IAFF 6101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Participatory Democracy, Modernization Theory, Cultural Determinism
13 May 2016
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Document Summary
Culture area of dev that is insufficiently explored in the field. Makes dev more participatory and more equity in dev. Modernization theory assumes that cultural differences will fade away -> people will come to see things through the same lens -> utopian vision of homogeneity (diversity = conflict = bad) Economists do not see culture as a variable and anthropologists (more comfortable criticizing dev rather than giving advice) are reticent to get involved in dev (anthropology has roots in colonialism) Culture is not easily defined -> not one definition that everyone agrees on. Culture (partly unconscious) a way of thinking that influences a way of doing (about values and perspective and action) Maybe we need to not think of changing culture as a taboo. Values are different, and people want different things: information access is key to give more context and aspirations. Suggestions: participatory democracy 2-way relationship between policy and individual freedom.
