Gauging the moral economy of communities in development practice: drawing from challenges posed by hierarchies and heterarchies

Development initiatives often depend on the logic of give and take, apply and reap. These social exchanges may involve a complex interplay of the power relations exemplified in hierarchies and heterarchies. If community developmental agendas build on the premise of an assumed homogeneity and integration, they will be faced with monumental challenges in the implementation and management of their projects; challenges that result from a lack of knowledge and understanding of the intricate social structuring of specific communities. A study was conducted to determine the dynamics of social exchange in the form of gifts, lending, borrowing and swapping at interpersonal, household and kin levels among an agricultural community in western Kenya. Through interviews, market surveillance, household visits and observations, the findings reveal a lack of generosity and reciprocity in gift-giving within the context of symmetrical and asymmetrical power relations. Mapping these exchanges allow us to define a community\'s moral economy and its social structure. They allow us to identify the most vulnerable members of a community and the social structuring that should not be ignored in addressing development agendas. Key words: moral economy, vertical and horizontal transfers, community development Journal of Social Development in Africa Vol.20(1) 2005: 147-166