Where the power lies: multiple stakeholder politics over natural ...

Framework for analysing micropolitics
We We need need an an experiential experiential methodology methodology for for the the acquisition acquisition of of serious serious and and reliable reliable
reliable
knowledge knowledge upon upon upon which which to to construct construct power, power, power, or or or countervailing countervailing countervailing power, power, for for the the poor, poor, oppressed oppressed
oppressed
and and and exploited exploited exploited groups groups groups and and and social social social classes classes classes - - - …’ …’ …’ Slocum Slocum Slocum and and and Thomas-Slayter Thomas-Slayter Thomas-Slayter 1995:12 1995:12
1995:12
Generally this manual argues for analysis of micro-politics to be situated within the context of
participatory action research (PAR). PAR involves action and investigation. The investigation is
informed by the action. Most PAR uses methods from participatory rural appraisal (PRA) because
these methods are suited to the type of reflective research process that attempts to come up
with practical responses to concerns raised by stakeholders (Scoones and Thompson 1994). PRA
and PAR have been defined as a family of approaches and methods to enable local stakeholders
to share, enhance and analyse their knowledge of life and conditions, and to plan and act (Chambers
1993: Pretty et al. 1995). Participatory approaches are rooted deeply in a philosophy of respect
in which contributions from every actor are solicited and valued. Participatory research tools are
already widely applied in many situations in many countries (Umans 1995). These tools encourage
participation and make it easier for stakeholders to express their views. In most cases, because
the tools involve stakeholders, there is an opportunity to observe power relations as they unfold,
therefore making it possible to gather information on social dynamics (Goebel 1996).
However, with all the opportunities presented by such a methodology, the use of these
participatory approaches can often also work to hide the internal dynamics of communities, i.e.
the relationships between those who take participate and those who watch from the sidelines.
Cornwall (1998) observes that it is important that one recognizes the politics in a given location
by acknowledging that all stakeholders who speak or act within a group do so from a particular
experience. She also suggests that while participatory methods open up the possibility of dialogue,
their use does not in itself constitute the making of a participatory process.
Using a number of questions we propose a simple framework to analyse such dynamics,
as follows (Figure 1):
What is the setting for the multiple stakeholder management?
Who are the stakeholders involved?
What are the relations among the stakeholders?
How dynamic are these power relations?
Each of these steps is addressed as a separate section of the manual. Though the framework
presents the steps in sequential order, there are no strict rules about adhering to the sequence.
The manual has been prepared for researchers and development practitioners with
previous experience of PRA and PAR. A list of related manuals has been provided for
those who may want further reading on some of the methods.