Enhancing pro-poor governance in Eastern India: participation, politics and action research

Glyn Williams, Manoj Srivastava, Stuart Corbridge and René Véron
Additional contact information
Glyn Williams: Department of Geography, King’s College London, UK, glyn.williams@kcl.ac.uk
Manoj Srivastava: Development Studies Institute, London School of Economics, UK
Stuart Corbridge: Department of Geography, London School of Economics, UK, University of Miami, USA
René Véron: Department of Geography, Guelph University, Ontario, Canada

Progress in Development Studies, 2003, vol. 3, issue 2, 159-178

Abstract: This paper uses the experience of a recent programme of action research in Eastern India to reflect on the use of participatory ideals within governance reform. In a situation where there are profound difficulties in local governance, it assesses the potential for participatory forms of stakeholder engagement to begin a process of reform. It criticizes views of reform put forward by both the World Bank and Robert Chambers, and argues instead that critical self-reflection and the construction of alliances among a variety of reform-minded actors are important first steps in building political capabilities to challenge structural blockages to pro-poor governance.

Keywords: action research; Bihar (India); governance reform; participation; political capabilities; Robert Chambers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:prodev:v:3:y:2003:i:2:p:159-178

DOI: 10.1191/1464993403ps059ra

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