From Washington Consensus to relational economy : relational and human economy approaches to addressing poverty and inequality in South Africa

Abstract

This research sought to examine how development occurs when it takes place from a relational approach. The relational approach forms part of a growing body of literature within development studies in search of alternative ways of understanding development. Orthodox theories tend to be resistant to alternatives that threaten their path dependency. Development-related ideological traps have also locked development policy in redundant arguments. Development theories from various disciplines continue to grapple with the multidimensionality of poverty and inequality, but they often fail to consider the central role human relationships play in approaching these issues.

This study used Relational Thinking and relational and human economy approaches in search for alternative models and methods to the neoliberal tradition and current development enterprise. Increasing global inequality and deprivations create a vital opportunity to think of new perspectives, interpretive categories and predictive models.

A case study approach was used to examine the relational dynamics of a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) called the James 1:27 Trust, which works with children and youth in Pretoria, South Africa. Relational Thinking was utilised within an interpretivist philosophy using a mixed-model approach, including the Relational Proximity Framework survey (quantitative tool) and in-depth qualitative research through semi-structured interviews and a focus group.

The research established that development studied from a relational perspective deepens understanding of the varying meanings that people give to development. It informs a relational economy in which development is seen as a circular, “messy” and often unpredictable process where belonging, pain, “family”, forgiveness and learning in an intricate, embedded network of relationships are valued beyond material resources. Development requires philosophies and measures that enable the identification of questions, problems and interventions that are not currently considered in studies on development.