Journal Article
Reconstruction From Below?
New article on recovery after conflict and 'natural' disasters
This article in Third World Quarterly examines an emerging approach, called 'reconstruction from below', and its growing body of practice. The article analyses claims by aid agencies that their interventions for reconstruction after conflicts and so-called 'natural disasters' represent a commitment to be bottom-up and contextually relevant, to look beyond state institutions, and to provide space for local ownership.
The article, based on work by DIIS researcher Ian Christoplos and colleagues at Disaster Studies at Wageningen University, traces the emergence of this approach to six factors present in international policy. It then examines the growing body of practice in the domains of livelihoods, institutional development and basic service provision. It concludes that this approach is not the magic bullet that agencies seem to expect. Reconstruction from below rests on many untested assumptions. Programmes formed pursuant to these notions are often poorly adapted to the challenges encountered and are hampered by mistrust of the local institutions to which this approach rhetorically entrusts reconstruction.
The article, drawing on a large and growing body of evolving experience, proposes that it is time to look more critically at claims made about recovery assistance by taking stock of experience and drawing empirical lessons about how efforts that promote 'reconstruction from below' function in practice.
Link to publication
The article, based on work by DIIS researcher Ian Christoplos and colleagues at Disaster Studies at Wageningen University, traces the emergence of this approach to six factors present in international policy. It then examines the growing body of practice in the domains of livelihoods, institutional development and basic service provision. It concludes that this approach is not the magic bullet that agencies seem to expect. Reconstruction from below rests on many untested assumptions. Programmes formed pursuant to these notions are often poorly adapted to the challenges encountered and are hampered by mistrust of the local institutions to which this approach rhetorically entrusts reconstruction.
The article, drawing on a large and growing body of evolving experience, proposes that it is time to look more critically at claims made about recovery assistance by taking stock of experience and drawing empirical lessons about how efforts that promote 'reconstruction from below' function in practice.
Link to publication
Reconstruction 'from below'
a new magic bullet or shooting from the hip?
Third World Quarterly, 31, 1107-1124, 2010