Rethinking the Concept of Strength

Abstract

Against the background of the current debate on conventional versus alternative approaches to—and evaluation of—induced development programs, this article challenges the superiority of strength by means of practical illustrations from the field of cooperatives. Analysis of various cooperative projects involving the mentally disabled, poor farmers, and political refugees suggests that the “weak-low” elements of a given situation may include the protential for the participatory change sought, rather than a weakness and a hindrance to the attainment of the same.