By the late twentieth century\, large-scal e\, top-down development schemes had begun to give way to approaches more a ttuned to local dynamics and the experiences of affected communities. What prompted this shift\, and what does it seek to achieve in the development c ontext? In this session\, we will consider growing disillusionment with tec hnocratic\, state-centered implementation models and explore the appeal of working “from below.”
This shift was also a response to mounting crit iques following widespread displacement\, environmental degradation\, and o ther unintended consequences of major development projects\, such as the Na rmada Dam in India. In response\, the World Bank introduced mechanisms aime d at enhancing accountability and community participation\, including the q uasi-judicial Inspection Panel. This body was designed to allow groups nega tively affected by Bank-funded projects to file complaints and seek redress . We will assess the significance of such innovations\, asking who qualifie s as a “community” in this context\, what forms of harm are recognized\, an d what limitations arise when the Bank is called upon to shield communities from the state.
LOCATION:Hauser Hall\; 104 Lumbard Classroom GEO:0;0 ORGANIZER;CN="Kathryn Rose Weaver":MAILTO:kweaver@law.harvard.edu URL;VALUE=URI:https://hls.harvard.edu/events/byse-workshop-session-4-the-lo cal-in-international-development/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 DTSTART:20260308T070000 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR