What is the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Approach (SRLA) and what is it good for - and what not? In this episode we are joined by Ian Scoones in conversation about this approach which he has been centrally involved in elaborating. Unlike political economy, the SRLA is not, and cannot provide, a theoretical framework, in that it does not contain any overarching analysis of social processes. Ian describes the approach as having quite modest claims - as a generic set of empirical questions about complex rural worlds, centered on the question: what do people do all day to survive? Since the 1990s, the 'development industry' and donor agencies have widely and uncritically adopted 'sustainable livelihoods' in a depoliticised way. Ian responds to this, and the criticism that the approach focuses on the micro level and is highly descriptive - and anathema to political economy. Insofar as questions about livelihoods address questions about ownership of resources, labour, distribution of benefits and accumulation, he argues that it can be compatible and usefully integrated with class analysis.

Sustainable rural livelihoods - an approach, not a theory

In this episode  we continue our discussion with Yan Hariong, exploring China's 'Going Out policy.' Our guest delves into the intricate linkages between China and other developing countries, highlighting concerns regarding the rebalancing of global geopolitical power. With China's surplus capacity and its reliance on export markets for development, we witness a new geopolitical moment amidst the expansion of the BRICS alliance. The context of China's global engagement intersects with neoliberalism, a framework historically imposed by Western institutions. However, the emergence of China as a major player challenges conventional expectations. Examining China's involvement in Africa, we consider whether its actions amount to neocolonialism or simply reflect participation in global capitalism, offering investment opportunities that may be more appealing to African nations.

China’s ‘Going Out’ Policy And Global Agrarian Change

The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) is an independent Policy Research Institute within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of the Western Cape.

Sustainable rural livelihoods - an approach, not a theory

PLAAS

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