Rural Development: Putting the last first

by Robert Chambers

Rural poverty is often unseen or misperceived by outsiders. Dr Chambers contends that researchers, scientists, administrators and fieldworkers rarely appreciate the richness and validity of rural people's knowledge or the hidden nature of rural poverty. This is a challenging book for all concerned with rural development, as practitioners, academics, students or researchers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Sustainability, Poverty, International Development

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 1983

About the author

There is more than one Robert Chambers in the Goodreads Library

Robert John Haylock Chambers (1932-) is a British academic and development practitioner. He spent his academic career at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. In 2013 he became an honorary fellow of the International Institute of Social Studies. He has been one of the leading advocates for putting the poor, destitute and marginalized at the center of the processes of development policy since the 1980s. In particular he argues they should be taken into account when the development problem is identified, policy formulated and projects implemented. He popularized within development circles such phrases as "putting the last first" and stressed the now generally accepted need for development professionals to be critically self-aware. The widespread acceptance of a "participatory" approach is in part due to his work. This includes participatory rural appraisal.

Robert Chambers and G.R. Conway provided the first elaborated definition of the concept of sustainable livelihoods which reads: "a livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (stores, resources, claims and access) and activities required for a means of living: a livelihood is sustainable which can cope with and recover from stress and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next generation; and which contributes net benefits too there livelihoods at the local and global levels and in the short and long term"

Reviews

[Ian Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in 1985 I was working in a tiny community health project in the western hills of Nepal. We had the usual mix (for the era) of maternal & child health, drinking water & sanitation, and non formal education & income generation. And it was then that, like many others working in community development, I first read this wonderful book. At the same time I was reading some helpful and very practical articles on primary health care in the highly influential magazine 'Contact' produced by the World Council of Churches. And the wonderful newsletter 'Diarrhoea Dialogue' which deserved to be read for its title alone!

But what I lacked was a book that would bridge the theory and practice of health and development. I had started on Freire's 'Pedagogy of the Oppressed' but struggled with the impenetrable language. So it was as a parched traveller searching for a cool oasis in the middle of the desert that I came across this powerful book.

First reaction - a sense of disbelief that anyone could write with such clarity and humour about a subject that usually seemed to attract writers with a gift for mind-numbing verbosity. And then a sense of wonder that so much experience and wisdom could be packed into such a small volume. A book that quite simply, you couldn't put down. A book that mixed science and faith, philosophy and anecdote, devastating criticism and passionate exhortation. A book that had a profound influence on me, and I know on many others working in community health at that time.

So returning to it a quarter of a century later, how does it stand up to the test of time? Remarkably well, in my humble opinion.

My work has changed, and I am largely ignorant of the extensive field of current literature in community development. But I wonder if there has been a book written since then that has had such an impact on practitioners in the field? And I wonder how Robert Chambers would write it now, if updating it?

For the world has changed. Since 1983 we have witnessed the explosive pandemic of HIV, the even more explosive growth in the internet and mobile communication technologies, the end of the cold war and the new globalization of economies and people, the rapid urbanisation of the planet, the growth in foreign aid, the MDGs, and many other social, political, economic and technological developments that impact negatively and positively on the lives of the poor. It would most certainly be a different book.

But a book I am sure I would again want to read.

[Leanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based solely on the cover and exceedingly dry title, I approached this book with trepidation, expecting a dry and pedantic academic tone. And Chambers completely defied my expectations! He makes his argument thoroughly and addresses himself to numerous audiences, but he does so in a conversational, personable and funny (yes, funny!) writing style. Really, really great intro to the field.

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two types of areas, core and peripheral. Core areas are comprised of the sophisticated, rich and the haves, who have the resources and reside in the urban areas. Whereas, the peripheral areas are those where poor, deprived and rural communities reside.

Most of the budget allocations of core areas is in updating the nuclear arsenal's worth 100's of millions of rupees, little to no money is contributed towards the development of rural projects or their agricultural practices.

The bureaucracy allocated to the core areas is strong and capable, whereas the personal allocated to peripheral areas are biased and less motivated to work for those people because of their professional conditioning.

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a remarkable book and completely different from what I thought I would read. Chambers helps us - as researchers, scholars, activists and policy makers - to move beyond 'outsider status' and 'rural tourism' to grasp - deeply - the complexity of rural poverty. The layering of injustice is carefully and delicately presented in this book.

Powerful research. Powerful analysis. This should be required reading for every researcher probing rural environments.

[Paul, · Rating 5 out of 5]

This classic work on international development from the early 1980s is just as relevant today, unfortunately. I say unfortunately because the continuing relevance of this work shows that development practice has yet to take seriously the challenges that Chambers has posed. This work is deeply insightful, and highly recommended for all those who are interested in poverty, especially economists and econometricians.

Chambers derives what one might call some fundamental theorems of poverty and development: poverty tourism, the difficulty of the rainy season, insider vs. outsider knowledge (and the limits of both), academic vs. practitioner, overcommitment, power differential, poverty ratchets, the poverty trap. Best book of the year so far.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes.

“Ignorant and stupid poor people are often the creation of ignorant and stupid outsiders ... People so close to the edge cannot afford laziness or stupidity. They have to work, and work hard, whenever and however they can. Many of the lazy and stupid poor are dead.” (p.107)

“the best approach in each situation may be an unconstrained dialogue with the poor, and an effort to learn what their priorities are” (p.144)

“The priorities of the poor are not general – they are not agricultural production, equality or the environment. They are particular, immediate, personal.” (p.148)

“The gravest neglect in analysis for practical rural development has been political feasibility.” (p.160)

“The litanies of rural developers include ‘We must educate the farmers’ and ‘We must uplift the rural poor.’ These can be stood on their heads. Outsiders have first to learn from farmers and from the rural poor.” (p.201)

“So we come to the final, paradoxical reversal: to start by acting. It is often best to start, and do something, to learn by doing. For the test is what people do.” (p.213)
Imp

[R. Sanyoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

pendekatan yg capek dech.. tp ya ginama lagi >>

[Michel Russo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is thoughtful and visionary for its time period. I wish more people prioritized the poor in the their thinking the way Chamber’s does.

But it‘s inherently reflective of the greatest challenge in development work.

Here’s kind of how this book goes. Chambers will make an interesting observation about some topic. But before you can really gather your own thoughts on the matter, he will have brought up several counter arguments that cloud the validity of his original observation.

It’s a window into the paralytic world of development. You can get through this book having learned a lot but have no more confidence in the direction of your work.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this book. I love what he says and how he says it.

Someone else commented that the title is ‘exceedingly dry’! No way! I love the title! Putting the last first, it’s exactly right. Yet we’re still not doing it.

[Darren Hedley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The discussion of positive practitioners and negative researchers is extremely true and useful. Chambers always combines depth and practicality deriving from extensive experience.

[Kamal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Nestory Nemes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book I have read

[Hana Mutiaradina]

good

[IRFAN FAHREZA]

Bagaimana download bukunya ???

[Nhanvien]

toi muom doc

[Fridolinda Seruya · Rating 5 out of 5]

i wanto to read the book

[Nilovna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought transforming book

[Darshan Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This classic work on international development from the early 1980s is just as relevant today, The most outstanding book I have read on development.