There can be no authentic participation without empowerment. Discuss

The first 200 words of this essay...

Assignment Cover Sheet

Student Name: Ciara Shannon

Degree Programme: MSc Development Studies

Course: Development Practice

Seminar Tutor: Jonathan Goodhand

Seminar Group: Two

Word Count:

Essay Title:

There can be no authentic participation without empowerment. Discuss

Power is tolerable only if it masks a substantial part of itself.

(Foucault 1979 p86)

Introduction

Throughout this paper I will refute the claim that there can be no authentic participation without empowerment by arguing that although empowerment is a key objective of participation in that it seeks to give local people a role in development projects, empowerment is not an inevitable outcome. As often factors such as the complex relations of power and influence that exist between participants and by external agendas intervene and prevent empowerment. When analysing participation and empowerment it is necessary to consider who is empowered- the individual, the community or categories such as women, the poor or socially excluded-and for what purpose? (Cleaver, 2001)

In part 1 of this paper I will look at the concept of participation and empowerment and at how the theories and practices of participation have been applied. Then I will