The Party Secretary, The Village Head, And The Masses: Negotiating Real Contexts In Social Assessment.

Social development practitioners often think of their tools as neutral and universal. This is a misconception. The project preparation tools promoted by social development specialists in international financial institutions and allied agencies are culturally embedded, reflecting a specific set of Western values including equality, openness, and direct action. Uncritical application of these tools and approaches often results in political and social resistance which can curtail their intended benefits and further marginalize vulnerable groups. This paper discusses the political context of social assessment and suggests some corrective approaches for practitioners in the field of international social development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]