... a guide to its most effective use. I also intend to engage with some methodological discussions and critiques made from within development that should enable an avoidance of some of the pitfalls outlined. Ultimately I argue participation is not necessarily tyrannical as although the facilitating group will always initially have more power than the beneficiary, this is not too say that the use of power is illegitimate or that the method as not worthwhile because in the long term they can increase the balance of power. It is necessary to begin with the most fundamental criticism of participatory development and its claims of empowerment, for if these cannot be dealt with then further theoretical and methodological discussions are far less meaningful. The word itself, tyranny, implies a rule under which people are oppressed, coerced, live in fear or are subject to unjust authority. Underlying is the abuse or illegitimate use of ...

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