Deconstructing Development Discourse: Buzzwords and Fuzzwords (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781853397066)

Writing from diverse locations, contributors critically examine some of the key terms in current development discourse. Why should language matter to those who are doing development? Surely, there are more urgent things to do than sit around mulling over semantics? But language does matter. Whether emptied of their original meaning, essentially vacuous, or hotly contested, the language of development not only shapes our imagined worlds, but also justifies interventions in real people's lives. If development buzzwords conceal ideological differences or sloppy thinking, then the process of constructive deconstruction makes it possible to re-examine what have become catchall terms like civil society and poverty reduction, or bland aid-agency terms such as partnership or empowerment. Such engagement is far more than a matter of playing word games. The reflections included here raise major questions about how we think about development itself.

Author: Andrea Cornwall
ISBN-10: 1853397067
ISBN-13: 9781853397066
Publisher: Practical Action Publishing
Language: English
Published: 09/01/2010
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.80d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 05/01/2011