Knowledge, communication, development: a perspective from Latin America

• Published in: Development in practice Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 593 - 602
• Main Author: Gumucio Dagron, Alfonso
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.11.2006; Routledge, Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Children; Communities; Community associations; Decision making; Developed countries; Developing countries; Development; Development plans; Development projects; Funding; Information exchange; ingredients; Knowledge; Latin America; Latin American culture; LDCs; Learner engagement; Learning; Mass media; North and South; Organizational analysis; Practical Experiences; Sharing; Social Change; Sustainable development; Technical assistance; Transformation; Latin America
• ISSN: 0961-4524; 1364-9213; 1364-9213
• DOI: 10.1080/09614520600958272

Knowledge in development has been perceived as a one-way commodity that developed nations could bring 'down to' the level of 'developing countries'. Sharing knowledge is generally seen as a North-South operation. This vertical approach to knowledge in development echoes the vertical approach to development in general, whereby knowledge is perceived as an ingredient of the technical assistance given by those who have it to those who do not. However, no organisation can offer social transformation or knowledge sharing if it is not itself engaged in an internal learning process that systematically questions certainties, authorities, and decision making. Learning is a complex process of acquiring knowledge, both within the organisation that facilitates social change and among the subjects of and partners in social change.