Panel 4

The Future of Development and Democratization in Asia and Africa: Local Perspectives

Program and Abstracts >>

Today there is a prevailing sense that the terms ‘development’, ‘democratization’, and ‘local perspectives’ have lost much of the inspirational power and substantive meaning that they had during the period of the anti-colonial struggle and non-allied movement in much of Asia and Africa. Nonetheless, in our session, we would like to discuss and debate the present and future of various parts of Asia and Africa, invoking these very terms. Our purpose here is not to discuss ‘development’ and ‘democracy’ in their abstract or purely theoretical senses. The presenters will approach ‘development’ and ‘democracy’ through their experiences of building and leading social movements, or as participant-observers engaged in complex socio-political relations.

The topics of discussion include 1) analysis of the use of the terms ‘development’ and ‘democracy’ within concrete social contexts; 2) critical analyses of the actual practices involved in ‘development’ and ‘democratization’ projects sponsored by governments, donors, or NGOs; and 3) critical re-assessments of ‘development’ and ‘democratization’ projects by locating them within local logics of social change.

This session will present dynamic, multidimensional views of the visions and practices involved in projects of ‘development’ and ‘democratization’ in Asia and Africa today, and engage in and seek to inspire new reflections, discussions, and debates concerning these important terms.