Hylomorphism, complexity and development: planner, artisan,or modern prince?

Abstract

This paper examines problems of development in the light of two opposed concepts identified in John Protevi's examination of the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari. It is argued that much development practice is informed by the concept of hylomorphism, which is ‘the doctrine that production is the imposition of formal order on chaotic or passive matter’. This approach is contrasted with accounts premised on the concept of complexity, which asserts that complex systems are self-organising. It is argued that top-down development interventions (inclusive of those guided by the Washington Consensus) are informed by the hylomorphic principle, while a complexity-orientated approach is more evident in participatory strategies of development. The paper suggests that these two opposing principles must be combined in a creative tension to maximise the possibilities for developmental effectiveness.