poster: navigating the line between participation and tyranny lessons learned in using participatory...
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Navigating the line between participation and tyranny Lessons learned in using participatory methods to engage community members in pro-environmental behaviours in rural China: THE CASE OF FARM IN A BOX
“A local nutritious and sustainable food source for in need communities” Contacts:
CLIMATE CHANGE AND AT-RISK POPULATIONS
At-risk populations are the first responders to their realities of climate change
Assistance and adaptation must fit within existing realities of the community
Working within the framework of existing social realities, local communities provide a source of local knowledge rooted in cultural traditions as well as a source of community level action
Achieving a consensus of engagement among the people of a given community, is vital to the transition towards a low-carbon community (Moloney et al., 2010).
PARTICIPATORY METHODS
“The broad aim of participatory development is to increase the involvement of socially and economically marginalized peoples in decision-making over their own lives”
“The assumption is that participatory approaches empower local people with the skills and confidence to analyse their situation, reach consensus, make decisions and take action, so as to improve their circumstances. The ultimate goal is more equitable and sustainable development”
Guijt & Shah’s 1998:1
PARTICIPATION AS TYRANNY: POWER RELATIONSHIPS
Participatory methods are criticized of embodying the “potential for an unjustified exercise of power”, also known as participation as tyranny as termed by %QQMG���-QVJCTK���������a�
Participation as tyranny – when participatory methods breakdown into group dysfunction exhibiting symptoms of risky shift, the Abilene paradox, groupthink or coercive persuasion (Cooke & Kothari 2001).
LESSONS LEARNED
The line is very fine and not all decisions are appreciated by all stakeholders
No-one can predict the full journey and the effects of the transformation.
So even with good planning some level of group dysfunction is likely.
Continue to reinforce community empowerment.
Cultural ambassador is key.
Transformation is slow.
Select community “insiders” who are open to engage with the “outsiders” to avoid participative methods crossing over to tyranny.
Forward plan for long engagement.
Continue to support insiders until they are empowered, proud and advocates of the new system/behaviors.
Exit when key insiders are strategically supported to make it difficult for them to lapse back into old behaviors.
CONFLICTS
Although the purpose at the onset of participatory development methods may be to shift the balance in power towards the marginalized groups, what is often the case is a continued power imbalance in favour of the agents of action, the donor or the larger outside bodies of power; the continuation of the expert and other relationship (Mohan 2001).
COMMUNITY “A group of people with diverse characteristics who are linked by social ties, share common perspectives, and engage in joint action in geographical locations or settings” (MacQueen et al. 2001).
ACTION RESEARCH
In the case of Action Research the focus is to “increase the ability of the involved community or organization members to control their own destinies more effectively and to keep improving their capacity to do so within a more sustainable and just environment” (Greenwood and Levin 2007:5).
PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR “Pro-environmental behaviour refers to behaviour that harms the environment as little as possible, or even benefits the environment” (Steg and Vlek 2009).
Small scale organic food production that create a sustainable food source is considered a pro-environmental behaviour.
THE PROCESS
FARM IN A BOX
ContextNutritious food is often not where it is needed 40% of children in rural China are stunted as a result of maternal and childhood malnutrition Unicef
Under nutrition is devastating. It blunts the intellect, saps the productivity of everyone it touches and perpetuates poverty Unicef
Taking action on under-nutrition is the single most important, cost-effective means of advancing human well-being The Copenhagen Consensus
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ArchitectSustainability
expert
Beneficiary open
community leaders
Master eco-system & strategy builderCultural
Ambassador
Finance & marketing
Engineer
Volunteers Organisers
Surrounding Community
Supplier partners
Greenhouse manufacturer
Applied biomimicry
Explore
Prototype
IdentifyFeasible and
desirable changes
Iterate
Formulate problems, ops, systems of
interest
The Big divideSafetySecurityUs vs Food …How to reconnect
Food values ChainRelationshipTrends…
Local food eco-systemsInstallations and soft systems Education, Community, School, Organisations….
Non resilient Vs. Resilient Global Vs. LocalDisconnected Vs. ConnectedLittle value Vs. ValuesWaste Vs. TreasureFunction Vs. Emotion
Action Research
Identity Community
Immerse in culture
Abilene Paradox SystemImplementation
Empower Build Community
Advocates
Risky Shift
Media Community
Food Shortage Community
Groups Dysfunction
Slow TransformationFragile
EXIT
DEFINE ACTORS
SYSTEM DESIGN
Metric EnjoymentFeedbacks
Maintenance PlanBamboo Greenhouse
Rotation Plan