Development Paradigms and Peacebuilding Theories of Change: Analysing Embedded Assumptions in Development and Peacebuilding

Abstract

Peacebuilding and development professionals typically draw on different theoretical frameworks for developing their programmes. Development professionals reference the paradigms of development whereas peacebuilding professionals reference theories of change. These two different frameworks make it difficult for these professionals to communicate across their disciplines, even though they are increasingly engaging in very similar forms of intervention. This article develops a framework for correlating the respective development paradigms with peacebuilding theories of change. It concludes by examining the implications for three practitioner-level issues: assimilative versus transformative models, the conundrum of practitioner imperialism, and the normative question of which model is correct.