Postmodernism and Analysis of the Development Process

Introduction There is a range of methodological approaches which may be taken to analysing the development process. Here we consider how far postmodernism offers a useful methodological foundation. These two sentences already embody some philosophical principles. The first sentence has elements in common with postmodernism: allowance is made for a range of approaches rather than one best approach, and concern is expressed with process rather than outcome. The second sentence is somewhat at odds with postmodernism, which is normally expressed as not being anti-foundational. The philosophical standpoint of this note, therefore, from the start, embodies the view that postmodernism offers useful insights but that discussion of foundations is helpful for considering different approaches to development analysis. The field of methodology is concerned with the question of how best to construct knowledge about the real world in order to provide the basis for action. Development economics is a particularly good field in which to consider methodological questions because it is so clearly addressed to policy. Further, the particularity of experience which postmodernism addresses is most evident when considering the range of developing economies being studied. Indeed there has been active discussion in some of the development literature about the relationship between theory and policy addressed to specific contexts in terms of the relative merits of modernism and postmodernism. These issues have been addressed more widely in the methodology literature. We start by providing a brief account of postmodernism from the methodology literature, and then consider its contribution to development studies and development policy-making.