Ethnic Organization and Alternative Development: Possibilities and Challenges

Abstract

Guided by the question, whether indigenous people can stand up to pervasive and hegemonic global development discourse and promote development by themselves, this book confirms that they are capable of promoting economic livelihood, education, and social justice by setting up their own ethnic organizations. However, while promoting overall development, numerous difficulties are encountered, including but not limited to shortage of fund, lack of qualified frontline staff members, minimal organizational exposure to the outside world, and exclusionary behavior of the state and mainstream societies. Although these ethnic organizations have particular potential for alternative development, it is argued that optimum success is unattainable without sufficient cooperation and support from the state, funding organizations, humanitarian groups, civil society, and the mainstream population. To support such grassroots initiatives in ensuring successful and sustainable alternative development, genuine and concerted effort by all the stakeholders involved is necessary.