Document Type

Capstone Project

Publication Date

Spring 4-23-2014

Keywords

Swaziland, food security

Abstract

Post-development theory argues that development theory and the practice of Post-World War II development projects have failed because the entire concept of development is a Western, non-universal measure of progress. Indeed, examples of failed development interventions abound from around the world. While development experts argue amongst themselves about how best to deliver development interventions in order to minimize the failures of development, post-development theorists believe that no amount of tweaking will make the development agenda a success. They argue that the problem with development is not about how it is implemented, but rather that development itself is a flawed concept which should be eliminated from the discourse on human progress.

The term development encompasses a broad range of ideas, services, and goals. One such development goal is food security. From a post-development perspective, problems of food security are not properly addressed by the current development discourse and practice. Post-development theorists have argued that studies of famine and poverty are incorrectly depoliticized by development organizations. They argue instead that food security is inherently political and that there is a distinct disarticulation between agencies delivering food aid and food security services and the politics of food in recipient countries. A post-development analysis of food security interventions can identify problems with the development agenda as well as offer alternatives to development as potential solutions to food insecurity. This paper will use a post-development perspective to answer the question; do development practices adequately address issues of food security in Swaziland?

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