Towards a Reinvention of Development Theory: Theorizing Post-Development

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The project intends to overcome the ongoing paradigmatic crisis of development theory through a systematic theorization of Post-Development approaches. The paradigmatic crisis is linked to the heritage of Eurocentric evolutionism in development theory which leads to a rather narrow conception of how a good, 'developed' society can look like. Through their critique of Eurocentrism and relations of power and in particular through their focus on non-Western models of politics, the economy and knowledge, Post-Development approaches allow for a broadening of the horizon, a reinvention of development theory which fully abandons the evolutionism which has characterized the discipline in the past – and is sometimes still present nowadays. In order to contribute to this reinvention, the project will map and analyse the vast literature on Post-Development concepts and practices with the aim of a systematic theorization of this perspective. Building on the academic debate, including the criticism launched against Post-Development approaches, the project will categorize different variants of Post-Development, investigate the viability and desirability of the alternatives promoted by them, trace the shift in Post-Development literature towards a more constructive approach, investigate gender relations in Post-Development and clarify its theoretical ambiguities. On this basis, the theorization of Post-Development will contribute to a reinvention of development theory which takes into account Eurocentrism and relations of power in 'development' without giving up the desire for material improvements on a global scale.