Indoctrinated Developmentalism and Local Sustainability: A Social-Ecological Model for Community-Based Enterprises

Developmental approaches over time largely overlooked the local sustainability preconditions as they were inflicted with doctrines, theories, and strategies argued through macro-level, macro-scale policies. This research retrospectively viewed those approaches as they evolved since post-WWII and their effect on sustainability at a community level. The primary focus was eventually on microfinance strategy by NGOs, which led to the establishment of millions of microenterprises to develop the underdeveloped communities of developing countries. In recent decades, community-based enterprise (CBE) development has been a widely practiced mode of developmental intervention. The primary goal of the CBEs is to generate profit for livelihoods. The research indicates these CBEs have further potential to be ecologically sustainable and socially responsible. A shift in the present model is possible to make the CBEs pursuant to ecological principles. Drawing on Foucault’s notion of ‘dispositif,’ the research considers the incorporation of environmental, alongside economic and social goals, as a new strategic disposition. Therefore, the study presents a social-ecological model of CBE and asserts that it embeds the necessary components to bring about sustainability at a community level.