Deconstructing development discourse : buzzwords and fuzzwords

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Deconstructing development discourse : buzzwords and fuzzwords

edited by Andrea Cornwall and Deborah Eade

Practical Action , Oxfam GB, c2010

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Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Writing from diverse locations, contributors critically examine some of the key terms in current development discourse. Why should language matter to those who are doing development? Surely, there are more urgent things to do than sit around mulling over semantics? But language does matter. Whether emptied of their original meaning, essentially vacuous, or hotly contested, the language of development not only shapes our imagined worlds, but also justifies interventions in real people's lives. If development buzzwords conceal ideological differences or sloppy thinking, then the process of constructive deconstruction makes it possible to re-examine what have become catchall terms like civil society and poverty reduction, or bland aid-agency terms such as partnership or empowerment. Such engagement is far more than a matter of playing word games. The reflections included here raise major questions about how we think about development itself.

Table of Contents

  • Preface (Deborah Eade)
  • 1. Introductory overview (Andrea Cornwall)
  • 2. Development as a buzzword (Gilbert Rist)
  • 3. Words count (Naomi Alfini and Robert Chambers)
  • 4. Poverty reduction (John Toye)
  • 5. Social protection (Guy Standing)
  • 6. Globalisation (Shalmali Guttal)
  • 7. The F-word and the S-word (Cassandra Balchin)
  • 8. Participation (Pablo Alejandro Leal)
  • 9. Citizenship: a perverse confluence (Evelina Dagnino)
  • 10. Taking the power out of empowerment (Srilatha Batliwala)
  • 11. Social capital (Ben Fine)
  • 12. Reflections on relationships (Miguel Pickard)
  • 13. Talking of gender (Ines Smyth)
  • 14. Sustainability (Ian Scoones)
  • 15. From the right to development to the rights-based approach (Peter Uvin)
  • 16. Civil society (Neera Chandhoke)
  • 17. Public advocacy and people-centred advocacy (John Samuel)
  • 18. NGOs: between buzzwords and social movements (Islah Jad)
  • 19. Capacity building (Deborah Eade)
  • 20. Harmonisation (Rosalind Eyben)
  • 21. 'Country ownership' (Willem H. Buiter)
  • 22. Best of practices? (Warren Feek)
  • 23. Peacebuilding does not build peace (Tobias Denskus)
  • 24. The uncertain relationship between transparency and accountability (Jonathan Fox)
  • 25. Corruption (Elizabeth Harrison)
  • 26. 'Good governance' (Thandika Mkandawire)
  • 27. The discordant voices of security (Robin Luckham)
  • 28. Fragile states (Eghosa E. Osaghae)
  • 29. 'Knowledge management' (Robin Broad)
  • Coda (Deborah Eade)
  • Index

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