Participatory development has been seen as a panacea for many problems-facing rural communities the world over. Underpinned in the principles of participatory development theory is the participation and engagement of intended beneficiaries of development interventions at the core of successful poverty alleviation and development efforts. Within this view, it is believed that with participation, those who have been relegated to the periphery by conventional development methods will be placed in the inner circles of influence, thus, allowing the marginalised and poor people a chance to be active citizens. However, even though participatory development emphasises the empowerment and active inclusion of the marginalised in development decision-making, in practice there is little evidence that participatory development has indeed changed the rural development landscape as envisaged; many excluded groups continue to be powerless and unable to demand development on their own terms and bargain for resources from an informed position and equitably. Against this backdrop, it is important to understand where the problem lies. Is it in the theory itself or in the implementation of the theoretical principles? Thus, using the critical social theory as a theoretical framework, this article explores claims envisaged within the participatory development theory and practice in the Botswana rural development context.
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