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The use of indigenous knowledge in development: problems and challenges

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  • John Briggs

    (Department of Geography and Geomatics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK, jbriggs@geog.gla.ac.uk)

Abstract

The use of indigenous knowledge has been seen by many as an alternative way of promoting development in poor rural communities in many parts of the world. By reviewing much of the recent work on indigenous knowledge, the paper suggests that a number of problems and tensions has resulted in indigenous knowledge not being as useful as hoped for or supposed. These include problems emanating from a focus on the (arte)factual; binary tensions between western science and indigenous knowledge systems; the problem of differentiation and power relations; the romanticization of indigenous knowledge; and the all too frequent decontextualization of indigenous knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • John Briggs, 2005. "The use of indigenous knowledge in development: problems and challenges," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 5(2), pages 99-114, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:prodev:v:5:y:2005:i:2:p:99-114
    DOI: 10.1191/1464993405ps105oa
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Reisman, Emily, 2017. "Troubling Tradition, Community, and Self-Reliance: Reframing Expectations for Village Seed Banks," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 160-168.
    3. Lowe, Philip & Phillipson, Jeremy & Proctor, Amy & Gkartzios, Menelaos, 2019. "Expertise in rural development: A conceptual and empirical analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 28-37.

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