Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
2.2 RADICAL
APPROACHES TO
DEVELOPMENT
Revolutionary and radical ideas concerning society were commonplace
during the second half of the twentieth century; and the period was asso-
ciated with societal upheavals, popular resistances, elite power-brokering,
militarism, pacifism, colonial oppression and post-colonial independence
movements. Writings that enflamed passions, ignited revolutionary (or
radical) ardour and which cried out for social justice for all - not just for
the wealthy and privileged - were as much at the heart of violent revo-
lutionary action as they were central to the development of radical
approaches to development.
This chapter, therefore, undertakes an historical journey through the
last half of the twentieth century, and focuses attention on people's ideas
and writings on 'radical' or 'alternative' approaches to development and
social progress in the underdeveloped Third World/global South. Early
on, radical critiques and 'anti-development' arguments were levelled at
Westernization, imperialism, modernization and neocolonialism by
Third World spokesmen. Following on from such critiques, the chapter
details a representative set of critical, alternative models that their advo-
cates felt could, or would, bring about development from below. This
alternative approach culminates in a people-centred development model,
which combines development ethics and sustainability in its advocacy.
Thus it promotes 'capacity building' and 'community empowerment' as
progressive means for the poor majority to achieve development.
'Cold War' Radical, Marxist Models of
'Non-capitalist Development'
Anti-imperialism certainly prompted much scholarly and 'activist' criti-
cism. Some of the radical approaches that were offered as alternatives
