Whither rural development?

Abstract

This paper puts forward the proposition that a preoccupation of the development experts with ‘new ideas’ is prejudicial to the essential process of learning by experience and points to the widening gap between development theory and achievements in the field. It is stated that what is needed is not so much theory but practical solutions to basic local problems and concrete steps toward removal of basic deficiencies in national structures. The paper questions the general tendency to accept blindly anything presented under moralistic labels and suggests that rethinking is needed not for building a new development design but to eliminate faulty thinking accumulated over the years. A number of examples of this faulty thinking are cited. It is concluded that for its success rural development has to be growth oriented, egalitarian and democratic.