Post-Development Values in Alternative Agriculture-Based Community Development: The Case Studies of 3 Alternative Agriculture Communities in Srisaket Province

Abstract

In reaction to the global development paradigm, the concept of Pluriverse, as articulated by Escobar (2020), has played a pivotal role in exploring alternatives to development, aiming to foster a world that accommodates multiple worlding[1] with the goals to facilitate various approaches to collective well-being, moving away from anthropocentric, linear growth within the modern capitalist development. This study seeks to understand the underlying values of alternative agriculture-based community development to realize their contribution towards Pluriversal worldings, by examining three communities in Srisaket Province, Northeast of Thailand.

The study involves three distinct cases. Firstly, the Buddhist community of Srisa Asoke engages in natural farming guided by a stringent Buddhist moral code. Secondly, the Taam and People Association, a social movement comprises individuals whose wetland livelihoods are impacted by the Rasi Salai dam. Lastly, Raitong and SCFN Farmers, a social enterprise-oriented organization, that is dedicated to supporting smallholder organic farmers in participating in the global food market while adopting the principles of organic farming and fair-trade global standards.

This paper suggests that within the framework of Pluriversality in community development, practices and initiatives aligned with post-development and reformist values can empower communities to maintain their alternative identities, allowing communities to practically navigate within the mainstream context while holding onto diverse imaginaries. The post-development and reformist values discussed in this paper included for example inclusivity, prosperity and dignity, autonomy and self-reliance, solidarity and reciprocity, common ethics, oneness with nature, simplicity, justice, equity and non-hierarchy, rights, non-violence, the economy of care and gender.

The paper additionally argues that although similar values are found in alternative communities worldwide. The practical nuances of these values from Thailand differ from the Latin American context where Pluriverse was theorized. This article contributes to the making of the Pluriverse body of knowledge in alternative community development.

[1] Worlding: The term ‘worlding’ has emerged in the field of anthropology which defines active engagement of the world as a dynamic and interconnected entity rather than isolated departments. Worlding has an ontological connotation of the world-making process, which means that there maybe ontologically interaction and coexistence of other worlds (or reality). See more in Thinking-Feeling with the Earth (Escobar, 2019)