Local dynamics of change in developing countries

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Programme area description

A major trend in the era of globalisation is localisation. This research area is concerned with the ways in which global processes of modernization and development relate to social, political, cultural and environmental changes in different parts of the world. Two parallel, though seemingly opposing tendencies characterise these processes of change.

There is an increased uniformity with regard to visible cultural elements reflecting the expansion of markets and communication systems. There is also increased homogenisation of demands for development, economic restructuring and democratisation together with ecological pressure. At the same time, however, there is a tendency towards fragmentation manifested in increased search for, and expressions of, regional, national and ethnic roots and identities, appropriation of foreign symbols and the creation of hybrid political forms.

This research area addresses the complexity and diversity of this articulation (between global and local processes). A key issue is how local-level actors with roots in their own culture and experience, and given the present opportunity structure, adapt to and/or initiate change.

Programme Leader:
Kristi-Anne Stølen

New Projects

STRIVER, Strategy and methodology for improved IWRM –
An integrated interdisciplinary assessment in four twinning river basins.
More information
Contact: Ingrid Nesheim

LUPIS, Land use and sustainable development in Developing Countries
More information
Contact: Ingrid Nesheim

Ongoing projects

Poverty and Development
Focus: comparative and interdisciplinary studies on why certain poverty reduction strategies are successful and others are not.
(Associate Professor Dan Banik)

Forced Migration: Reconstruction of Livelihoods and Identities
Focus: the reconstruction of livelihoods and identities in post-conflict areas.
(Professor Kristi Anne Stølen)

Towards sustainable and equitable bioprospecting in Norway: Stakeholders, institutions, legislative and environmental considerations
Project Leader: Kristi-Anne Stølen
Contact: Mariel Aguilar Støen

Completed/Transferred Projects

From Plants in the South to Medicines in the North: An interdisciplinary research project on bioprospecting
Based on case studies from Costa Rica, Tanzania, Thailand and Norway this project assesses biological diversity related to medicine. It focuses on the effects of bioprospecting on the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainability of use of biodiversity and economic and social development in source countries, including that in local communities supplying materials and indigenous knowledge about their properties and uses. Related work also involves studying the implementation status of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Contact :Alida Jay Boye


Network on Contextual Politics in Developing Countries (CPD)
Hosting of this network has been transferred to the Department of Political Science, University of Oslo with Professor Olle Törnquist

Vascular plant diversity and its use in a neotropical rain forest inhabited by migrants
This PhD. study assesses the impact of new settlement on the vascular plant diversity in the Lacandona jungle in Peten, Guatemala with regard to environmental knowledge.
Ingrid Nesheim