Cultivating development : an ethnography of aid policy and practice / David Mosse.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mosse, David.

Series:

Anthropology, culture, and society.

Anthropology, culture, and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Economic assistance--Political aspects.

Economic assistance.

Economic assistance--Social aspects.

Economic assistance, British--India--Case studies.

Economic assistance, British.

Economic development--Sociological aspects.

Economic development.

Rural development projects--India--Case studies.

Rural development projects.

Rural development--Sociological aspects.

Rural development.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (336 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; Ann Arbor, MI : Pluto Press, 2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

'A superb book, one of those rarities that can change entire ways of thinking. David Mosse is the first social scientist in a generation who can successfuly take cutting-edge insights from academic anthropology and use them to explain practical problems in development. ... For anyone interested in development, "Cultivating Development"; is a do-not-miss experience.' Scott Guggenheim, Lead Social Scientist, The World Bank'[Mosse's] provocative thesis challenges the received wisdom of that world and compels us to examine afresh the politics and ethics of engaging with development. Amid the profusion of literature in this field, this book stands apart as an insider's account that is consistently critical yet steadfast in respecting its subjects. Highly recommended.' Amita Baviskar, Visiting Professor, Department of Cultural and Social Anthropology, Stanford University Development agencies and researchers are preoccupied with policy; with exerting influence over policy, linking research to policy and with implementing policy around the world.But what if development practice is not driven by policy? Suppose that the things that make for 'good policy' - policy that legitimises and mobilises political support - in reality make it impossible to implement? By focusing in detail on the unfolding activities of a development project in western India over more than ten years, as it falls under different policy regimes, this book takes a close look at the relationship between policy and practice in development. David Mosse shows how the actions of development workers are shaped by the exigencies of organisations and the need to maintain relationships rather than by policy; but also that development actors work hardest of all to maintain coherent representations of their actions as instances of authorised policy. Raising unfamiliar questions, Mosse provides a rare self-critical reflection on practice, while refusing to endorse current post-modern dismissal of development.

Contents:

Introduction : the ethnography of policy and practice

Framing a participatory development project

Tribal livelihoods and the development frontier

The goddess and the PRA : local knowledge and planning

Implementation : regime and relationships

Consultant knowledge

The social production of development success

Aid policy and project failure

Aspirations for development

Conclusions and implications.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 286-305) and index.

ISBN:

9786611725136

9781783713646

178371364X

9781849641234

1849641234

9781281725134

1281725137

9781435661004

1435661001

OCLC:

847164609