ASK, DON’T TELL: A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF POST-COLONIALITY IN DEVELOPMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE
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Date
2024
Authors
Yousaf, Miriam
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Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This thesis investigates the paradigm shift in development discourse catalyzed by postcolonialism and the contrasting positions of postcolonial theory and modernization theory. Through the works of Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, and Dipesh Chakrabarty, this study philosophically, economically, and socially contextualizes the postcolonial response to development as a disruption of the status quo. By analyzing their theories in relation to each other, I explore the landscape of the debate sparked by postcolonialism within linear Modernization theory. Additionally, I explore two methodologies in international development which perpetuate modernization theory and those that align with the postcolonial critique. Case studies in India and Pakistan exemplify differing approaches to development projects, offering insights into the practical application of development discourse in these contexts. This research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of postcolonial theory in relation to development practices and international development cases within the South Asian Subcontinent, specifically contextualizing the discourse around development theory. Through exploration of key questions, including the critique of development practices by postcolonial theories, the theoretical underpinnings of coloniality, and the framing of development discourse by Orientalism, Hybridity, and Historical Difference, this thesis contributes to the ongoing dialogue on decolonizing development practices.
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Keywords
Postcolonial, Development, Modernization, Globalization, Critical Theory