them can be used and abused. This should not deter anyone from engaging with the promises and pitfalls of development, especially as the diversity of demands keeps growing: development has to be inclusive, participatory, fair, sustainable, evidence based, efficient. Ideologies come with their own claims.
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