Modernization and participation in Nghia Trung
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Modernization and participation in Nghia Trung
- the challenges of the Vietnamese project site’s ethnic diversity
Rasmus Lybæk, MA in Communication Studies and Anthropology, University of Aarhus
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Two development ideologies
Modernization
• Development problems are caused by insufficient knowledge and technology among third world populations.
• Interventions should inform and educate people to make them change behavior.
• Top-down communication
Participation
• Development problems are caused by oppression and marginalization of third world populations.
• Interventions should give a voice to the oppressed and empower them to claim their rights.
• Bottom-up communication
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Nghia Trung Village
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Ethnic diversity in Nghia Trung
• Population: 12.700• Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese people): 73%• Stieng (indigenous to the area): 12%• Hoa (Chinese immigrants): 8%• Tay• Nung• Kho Me• Giao• Cao Lan
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A policy of modernization and assimilation
• Restrictions on some cultural practices
• Programs to eradicate swidden agriculture
• Resettlement of ethnic Vietnamese (Kinh) people to areas with a high concentration of ethnic minorities
• 2001 riots: a protest against the government’s policies
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Kinh and Hoa immigrants
• Eager to invest: ”Our income is not enough for everything. It is just enough to invest in farming but not enough for food.”
• Extensive considerations about factors that influence outcome: Such as the weather, pests, soil quality, soil erosion etc.
• Creative attempts to solve problems and seize opportunities: ”The farmers try to solve every problem. They make their own experiences and discuss to find the best solutions.”
• Seek out farming information from associations, media and neighbours: ”Information is very necessary for farming. I need the knowledge, and if it is good, I will apply it.”
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Indigenous Stieng people
• Prioritize consumption higher than investment: ”When we don’t have enough money for food, how can we invest in farming?”
• Much less focus on factors that influence outcome: ”I don’t know about this [soil quality]. Only scientists know about this.”
• Much fewer creative solutions: No intercropping and no attempts to reduce soil erosion.
• Little interest in gathering knowledge and discussing farming methods: ”It is very easy to grow cashew trees, and everyone around here knows how. So there’s no need to ask anyone.”
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Different approaches to farming
Kinh and Hoa immigrants
• An economically rational approach to farming
• This approach is dominant and endorsed by all authorities.
• The consequence is a positive self-image among Kinh and Hoa farmers: “I am a good farmer!”
Indigenous Stieng people
• A traditional ‘subsistence’ approach to farming
• This approach has lost its legitimacy and is perceived as irrational.
• The consequence is a negative self-image and a fatalistic attitude among Stieng farmers: “I don’t know anything about farming.”
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Recommendations
• LTRA-5 uses some participatory methods, but is ideologically a modernization project.
• The Kinh and Hoa majority are most likely to benefit from LTRA-5.
• The situation of the indigenous Stieng people calls for a participatory approach.
• More research is needed.