Critically assess the argument that participation is vital for development.

Order Description
Participation
There are important questions about the extent to which development involves people. There has been a concern that development is ‘done to’ people rather than ‘done with’ people: top-down rather than bottom-up development. In the last ten years or so, this argument has led many to assert the importance of participation in development: both as normatively desirable and also more effective for implementation.
Look at how participation has emerged as a key aspect of development policy and critically reflect on the different ways in which participation happens.

Key reading
Brohman, Chapter 8
Peet, Chapter 7
Further reading
Brett, E. (2003) ‘Participation and accountability in development management’ Journal of Development Studies 40, 2
Hickey, S. and Mohan, G. (2005) ‘Relocating Participation within a Radical Politics of Development’, Development and Change, 36, 2, 237-262.
Kumar, S & Corbridge, S. (2002) ‘Programmed to fail? Development projects and the politics of participation’ Journal of Development Studies 29, 2
McGee, R. (2002) ‘Participating in Development’ in Kothari and Minogue Development Theory and Practice
Michener, V. (1998) ‘The Participatory Approach: Contradiction and Co-option in Burkina Faso’ World Development 26, 12
Mosse, D. (2005) Cultivating Development Pluto Press, chapter 2
Vajja, A. & White, H. (2008) ‘Can the World Bank build social capital?’ Journal of Development Studies 44, 8