Reflecting on 50 years of learning with Robert Chambers

Robert Chambers is one of the most influential and prolific scholars to write about participation, poverty, and knowledge in development studies. His writing and thinking have revolutionised the discipline, inspiring both participatory processes and more inclusive practice. His work continues to inspire and provoke debate and discussion among development practitioners, activists, and academics from around the world. Here we present an Archive Collection of the IDS Bulletin in a celebration of Robert’s contribution to the journal over the last five decades.

Edited by IDS Research Fellow Stephen Thompson and IDS Research Officer Mariah Cannon, the eight articles included in this archive issue clearly show change – change in Robert’s evolving interests, change in the strategic focus of IDS as a research institute, change in the wider development studies field, as well as change in the world at large over the last 50 years.

Robert’s earlier IDS Bulletin articles show a strong focus on local knowledge and rural development. Over time, this shifts to a concern with professional development management, and a focus on power and participatory methods.

While each article stands alone, these themes re-occur and re-emerge. Bias or unfairness in the development sphere is a major concern which Robert highlights in his IDS Bulletin articles, whilst his advocacy for bottom-up, diverse, and process-led approaches to participation clearly emerges.

As the editorial introduction explains and explores, the premise of this IDS Bulletin Archive Collection is to delve into Robert’s contribution to the journal, to resurface buried gems of development studies scholarship, and to reinvigorate debates about how we can do better – a question described by Robert as the eternal challenge of development.

Melissa Leach, IDS Director and Peter Taylor, Director of Research say:

“The editors of this issue highlight parallels between Robert’s work and the IDS Bulletin, in that both share values and legacies in championing critical thinking, bringing lesser-heard voices to the fore, and fostering ongoing learning and reflection. One might add to these parallels a commitment to ‘engaged’ research and evidence – both Robert’s work and the IDS Bulletin remain resolutely focused on mobilising knowledge to make a difference and transforming lives”.

Articles in this issue

Three new articles have been written focusing on Roberts Bulletin legacy:

• Introduction: Power, Poverty, and Knowledge – Reflecting on 50 Years of Learning with Robert Chambers
  Stephen Thompson, Mariah Cannon
• Robert Chambers and the IDS Bulletin – Some Reflections for Now and the Future
  Melissa Leach, Peter Taylor
• Looking Back to Move Development Forward – A Fireside Chat with Robert Chambers
  Stephen Thompson, Mariah Cannon, Robert Chambers

The archive articles contain the following:

• Managing Rural Development
  Robert Chambers
• Bureaucratic Reversals and Local Diversity
  Robert Chambers
• In Search of Professionalism, Bureaucracy and Sustainable Livelihoods for the 21st Century
  Robert Chambers
• The Self-Deceiving State
  Robert Chambers
• All Power Deceives
  Robert Chambers
• Transforming Power: From Zero-Sum to Win-Win?
  Robert Chambers
• Sharing and Co-Generating Knowledges: Reflections on Experiences with PRA and CLTS
  Robert Chambers
• Indigenous Technical Knowledge: Analysis, Implications and Issues
  Michael Howes, Robert Chambers

About the IDS Bulletin

The IDS Bulletin is an open access, peer-reviewed journal focusing on international development. In continual publication since 1968, it has a well-established reputation for intellectually rigorous articles developed through learning partnerships on emerging and evolving development challenges presented in an accessible manner in themed issues that bridge academic, practice and policy discourse.

It has become one of the leading journals in its field through engaged scholarship between academics, donors, non-governmental organisations and policy actors worldwide, bringing together cutting-edge thinking, research and debate from the Institute of Development. Studies community and its partner organisations. The IDS Bulletin aims to contribute to critical thinking on how transformations that reduce inequalities, accelerate sustainability and build more inclusive and secure societies can be realised.