ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on approaches to development that are rooted at a local or grassroots scale. In some approaches, this involves an acknowledgement of locally specific development definitions and aspirations, while other approaches may see local communities in a more instrumental way to be mobilized for the efficient achievement of broader development goals. The chapter engages with how the concepts of empowerment and participation have risen in importance in the field of development, as well as the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as key actors in this sphere. The chapter finishes with a discussion of the relationships between grassroots development and globalization, exploring how local communities in different parts of the world can be linked together for wider development purposes. This section focuses on diaspora organizations, ethical trade and volunteer tourism.
