Local organization and rural development : the state of the art

Part one reviews the potential contributions of local organizations to rural development and their political nature. Part two analyzes three types of local organizations (local development associations, cooperatives, and common interest associations), together with the performance, tasks, and environments of these organizations, their structural features, and their vulnerabilities. Stress is laid on the success enjoyed by small organizations that are inititated locally in solidarity with other local organizations, as well as the pressures exerted by local elites and governments. In part three, strategies for strengthening local organizations are presented. These include innovative ways to improve organizational performance, local-level approaches to establishing rural organizations, and potential contributions of governments and external assistance agencies. A methodology of case study analysis, a list of cases, and a 143-item bibliography (1915-83) are appended.