Economic Development and Population Displacement

In the vast majority of situations, not 'everybody' can win when it comes to development projects involving resettlement of displaced people. This is in significant measure because of the complexities inherent in the resettlement process. Development-with-resettlement projects are about a power differential - outsiders intervene via an infrastructure project and put pressure on people to get out of the way. If we are to enable the less powerful to keep open their options, and hence their chances of benefitting, we need to acknowledge the political issue. The choice for an open-ended, more participatory approach for greater co-ownership of development projects is a political choice.