Negotiating Religion and Development: Identity Construction and Contention in Bolivia

Relationships between religion and development in faith-based development work are complex and multifaceted, involving negotiations between theological interpretations, human development theories, identities, religious traditions, and institutional structures. A deep ethnographic study of Christian faith-based development work in the Bolivian Andes highlights the importance of seeing theological interpretations as embedded in local religious and cultural systems. The book argues that religion should not be seen as homogeneous or either good or bad for development, and that institutional faith-based identities are constructed in many ways.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 152 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Relationships between religion and development in faith-based development work are intricate and multifaceted, involving repeated processes of negotiation. Rather than a tidy and straightforward relationship, faith-based development work is complex and multifaceted, encompassing ongoing negotiations between theological interpretations and theories of human development, between identities as professional practitioners and as believers, between different religious traditions at local, regional, and international levels, and between institutional structures and individual agency.

In particular, the book draws on a comprehensive ethnographic study of Christian faith-based development work in the Bolivian Andes. The case study emphasizes the significance of recognizing theological interpretations as deeply embedded within local religious and cultural systems, engaged in a continuous process of identity construction.

Overall, the book argues that religion should not be perceived as homogeneous or inherently good or bad for development. Instead, we must acknowledge that institutional faith-based identities are constructed in various ways, including formal, theological, and interpersonal dimensions, and that any tensions between religious and development goals must be addressed through an ongoing recognition of this complexity.

This book will appeal to researchers and scholars working in development studies, religious studies, and practitioners and policymakers engaged in faith-based development work. It offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics and negotiations that shape relationships between religion and development, shedding light on the ways in which these interactions can contribute to positive outcomes and challenges.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367786090