ABSTRACT
The discourse of ‘development’ emerged in the context of a number of historical factors in the first half of the 20th century (among others, anti-colonial movements, the Russian Revolution and financial crisis) from a confluence of evolutionist thinking (there is a general pattern of social change among all human societies and some are more progressed than others) and social technology (some people possess knowledge on how to steer this social change for the benefit of all). While the discourse reflected the interests of the global North, it was quickly appropriated by the elites of newly independent countries in the global South in international fora like the United Nations and contested in institutions of ‘development’, manifesting its tactical polyvalence: the discourse can be used for heterogeneous political agendas.
