Perspective of the Nation: How Projects Attempting to Improve Human Conditions Have Failed

Author: James
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Why did large-scale projects intended to change human conditions in the 20th century produce so many errors? James C. Scott analyzes various failures in totalitarian state planning—such as the collectivization in the Soviet Union, the construction of Brasília, and the forced Ujamaa villages in Tanzania—to reveal the common conditions underlying all these planning disasters. He argues that these failures teach us that to achieve success, centrally managed social planning must understand local customs and practical knowledge. One of the most significant and inspiring studies published in recent decades, this work provides Scott with a compelling theoretical framework against the abuse of state power to reshape entire societies. This insightful and eloquently written book calls for saving the world we currently inhabit. A persuasive and deeply insightful explanation of why grand social reform projects—let alone revolutions—always end in disaster, with the Soviet Union’s disaster serving as a critical commentary on the dangers of utopian state planning. Through numerous concrete examples, such as German scientific forestry in the 19th century, forced villagization in Tanzania, and Soviet collectivization, Scott examines why these projects failed to deliver the expected outcomes, with many even having the opposite effect. Why did the construction of Brasília, Soviet collectivization, and forced villagization in Tanzania fail to meet expectations? How do projects aimed at improving human conditions go awry? What should states do when formulating development plans? After a decade of research and reflection, James C. Scott, the renowned American anthropologist, provides his answers: it is the state’s failure to recognize the diversity and complexity of development, to respect local traditions, and to oversimplify complex development projects that leads to their failure. This book won the 2000 annual "Best Comparative Literature Book" award from the United States-based Metcalf Foundation and is highly recommended for readers interested in national development, political science, and anthropology. The 19th and 20th centuries were the most glorious periods in human history, with science vastly expanding human capabilities. Humans not only conquered nature but also conquered themselves. However, by the late 20th century, people suddenly discovered that behind the projects they were proud of lay immense disasters. In this book, Scott discusses numerous failed projects, from German scientific forestry to Soviet agriculture; from Brasília’s urban development to Tanzania’s villages. Each project was grand in scale, yet it brought only disaster. "Project" may be a vague term, so Scott uses another term in the book—social engineering—to more directly convey the characteristics of these projects.