Where will I plant my potatoes? Development and the power to decide

“Development” all over the world has been thrust upon unwilling victims. In some cases, well-meaning researchers have tried to engage local owners in “participatory” projects where indigenous knowledge is invited to lead efforts to increase a reliable food supply and provide some of the benefits of a cash economy. Unfortunately, the clear assertions of local people, anthropologists, nongovernmental organizations, and common sense have rarely held out against the power of corporations. In this paper I look at examples, some that bring despair and others that give hope to people trying to maintain not only their identities but also their lives.