Chapter 1: Introductory overview – buzzwords and fuzzwords: deconstructing development discourse Andrea Cornwall PDF

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Chapter 1: Introductory overview – buzzwords and fuzzwords: deconstructing development discourse Andrea Cornwall Aim is for the reader to take the language of development less for granted Why should words matter to people ‘doing development’? Always disagreement on what these words mean in practise - they have ‘vague and euphemistic qualities’ – p2 Many of these words are morally good but still vague ‘poverty eradication’. Also an exclusivity of language – ‘best left to experts’ etc Buzz words get their ‘buzz’ from being the word in fashion Tobias Denskus – compares phrases such as peace building to airports, they are ‘non-places’ – they are neither here nor there. – p4 Gilbert Rist: ‘buzzwords do not just cloud meanings: they combine performative qualities with ‘an absence of real defi nition and a strong belief in what the notion is supposed to bring about’ p4 ‘Fiona Wilson suggests, a hybrid, not quite the language of social science nor of ‘living’ English; its ‘vocabulary is restricted, banal and depersonalised’. Its ‘underlying purpose’, she notes, ‘is not to lay bare or be unequivocal but to mediate in the interests of political consensus while at the same time allowing for the existence of several internal agendas’ (1992: 10).’ - p5 Buzzwords aid the agendas of policies by having no fixed meaning, but have the ability of evoking a number of meanings or ideas. Ines Smyth - on the loss of meaning around the word ‘gender’. Thinking about harnessing it rights-based and empowerment which readdress its original focus of power relations. Neera Chandhoke’s on civil society: ‘emblematic of something that no-one could reasonably argue against: close, convivial relations of solidarity and self-help, and an essential bulwark against the excesses of the state and the isolation of the individual.’ - p7. The issue being that it projects normative desires on to existing societies, obscuring what civil society does and does not do for people. The development business is result based, for a brief time processes were in fashion, but ultimately its all about the measurable and quantifiable. Ideologically all the terms discussed in the book are very varied - but have ‘family resemblances; - p10 Fox on development buzzwords: ‘trans-ideological character’, which allows them to be appropriated by a variety of political and policy actors. - p11 What happens with these overused, now useless buzzwords and fuzzwords? - We replace them with new, shiny ones justice, solidarity etc - Propel new words into the arena love, respect, peace - Seek out less ambiguous words pleasure Importances of deconstructing these terms to revive debate. In dismantling the naturalised meanings of these terms, we are also destabilising their hegemonic grip - p15 Hyphenation of terms, or coupling of different words can give them new/more clear meanings. Chapter 13 Talking of gender: words and meanings in development organisations by Ines Smyth

‘Terms such as ‘empowerment’, ‘gender’, and ‘gender main streaming’ which originated in feminist thinking and activism have lost their moorings and become depoliticised.’ - p143 Looks at an article she wrote in 1999 about the absence of feminist language used by Oxfam UK Terms that have their roots in activism and feminism have lost their salience, but emerging ‘rights’ language could be returning them to their beginnings. There is a ‘fear of feminism’ which is evident in the absence of particular terms. Femininst, feminism and feminists are not the ‘warm and reassuring’ (Cornwall and Brock 2006: 45) language that the discourse of development is so centred around. Why they are avoided: time old reasons of feminism being ‘belittled and demonised’ or ‘they instil fear by pointing, accurately, to an arena of struggle and contestation’ - p145 Leaders in the development sector ‘struggle to champion gender equality and women’s rights, in speech and in practice’ - p145 Empowerment: ‘individuals acquiring the power to think and act freely, exercise choice, and to fulfil their potential as full and equal members of society’ (DFID 2000:11). Feminists have critiqued the ‘outcome’ focus of the term empowerment. Instead, it should be thought of as an ongoing, complex process, and one that is highly individual. Feminists also note that rather than development programmes empowering women, only women themselves can be the agents of change. Gender: Gender often = women Engendering and gendered are useless words to think with Gender mainstreaming: Most common way in which gender is discussed. Idea that women’s issues should not be marginalised. Ironically this has led to a decline in resources devoted explicitly for women, as there is an understanding that as gender has been ‘mainstreamed’, there is no need for gender-specific activities. ActionAid in 2000 introduced a Gender Policy, making the firm statement that Women’s Rights are to be central to the organisation’s priorities. We need to spread rights-based language ‘women continue to face specifi c and substantial barriers to the enjoyment of their rights’ -p150 Notes that discussion of gender may be taking a more radical turn....