ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on ‘small-d’ development: social and economic change in the absence of formal, planned development initiatives. It explores ‘big-D’ Development – planned development initiatives and interventions by governments, bilateral organisations and NGOs. The chapter presents a set of case studies of how diverse local communities around the world confront and create change for themselves – and what development professionals can learn from watching them. Development work aims to intentionally create positive change. The writings of anthropologists are rich with stories of real people in real places. Anthropologists tend to pay attention to what development actors at the grassroots know, and how they use this knowledge to drive change. Many anthropological studies have focused on the role of local knowledges in managing natural resources in particular local contexts. Anthropologists’ case studies of planned development explore how development organisations, projects and programs work.
