Comments on: Knowledge in Development: Fostering knowledge generation in the global South

By: T R Nagesh

T R Nagesh — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:25:21 +0000

The experts have raised a very important aspect of development. More equitable pattern of ideas production, legitimization and dissemination would essentialy lead to more sophisticated indegenous models of development. For instance, Thailand has promoted One Tambon One Product project. Knowledge generation and encouraging idea generation may lead to much better models of development in developing countries.

By: Timothy A. Wise

Timothy A. Wise — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:43:30 +0000

Sanjay Reddy highlights a very important problem, and one that requires new approaches. The good news is that development theory is once again an active area of inquiry, “shaken loose” (as Lyuba Zarsky wrote on this blog) from the stultifying hegemony of neoliberalism. It is once again sensible, even in the United States, to discuss the role of the state in development. It is also important to discuss the generation of knowledge and innovation, as Reddy points out, and to be attentive to the role of international institutions in fostering Southern capacities to develop their own theory and practice in development.

By: Garrett Connelly

Garrett Connelly — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:56:14 +0000

Sanjay, You are describing a serious problem I have become aware of through my development work with very low cost and beautiful shelter which is designed to be built by the billions of talented people who lack shelter which generates pride of place while being fire and earthquake safe. These same billions are also needing sanitation as well as potable water, which fits into the same social enterprise based technology. The elite educated class in the developed economies has so far been unable to grasp that they are being deprived of the imagination of billions who will reach for the stars from a different starting place, and in all probability will build a sustainable human culture that does not adhere to the current ideas promoted by what are popularly viewed as advanced societies. Replacing quantitative growth societies with cultures based on qualitative growth and externalized profits necessitates an expansion of awareness to include more fun as a prime motivation for life, this small idea is foreign and repugnant to the faster and faster to infinity mind set who want to promote jobs through full production.