Routledge Participating in Development: Indigenous Knowledge

Development policies imposed by international agencies and state bodies often fail to meet the actual needs and aspirations of people in poor nations. This publication explores why traditional top-down approaches frequently fall short of their promises. As development agencies search for better ways to work, the concept of indigenous knowledge has emerged as a way to make local voices heard more effectively. This book examines this shift and looks at the tension between development practices and academic perspectives. While indigenous knowledge is gaining recognition in development contexts, it has yet to be fully validated and accepted by the field of anthropology. This volume provides a necessary look at how local perspectives can change the way development is approached. It is an essential read for those studying how to bridge the gap between international policy and the real-world needs of local communities.