Modernization and participation in Nghia Trung

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Modernization and participation in Nghia Trung

• - the challenges of the Vietnamese project sites
  ethnic diversity

Rasmus Lybæk, MA in Communication Studies and
Anthropology, University of Aarhus
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Two development ideologies

• Modernization

• Participation

• 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

• 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 governments
  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 dont have enough money for food, how
  can we invest in farming?
• Much less focus on factors that influence
  outcome I dont 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 theres no need to ask anyone.

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Different approaches to farming

• Kinh and Hoa immigrants

• Indigenous Stieng people

• 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!

• 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
  dont 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.

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Thank you!
Feel free to contact me raslyb_at_hotmail.com