Conversational Thinking as an Alternative Theory of Development

Abstract

Conversational theory of development (CTD) is presented in this work as a new and alternative theory of development and as a mechanism for moderating and reconciling the differences and weaknesses in the modernization theory of development and in the main concern of post-development theory. By its basic canons and principles, conversational thinking offers a more robust global developmental framework. The rift between development and post-development theorists as to the main goal and direction of the world development agenda seems to heighten over the years. The heart of this rift is the question of the place of the third world countries in the much-acclaimed development drive by the United Nations and other International Organizations. I expose the strength and weaknesses of selected development and post-development theories and contend that poor implementation strategies, as well as imperial and exploitative interests, are the bane of these development theories. I demonstrate how conversational thinking overcomes these limitations and presentsa more viable development alternative through a rigorous application of its canons of transformative indigenization, constructive modernization and moderate decolonization, as well as the ‘M’ and ‘T’ principles.

Keywords

• conversational thinking
• development theory
• post-development
• canons and principles
• modernization theory