ABSTRACT
The tendency for social scientists to identify with the target population has been mentioned. De Treville’s chapter describes her experiences working on two development projects in Egypt, both funded by international agencies, in which she played a scientific investigative role and an active facilitator role in the process of social change. The chapter in this part, by McNamara, describes his role as an in-house researcher employed by the Chamber of Mines in South Africa. Good relationships, then, can exist between researchers and policy-makers even in contexts where conflict might be expected. The more radical social scientists will see the modi operandi of de Treville and McNamara as mere tinkering within established structures. Others will count the concrete benefits which they have achieved for disadvantaged groups, though limited, as successful and responsible professional involvement. The perspective will depend on the political stance of the critic.
