Masters Degrees (Sociology and Social Anthropology)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Sociology and Social Anthropology) by Author "Basheer, Arries"

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    Local development needs and aspirations and the international Square Kilometre Array radio telescope: views from Amandelboom, Williston in South Africa.
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2023-03 ) Basheer, Arries; Walker, Cherryl; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis looks at the 'community development' component of the Human Capital Development Programme (HCDP) that the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) is managing in the four small Karoo towns that are closest to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio astronomy project in the Northern Cape and how well matched this programme is to local development needs and aspirations. It does so from the perspective of people living in Amandelboom, a poor neighbourhood in Williston, which is one of the towns targeted to benefit from the local development commitments of the HCDP. Amandelboom is one of the two residential areas into which Williston is divided, the other one being the Dorp (die Dorp, as local people call it in Afrikaans). The other three towns are Brandvlei, Carnarvon and Vanwyksvlei. All four towns experience an array of social and economic challenges similar to those found in other small towns in the Karoo. The thesis employs a qualitative research design involving semi-structured interviews, observation and a photovoice exercise inspired by participatory action research (PAR) methods to explore the views of people living in Amandelboom on their needs and aspirations and their views on the SKA. In unpacking socio-economic conditions in Amandelboom I have also been able to draw on a representative household survey conducted in Williston in 2021. The conceptual framework draws primarily on understandings of development advanced by Amartya Sen (Development as Freedom, 1999) and Holden et al. (2017) as well as the work of Hart (2016) and Appadurai (2004) on aspirations. This framework also draws on Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs while engaging critically with human capital theory. The main findings of this research are that the residents of Amandelboom do not regard SARAO’s local development projects as fitting satisfactorily with their specific development needs and aspirations, in part because of its emphasis on developing human capital through investment in science and maths education which very few regard as a priority for themselves. People in Williston also complain that most of the focus of local development projects is on Carnarvon. In conclusion this thesis addresses ideas around responsibility versus the response-ability of different stakeholders when it comes to community development initiatives. Central to this distinction is the argument that there should be a greater focus on local needs and aspirations and more inclusive decision-making processes that include local people when development initiatives aimed at them are designed.