Expanding spaces of participation: insights from an infrastructural project in rural Nepal
The spread of participatory development worldwide has multiplied opportunities for local population to engage in paid and unpaid development activities. However, scholars have pointed out that participatory approaches bear the risk of strengthening unequal social structures, despite their emphasis o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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Copernicus Publications
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Geographica Helvetica |
| Online Access: | http://www.geogr-helv.net/70/353/2015/gh-70-353-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | The spread of participatory development worldwide has multiplied
opportunities for local population to engage in paid and unpaid development
activities. However, scholars have pointed out that participatory approaches
bear the risk of strengthening unequal social structures, despite their
emphasis on democratisation and inclusion. This paper investigates the case
of a Swiss-funded infrastructural project in rural Nepal, analysing the role
of participatory spaces in the dynamics of development resource capture. The
empirical material collected suggests that, although participatory
development has created more opportunities for social mobility, these
opportunities are not necessarily open to everyone. In the case studied, the
transformational potential of participation is only partially fulfilled. |
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| ISSN: | 0016-7312 2194-8798 |