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Selling appropriate development vs. selling-out rural communities: Empowerment and control in indigengous knowledge discourse

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  • William O'Brien
  • Cornelia Flora

Abstract

This paper looks at the languages of empowerment and control as they are expressed by authors writing about “indigenous knowledge.” We performed a content analysis on CIKARD News, a newsletter dealing with the concept of indigenous knowledge. This concept has become increasingly prominent in the discourse of alternative development, addressing issues of ecological sustainability and the empowerment of the rural poor. However, mediated by institutions that perpetuate global and local power asymmetries, the empowering potential of indigenous knowledge may be bypassed. Instead, officials, researchers, and practitioners may utilize this knowledge for their own perceived ends, however good their intentions. In addition, there is already evidence that an indigenous knowledge approach is seen by major agencies as beneficial for integrating poorer populations into the global economy. Our analysis suggests that tensions persist among and within the writings of these authors between the desire to empower and the tendency for development to control rural populations. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1992

Suggested Citation

  • William O'Brien & Cornelia Flora, 1992. "Selling appropriate development vs. selling-out rural communities: Empowerment and control in indigengous knowledge discourse," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 9(2), pages 95-102, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:9:y:1992:i:2:p:95-102
    DOI: 10.1007/BF02217631
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anthony Bebbington, 1991. "Indigenous agricultural knowledge systems, human interests, and critical analysis: Reflections on farmer organization in Ecuador," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 8(1), pages 14-24, December.
    2. Lori Thrupp, 1989. "Legitimizing local knowledge: From displacement to empowerment for third world people," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 6(3), pages 13-24, June.
    3. Sam Fujisaka, 1991. "What does "build research on farmer practice" mean? Rice crop establishment (beusani) in eastern India as an illustration," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 8(1), pages 93-98, December.
    4. Judith Carney, 1991. "Indigenous soil and water management in Senegambian rice farming systems," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 8(1), pages 37-48, December.
    5. Kojo Amanor, 1991. "Managing the fallow: Weeding technology and environmental knowledge in the Krobo district of Ghana," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 8(1), pages 5-13, December.
    6. Dianne Rocheleau, 1991. "Gender, ecology, and the science of survival: Stories and lessons from Kenya," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 8(1), pages 156-165, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Taylor, Donald C., 1992. "Underlying Values and Beliefs "Modern Science" Versus "Sustainable Development"," Economics Staff Papers 232225, South Dakota State University, Department of Economics.

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