Local Economic Development: A Conceptual Re-Articulation

Abstract

Local economic development (LED) in the context of the development question is generally celebrated as a silver bullet to development challenges in Africa. However this discourse is more complex and needs greater theoretical scrutiny in order to understand its meaning. This paper picks up standpoint theory to critique the dominant understanding/s of local economic development and argues that unless it is more people-centered and benefits the local human/s, local economic development will remain an imposition from the top which will continue to alienate the local human and will remain an imperial project.

Local Economic Development: A Test for Relevance in South Africa

“…It is in rural municipalities and in small towns of South Africa in particular, where LED is understood more like a local government-led intervention in which poverty relief projects are prioritised (Nel and Rogerson, 2016). It is also rural municipalities in particular that experience the worst forms of disruption of community livelihoods and exploitation through LED, especially under the guise of tourism-led LED (Plaatjie, 2014). As we have commented elsewhere, it is our view that even when there could be potential for rural municipalities to benefit from tourism or tourism-led LED such potential gains to come at exceptionally high costs, and are often counterproductive to the thriving of the affected communities.…”

“…We have noted elsewhere how in the name of tourism-led LED, poor rural communities such as the Khomanani San in the South African part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park have been forcibly displaced from their land, their sources of food security and their places of worship. In short, their livelihoods have been interrupted to accommodate the tourism industry (Plaatjie, 2014). What is certainly interesting to note though, is how the legacy of apartheid still plays out through LED, or how LED animates apartheid.…”

Crecimiento inclusivo, desarrollllo local y comunicación: D el discurso a la práctica

“…Con este fin, la estrategia de DEL implica un proceso en el cual el sector público, las empresas y los organismos no gubernamentales trabajan en conjunto para comprender sus propias fortalezas, debilidades, oportunidades y amenazas, y luego actuar sobre esa base. Aun cuando el enfoque de DEL se sustenta en el auto-reconocimiento de amenazas y oportunidades en la comunidad (OECD, 2012), ha sido criticado por perpetuar ideas occidentales de desarrollo y aplicarse como receta única para todos los contextos (Plaatjie, 2014;Reddy, 2014). En efecto, mientras las experiencias de DEL en los países en desarrollo han sandra carrillo :: crecimiento inclusivo, desarrollo local y comunicación: del discurso a la práctica :: pp.…”