From Colonialism to development: Reflections of former Colonial Officers

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the form and extent to which colonial discourses, cultures and practices continue to pervade the workings of the post-independence international development aid industry. It is based on the personal narratives of individuals involved in both colonial administration and subsequently in the field of development as expatriate consultants whose experiences provide a resource for interrogating the varied articulations of the transition from ‘colonialism’ to ‘development cooperation’ and the ongoing relationship between colonial forms of rule and governance and the purpose and practice of development. The paper highlights the performance of expertise and authority articulated through the forms of knowledge that were valorised at different moments and the spaces and relationships developed and mobilised by former colonial officers and contemporary development practitioners. It argues that being from, or of, the West whether as a representative of colonial or donor power ascribes status. However, the paper acknowledge that while this power and authority is sustained through different kinds of expertise, development is not always and in all places neo-colonial. Indeed, there have been significant changes with the opening up of the field over time not least in terms of the much more diverse gendered, racialised and class composition of those involved.