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Reading Journal Week 1

Ups and Downs in Development Studies.

To get a brief but thorough grounding in understanding developmental studies, one should
start by reading first chapter from Willis, since not only it describes developmental theories,
it gives highlight about how development is a highly contested concept. Important point given
in the connection between colonization (thus, decolonization) and development. She also
delivers the idea that development can be understood as an Eurocentric idea which has been
forced on the rest of the world. Apart from giving the discourse chronologically, she also
underpins the importance of scale, the development measuring instrument, and actors
involved.
Similarly to Willis, Corbridge concludes on how one understand several major school in the
development studies arena. Interesting point he bring forth is the importance of technical
side of development theories, especially in post-developmentalism, and also introduces also
the politization of development policy. He questions the motive of good governance, which
is understandable since it stems out from a neo-liberal development paradigm. I can regard
his view complements Willis, which is development shouldn’t be regarded as unitary or
unchanging.
To give another viewpoint, Slater’s journal offers us a broader context about how global
geographical and geopolitical discussion should be considered whenever we are talking about
development studies. Levels of area of studies can be looked from local to global, from
external and internal, and the north-south division. He also confirms the discourse that
occidental viewpoint is regarded as the pole of developmental goal, including the neo-
liberalism view. He points out the importance of third world context should be bring forth,
how autonomy should be encouraged, and subordinating effects of metropolis-satellite
relation should be abolished.
Sylvester gives another addition that in viewing the evolution of the development theories
one cannot forget that converging issue of postcolonial studies and how the colonizing
relation of through trade structures that disadvantaged thirld world countries. He also gives
highlight to naivety of one who equated development with economic growth. Post
development is described as combination of postmodernism and post-colonialism. The post-
colonialism itself started from ‘west’ and its power configurations internationally acts as
grounding. One should also consider the alternative and postdevelopment approaches that
have theoretical and practical concern with participatory forms of development that engage
average rural people. Development and postcolonial studies has convergent and divergent
area, and the latter has a potential to be a new location of human development thinking.