2. Knowledge, Participation and Development

In a rapidly-changing world that is becoming ever more complex and interconnected, it is increasingly apparent that the a harmonious and prosperous humanity will require a fundamental reordering of systems and structures in the world to reflect to ever greater degrees the principles of the oneness of humankind and justice. This has many revolutionary implications for the field of development at the level of both theory and methods. Paternalistic approaches and models that view development as an endeavour of one section of humanity for another will have to be set aside in favour of the more mature conception of the masses of humanity arising out of the state of being passive beneficiaries of development programs to becoming active agents of their own and their society’s progress. This empowerment of the masses can only be achieved when their capacities are built to draw upon, apply and, in the process, generate knowledge for advancing their spiritual and material development. This calls for not only a broadening of the sources of knowledge that development draws upon and greater integration between them but also the use of methodologies that enable participatory knowledge generation and that closely integrate theory and practice in iterative cycles of action, reflection and learning.

The course, “Knowledge, Participation and Development”, aims to help prepare students develop their conceptual understanding of how diverse knowledge systems including science, religion, local knowledge and indigenous systems of knowledge can be drawn upon in defining the ends and means of development and how various biases and blindspots that undermine development thinking can be identified and overcome. The course further explores the philosophical basis and the methods of various development methodologies that incorporate knowledge generation and learning as essential elements of the development process.

The course is particularly suited for those broadly engaged in the fields of social and economic development concerned with the empowerment of the masses.