Case Study about Strategic Decision-Making in Development Theory and Practice: A Learning Approach to Democratic Development
Abstract: This thesis comprises two Parts. The first develops a theoretical framework for analyzing development policy and practice. A central argument is that a reason for widespread discontent with the so-called ‘Washington consensus’ is the exclusion of the majority of people from the governance of their development. An implication is that ‘development’will continue to fail people until decision-making structures are altered to reflect the views of those that are seeking to ‘develop’. This perspective suggests the possibility of a ‘dual approach’ to policy that seeks to alter decision-making structures while working in the shadow of the consensus; a learning process of democratic engagement in development, both within and across localities.
When extended to consider the contested theme of ‘ globalization’, our framework provides an analytically meeting ground for seemingly polar views, making a conceptual distinction between elite and democratic globalization. The second Part of the thesis then advances and applies this framework through the exploration of specific issues and cases: the importance of communication for the governance of development; a specific case study of multinational engagement in local development processes; the role of ‘clusters’ in employment generation processes; and an analysis of the recent Argentinian economic crisis. keep reading…
