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UBC Theses and Dissertations
Development and disempowerment : appropriate technology in development aid in the high Himalaya Hunt, Cynthia Irene
Abstract
Since the second World War, western nations have been involved in various forms of development, as their contribution to the social and economic well being of the world population. In spite of these efforts, inequities and injustices prevail. Throughout this period, question have been raised on the effectiveness of this aid to development. Although strides have been made in global economic growth, development aid appears to have failed in the context of the cultural and spiritual needs of those receiving it. This has lead to the conceptualization of Appropriate Technology. The tenant of Appropriate Technology is that it emphasizes self-reliance and equity over simply growth. This study examines a model of development in terms of the concepts of Appropriate Technology and explores the basic physical and spiritual needs of people, as well as the impact on the environment. This thesis addresses a case study of solar cookers as Appropriate Technology aid in Ladakh, India. The specific objectives are to: (i) examine the theoretical foundations of conventional development and of Appropriate Technology; (ii) describe the Ladakhi society in terms of its spiritual-traditionalism and of the impacts of recent, rapid change; (iii) use a case study involving the promotion of solar-box cookers, to examine the application of AT; (iv) analyze the relationship between components of solar box cooker programs on villager-perceived benefits and impacts of use; and (v) suggest possible improvements in the Appropriate Technology program’s frameworks. The thesis concludes that development must address a central problem within its theory, that of pluralistic world views, in order to meet a mandate of improving the lives of the impoverished. The findings of the case study concluded that there is no one appropriate technology, that societies are in flux and that local people must be involved in the identification and implementation of any growth that occurs. Technological changeper se may result only in fragmentation of the social and cultural aspects unless the people affected are involved. The thesis concludes that development must address a central problem within its theory; that of pluralistic world views, in order to meet a mandate of improving the lives of the impoverished.
Item Metadata
Title |
Development and disempowerment : appropriate technology in development aid in the high Himalaya
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1993
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Description |
Since the second World War, western nations have been involved in various forms of
development, as their contribution to the social and economic well being of the world
population. In spite of these efforts, inequities and injustices prevail. Throughout this
period, question have been raised on the effectiveness of this aid to development. Although
strides have been made in global economic growth, development aid appears to have failed
in the context of the cultural and spiritual needs of those receiving it. This has lead to the
conceptualization of Appropriate Technology. The tenant of Appropriate Technology is that
it emphasizes self-reliance and equity over simply growth. This study examines a model of
development in terms of the concepts of Appropriate Technology and explores the basic
physical and spiritual needs of people, as well as the impact on the environment.
This thesis addresses a case study of solar cookers as Appropriate Technology aid in
Ladakh, India. The specific objectives are to: (i) examine the theoretical foundations of
conventional development and of Appropriate Technology; (ii) describe the Ladakhi society
in terms of its spiritual-traditionalism and of the impacts of recent, rapid change; (iii) use a
case study involving the promotion of solar-box cookers, to examine the application of AT;
(iv) analyze the relationship between components of solar box cooker programs on
villager-perceived benefits and impacts of use; and (v) suggest possible improvements in
the Appropriate Technology program’s frameworks. The thesis concludes that
development must address a central problem within its theory, that of pluralistic world
views, in order to meet a mandate of improving the lives of the impoverished.
The findings of the case study concluded that there is no one appropriate technology, that
societies are in flux and that local people must be involved in the identification and
implementation of any growth that occurs. Technological changeper se may result only in
fragmentation of the social and cultural aspects unless the people affected are involved. The
thesis concludes that development must address a central problem within its theory; that of
pluralistic world views, in order to meet a mandate of improving the lives of the
impoverished.
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Extent |
5340265 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-02-20
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0076877
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1994-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.