Rethinking participation, rethinking power: reflections on local autonomy

Abstract

An important paradigm in development thinking, participation remains vaguely and often contradictorily defined. This has allowed for its integration into a discourse that effectively disassociates it from deeper and more politicised understandings of power and empowerment. Focusing on indigenous peoples, this article reflects upon local autonomy as a critical and holistic alternative to depoliticised participation, reframing project development within a discussion of ‘life projects’ and ontological diversity, locality and globalisation and the right to self-determination, and contemplating a more profound engagement by the ‘development’ professional.

Résumé Paradigme important dans la théorie du développement, la participation demeure toujours ambiguë et mal définie. Cela a facilité son intégration dans un discours qui la dissocie des notions plus profondes, notamment celles du pouvoir et de l'autonomisation. Ce travail, en se focalisant sur les peuples indigènes, traite l'autonomie locale comme une alternative critique et holistique à la participation apolitique, tout en replaçant la notion de développement dans le cadre d'une discussion sur “les projets de vie” et la diversité ontologique, la localisation, la mondialisation et le droit à l'autodétermination. Enfin, cet article discute d'un profond engagement d'un professionnel du développement.

Keywords:

• participation
• local autonomy
• indigenous community development
• empowerment
• life project

Notes

In suggesting that the dominant paradigm depoliticises processes of development, I refer to the isolation or removal of issues of ‘development’ from wider contexts of dominance, marginalisation, dissent and power struggle and the focus on superficial project related remedies (Ferguson 1994); in suggesting that it universalises, I refer to the application of ‘Western reason’ and ways of knowing to a diversity of local situations lived by a diversity of cultures and societies (Watts 2000).

By concentrating my arguments on the particular context of indigenous peoples, I also make the conscious decision to focus on my area of praxis, indigenous communities on the American continent. While I do not negate the relevance of my reflections to communities and peoples situated in other geographical and political contexts, I do not have the academic or professional experience to reflect on such contexts.

Arguments in favour of the individualised autonomy of each human being beyond the constraints of the society of which she or he is part constitute an entirely different, yet equally interesting debate.

I first undertook this review in Orbach 2008.