Pluralism, Tenancy and Poverty: Cultivating Open-Mindedness in Poverty

This paper applies theoretical pluralism to studies of poverty. However in order to be more specific it takes as a case study some competing studies of Indian rural tenancy relations. Theoretical pluralism, frequently found in this literature, is defined as a realist alternative to extremes of idealism and relativism. In the area of tenancy studies, idealised rational choice theories are often seen as contrasting with political economy approaches. The evolution of theory, in practice, appears to respond to critiques cutting across these lines. A suspension of judgement about competing theories may have some usefulness. In addition discursive bridging is observed among some respected authors in this literature (notably Bardhan, Bhaduri, and Stiglitz; also Genicot and Banerjee et al.). Instead of seeing the competing theories as incommensurate, such authors attempt to build links between them. They nevertheless criticise the ontology, the epistemology, and the measurement frameworks of competing theories. In the paper, specific examples are given of suspension of judgement and discursive bridging. The strengths and weaknesses of meta-theorising are analysed. In poverty studies more generally, bridging between theories can be a useful technique for interdisciplinary research. The resulting theorisations usually have complex causal explanations allowing for different mechanisms (personal, social, political, economic and historical). Methodological pluralism is recommended, and 'triangulation' is described as the underlying methodology for theoretically pluralist studies. The 'unobservables' category is refined. The paper thus avoids the qualitative/quantitative dichotomy found in some other methodological studies. Instead, notions of complexity, causal mechanisms, human reasoning, judgemental rationality and open systems are recommended for interdisciplinary investigations of poverty. The paper concludes with notes on the limits to theoretical pluralism. In particular, practical limits to pluralism and the fallibility of all theories are stressed. A short glossary is provided at the end in case some words are unfamiliar.