ANTH 212 MIDTERM

Karl Stephan - 261 037 183

1- Ivan Illich developed the idea of the "desire to improve" in his book "Tools for
Conviviality" (1973). It is broken down into three dimensions: technological, moral, and
political, and it alludes to the desire to improve the world. The moral dimension
highlights individual and societal ideals as a guide for improvement, the technical
dimension stresses the role of specialists and technology in accomplishing progress, and
the political dimension concentrates on the influence of authority and regulation on
societal development.

2- Orientalism is a term introduced by Edward Said. It refers to the way Western people
have portrayed the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa as exotic and uncivilized. This
view was used to justify European imperialism and to create a hierarchy of cultures. It is
a form of cultural imperialism that has affected Western views of the East.

3- According to Apthorpe, "development speak" works by shaping people's understanding

of development and creating a common language and ideas about it. This language is
accepted and shared by experts, policymakers, and practitioners, and influences the
development agenda and decisions. As a result, "development speak" has real-world
effects on governments, organizations, and individuals.

4- Tania Li is a cultural anthropologist who studies the role of trusteeship in different

contexts. According to Li, a trustee is a person or organization that holds and manages
assets for the benefit of others, serving as a steward of resources and decision-maker on
behalf of those they represent. Trusteeship can involve many responsibilities, such as
making investments, distributing resources, and ensuring the well-being of those who
rely on the assets being held in trust.
5- The grand narrative of modernization is a historical and sociological theory that explains
how societies have progressed from agrarian, pre-industrial communities to modern,
industrialized ones. It is characterized by the belief that modernization is a linear
process of social and economic development, where societies inevitably progress from
traditional to modern forms of organization and governance. Modernization is closely
related to development as it is often used to describe the process of increasing
economic growth and prosperity, as well as the adoption of modern technologies,
institutions, and values.

6- Development and underdevelopment describe different levels of economic and social

progress in countries and regions. There are two frameworks that look at their
relationship: the modernization framework which says underdevelopment is due to a
lack of modernization, and the dependency framework which says underdevelopment is
caused by external factors like colonization and globalization.

7- Ivan Illich was a philosopher who wrote about the negative effects of modern
institutions on society. According to Illich, the "renunciators of the future" are
individuals who have given up on the possibility of creating a better future for
themselves and their communities. These individuals have renounced their agency and
have accepted the notion that progress and improvement can only be achieved through
the intervention of experts and large-scale institutions. By doing so, they have
surrendered their ability to imagine and work towards a more desirable future.

8- A- TRUE
B-TRUE
C-TRUE
D-FALSE

9- Anthropologists study development by looking at how culture, society, and economics

affect economic growth and change. One text, "Anthropology and Development," shows
how anthropologists use research to understand how people experience, resist, and
shape development programs. They show that development is complex and can't just be
seen as economic growth or adopting Western ideas, but also involves cultural, political,
and historical factors.
10- The discourse of expertise refers to a set of ideas and beliefs about knowledge and the
role of experts in society. It is the dominant way in which people think about expertise
and decision-making, particularly in fields such as medicine, science, and technology.
Some elements of the discourse of expertise include the idea that experts have
specialized knowledge and skills, that they are more capable of making informed
decisions than lay people, and that they have a greater ability to understand complex
issues and solve problems. Additionally, the discourse of expertise often reinforces the
idea that experts are neutral and objective, and that they make decisions based on
objective facts, rather than personal or political considerations.

11- The blue tortilla example is a story used by Ivan Illich to show how solutions can
sometimes make problems worse. In the example, a woman adds food coloring to make
blue tortillas for a festival, but the food coloring makes the tortillas inedible. The story
illustrates the idea of "counter-productivity," where solutions create new and more
severe problems.

12- The example of Michael, a prisoner in Lisa Stevenson's article, shows how people's
experiences can be affected by their surroundings. The idea is called "experience near"
and it means that a person's experiences are not just personal, but also shaped by their
environment, such as objects, places, and people nearby. Michael's story shows how his
experiences in prison are shaped by the prison environment and the things in it.
Prompt B
Arturo Escobar (2010) is interested in deconstructing the meanings associated with
development. To Escobar, the discourse of development is neither a true nor a neutral
descriptor of social reality; but it nevertheless has real effects in the real world. What is
meant by discourse? Where and in what traditions or historical transformations does the
discursive framework of development find its roots? What are some key elements of the
discourse of development?

Answer:
Arturo Escobar (2010) is concerned with the meanings attached to the concept of

"development" and how it shapes our understanding of the world. Escobar argues that the

discourse of development is not a neutral or accurate reflection of reality, but it has significant

impacts in the real world. In this essay, I will provide an overview of Escobar's perspective on

the discourse of development and its roots.

The term "discourse" refers to a particular way of framing, understanding, and representing a

particular issue, in this case, development. According to Escobar, development discourse

originated in the post-World War II era when the newly formed United Nations set out to tackle

issues of economic growth and poverty reduction globally. Development became a central

concept and a framework for organizing international aid, investment, and cooperation. In his

book, Escobar (2010) writes, "Development discourse has become a world view, a body of

knowledge, a set of practices, and a mode of regulation" (p. 19).

Escobar argues that the discourse of development is rooted in Eurocentric perspectives and

assumptions. For instance, he writes, "Development discourse emerged as a Eurocentric

perspective that identified 'underdeveloped' countries with those societies and regions in the

world that were considered 'backward' or 'primitive'" (p. 23). The discourse of development

perpetuates the idea of modernization and progress as linear and inevitable and positions

Western societies as the model to be emulated. Escobar argues that this Eurocentric discourse

has real effects in the global South, where development projects often lead to the displacement

of communities, the destruction of traditional cultures, and the creation of new forms of

dependency.

One empirical example that Escobar provides is the Green Revolution in Mexico. In the 1940s

and 1950s, Mexico became a major recipient of US aid and technical assistance for the

modernization of its agricultural sector. The Green Revolution was promoted as a solution to

poverty and hunger and as a way to increase economic growth. However, Escobar argues that

the Green Revolution resulted in the homogenization of crops, the depletion of soil, the

degradation of water resources, and the loss of biodiversity. Moreover, the Green Revolution

failed to address the root causes of poverty and hunger and instead led to the creation of new

forms of dependency on foreign aid and technology.

Another example is the case of the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve in Brazil. The Reserve was

created in 1990 to protect the forest and the rights of rubber tappers, who have lived and
worked in the Amazon for generations. Escobar argues that the Reserve was a triumph of

indigenous peoples' resistance to state-led development projects that threatened to destroy

their way of life. The Reserve is an example of alternative forms of development that are

grounded in local knowledge, cultural diversity, and ecological sustainability.

In conclusion, Arturo Escobar argues that the discourse of development is not a neutral or

accurate reflection of reality, but it has significant impacts in the world. Escobar exposes the

Eurocentric roots of development discourse and its effects on communities in the global South.

He challenges the conventional notions of development and progress and highlights the

importance of alternative forms of development that are grounded in local knowledge, cultural

diversity, and ecological sustainability. Escobar's perspective on the discourse of development

contributes to a critical understanding of the ways in which development policies and practices

shape our understanding of the world and have real effects on communities and ecosystems.