Cultivating Development: An Ethnography of Aid Policy and Practice

by David Mosse

Development agencies and researchers are preoccupied with policy; with exerting influence over policy, linking research to policy and with implementing policy around the world.

But what if development practice is not driven by policy? Suppose that the things that make for 'good policy' - policy that legitimises and mobilises political support - in reality make it impossible to implement?

By focusing in detail on the unfolding activities of a development project in western India over more than ten years, as it falls under different policy regimes, this book takes a close look at the relationship between policy and practice in development.

David Mosse shows how the actions of development workers are shaped by the exigencies of organisations and the need to maintain relationships rather than by policy; but also that development actors work hardest of all to maintain coherent representations of their actions as instances of authorised policy. Raising unfamiliar questions, Mosse provides a rare self-critical reflection on practice, while refusing to endorse current post-modern dismissal of development.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Ethnography, India

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2004

Reviews

[Noora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one tough read. Mosse's style of writing is really dense, and I wish his flow was different. Overall this is an incredibly important read for anyone interested or working in the development field or foreign aid. Personally, I don't understand the controversy behind the book, Mosse wasnt criticizing his collegues, nor giving a project evaluation. He actually explains that the project itself was a success and never claimed that he was a completely objective person in his research.

What Mosse did was great, because he had the experience of living within the culture of his research. Adding to that experience was his expert knowledge into the field of study. Of course anytime there's work that exposes the hidden issues, there will always be an uproar. I still appreciate this work for explaining the issues concerning contemporary development projects. All Mosse is trying to say, is that there are structural problems with the way policy and practice relate. Mosse "removes the veil" and explains the primacy of policy over the needs of people.

An important book if you're interested in developmental anthropology.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very hard read, but an important book that explores the connections between high-policy and the actual on the ground reality of aid and development projects.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A seminal book in development studies but a near impossible read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read once you got into it, but could have benefited from a paragraph, or even a chapter, explaining the project more generally instead of an introductory chapter focusing entirely on the policy/practice part of the book. Although this was the books focus, it made the interpretation of his points far harder as it took several chapters afterwards to grasp his projects aims and thus apply his generalisations about policy to it. Nevertheless, a fascinating ethnography explaining and analysing the importance in understanding the difference between Foreign Aid and Development Policy and the practicalities of implementing it, leading ultimately to misinterpretations of success and failure within international aid projects, especially those that are run from abroad.

[Lylly Emerick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The background of this study is incredibly contentious and, unfortunately, most of the reviews center around the "ethics of anthropology," but I do think its an important read for people working in international NGOs.

[Cristian · Rating 5 out of 5]

First hand insight into development practice from an ethnographical POV. That's enough for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rough, rough read