Anthropology by definition is the study of human societies, the cultures that they create and the development that is caused by the evolution of those societies. Thus it should be important for anthropologists to study the many development projects that are proposed by organizations around the world. The concept of development projects first began after World War II as the West began trying to piece Europe back together. After the Marshal Plan was signed in 1948 the United States then turned to creating projects to aid in the development of third world countries. Many believed the United States should act as the “bread basket” giving to those living in poor developing countries. Since the 1940’s the concept of development has changed however
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Written under the pseudonym Leonard Frank, “The Development Game” follows a development official and his team on their “mission to the North-west Frontier.” (Rahnema, et al. 264) I have taken this text from a collection of documents, entitled The Post-Development Reader, that were compiled and introduced by Majid Rahnema, a career ambassador for Iran at the United Nations and later the founder of the Institute for Endogenous Development Studies, and Victoria Bawtree, an economist by degree and supporter of liberation movements by trade. I found this text while studying for another anthropology class taught at Transylvania called Sustainable Development. The purpose of this class was to explore the history of development projects, as well as the culture surrounding the development movement. “The Development Game” gives a true insiders perspective of the process that is involved with creating development projects and sheds light on the true problems involved with projects developed for the people rather than by the people who are the proposed …show more content…
He is alone, sitting upon the balcony of his international hotel at the base of the Himalayas. In this moment he finds himself free of the burdens that have come to rest upon his shoulders from years of working in the development field. The odd tone of this text adds a unique perspective that I believe is lost when reading development documents written by outsiders. The author continues by discussing the individuals who make up his mission team, a strange compilation of foreigners who each have their spot because of stereotypes regarding their countries of origin. For example, there is a Japanese man “because Japanese money is becoming important…an American to punch statistics, and a Dutch girl sociologist for the soft and warm.” (Rahnema, et al.
Written under the pseudonym Leonard Frank, “The Development Game” follows a development official and his team on their “mission to the North-west Frontier.” (Rahnema, et al. 264) I have taken this text from a collection of documents, entitled The Post-Development Reader, that were compiled and introduced by Majid Rahnema, a career ambassador for Iran at the United Nations and later the founder of the Institute for Endogenous Development Studies, and Victoria Bawtree, an economist by degree and supporter of liberation movements by trade. I found this text while studying for another anthropology class taught at Transylvania called Sustainable Development. The purpose of this class was to explore the history of development projects, as well as the culture surrounding the development movement. “The Development Game” gives a true insiders perspective of the process that is involved with creating development projects and sheds light on the true problems involved with projects developed for the people rather than by the people who are the proposed …show more content…
He is alone, sitting upon the balcony of his international hotel at the base of the Himalayas. In this moment he finds himself free of the burdens that have come to rest upon his shoulders from years of working in the development field. The odd tone of this text adds a unique perspective that I believe is lost when reading development documents written by outsiders. The author continues by discussing the individuals who make up his mission team, a strange compilation of foreigners who each have their spot because of stereotypes regarding their countries of origin. For example, there is a Japanese man “because Japanese money is becoming important…an American to punch statistics, and a Dutch girl sociologist for the soft and warm.” (Rahnema, et al.