Critiques of Post Development

7/31/2019 Critiques of Post Development

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Define

Escobar concurs with Gustavo Esteva that development is a'Frankenstein-type dream', an alien model of exploitation

and which also has an urban bias. The ideal of developmentis over and now what is required is "Not more Development,but a different regime of truth and perception'. (Pieterse,page 180)

The most important goal for post-development is toeliminate mainstream development and technologicalsolutions so that other non-development alternatives canemerge. (McGregor 2007, p. 156)

There are many criticisms of post-development thought.Among these are those which assert that post-developmentignores the many advances in development such asparticipatory development, bottom-up decision making andempowerment of the target population. (McGregor 2007, p.157)

A third and very convincing argument is that there is nopractical or political approach to implementing post-development. Without a more pragmatic approach, thereappears to be no benefit to either developmentprofessionals or agencies, or to the communities in need ofbetterment and progress in their lives. (McGregor 2007, p.157 and Pieterse 2000)

Another criticism is that post-development thinkers tend toidealize the concept of traditional culture and practices. Thisshows a lack of selectivity. Many of the traditional practicesare harmful to health, such as female mutilation or result inhuman suffering, such as initiation rites and shunning, andshould not be encouraged if any progress is to be made.(McGregor 2007, p. 158)

Pieterse points out other problems with the ideas of post-development.Firstly, he asserts that these critiques have ignored ormisrepresented the successes and achievements of global


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development, such as can be seen in the inclusion of manyless developed nations in the supply chain, or the benefitsto local economies of micro-financing. Secondly, such blackand white thinking, pro and anti-development, does not

take into account the interplay of motives, ideas andmethods which factor into modernity and development.

Third, post-development's seems to concentrate its viewson only the failures of development, taking examples fromAfrica, Latin America and India. Little mention is made ofthe successes of development such as can be seen in EastAsia or the thriving economy and associated benefitscurrently found in India. Extended life expectancy in thethird world is also not credited to development

initiatives. (Pieterse, Pg. 183)

Post-development is not only negative. It does accreditvalue to local knowledge and cultural diversity. It supportscareful and worthwhile use of resources as opposed to aculture of materialism and the fellowship of local socialmovements. Both frugality and anti-consumerism however,are not confined to post-development, but are also goals ofmany development projects.

Post-development is also a useful tool for identifying and

categorizing flaws in modern development. The failures of

many development measures are examined and made

evident to development experts and safeguards and

modified approaches have resulted. Criticism has resulted

in alternative methods, such as micro-financing and

participatory development, and it is likely that the

responses to post-development will reault in modificationsand improvements to any form of development. The urgent

need for such new methods has been brought to light by

post-development theories. Development is rejected not

merely on account of its result but because of its intentions,

its world-view and mindset. (Pieterse, Pg.175) In addition,

post-development does not merely tinker with existing

methods for implementing development. It promotes the


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idea of something radically new. It brings a challenge and a

fresh outlook to the field.

That said, there are very few examples in the literature of

post-development successes. Although some may see theArab Spring uprisings as an example of post-development,

there is not yet convincing evidence that growth and

benefits to the population will result. For example, the

overthrow of Mubarak in Egypt has left a vicuna in political

leadership which may be filled with a party in opposition to

democratic ideals and human development. It is too soon to

tell, and there is not any scholarly research to address this

situation. The primary and best known example may still beArgentina, where neoliberal policies resulted in the

economic collapse of the country with all of the associated

negative impacts.

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Critiques of Post Development