The politics of global assessments: the case of the IAASTD
Abstract
The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) is used to discuss whether alternative voices can be heard in global assessments, how local and global processes relate, and what power relations are involved. The chapter asks four questions: how do processes of knowledge framing occur; how do different practices and methodologies get deployed in cross-cultural, global processes; how is ‘representation’ constructed and legitimized; and how, as a result, do collective understandings of global issues emerge? Drawing on a detailed analysis of the IAASTD process between 2003 and 2008, the chapter argues that in such assessments the politics of knowledge needs to be made more explicit, and that negotiations around politics and values must be put centre-stage.
Owing to copyright restrictions, only the first 3 pages are attached, together with a link to the book at Zed Books.
Citation
Scoones, I. The politics of global assessments: the case of the IAASTD. In: Globalizing Citizens: New Dynamics of Inclusion and Exclusion. J. Gaventa and R. Tandon (Editors). Zed Books, London, UK (2010) ISBN 9781848134713 (Hardback)