Looking Back to Move Development Forward – with Robert Chambers

In this special episode of the IDS Between the Lines podcast, IDS Research Fellow Stephen Thompson and IDS Research Officer Mariah Cannon interview pioneering Researcher Robert Chambers.

For years, international development has traditionally been dominated by ‘experts’ in the global North telling ‘poor people’ in the global South how their lives could be improved. Robert’s writing and thinking, however revolutionised the discipline, inspiring both participatory processes and a more inclusive practice.

This podcast is released to coincide with publication of the recent archive collection of the IDS Bulletin which a celebration of Robert’s contribution to the journal over the last five decades.

In the interview Robert talks about the importance of workshops and talking to people to further research ideas; How his work has changed from focusing on rural development to more urban development. He also talks about his early time in Kenya in the late 1950’s and going back four years ago to see how much has changed with regards to technology and connectivity.

This interview is a fascinating insight into Robert’s career, his publishing legacy with the IDS Bulletin and a history lesson on how development research has evolved over the last 50 years.

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