Intersubjective Meaning and Collective Action in ‘Fragile’ Societies : Theory, Evidence and Policy Implications

The capacity to act collectively is not just a matter of groups sharing interests, incentives and values (or being sufficiently small), as standard economic theory predicts, but a prior and shared understanding of the constituent elements of problem(s) and possible solutions. From this standpoint, the failure to act collectively can stem at least in part from relevant groups failing to ascribe a common intersubjective meaning to situations, processes and events. Though this is a general phenomenon, it is particularly salient in countries characterized by societal fragility and endemic conflict. We develop a conceptual account of intersubjective meanings, explain its relevance to development practice and research, and examine its implications for development work related to building the rule of law and managing common pool resources.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Gauri, Varun, Woolcock, Michael, Desai, Deval
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	2011-06-01
Subjects:	ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCOUNTING, ADJUDICATION, ANTHROPOLOGY, ANTI-CORRUPTION, ARTS, BASIC, BASIC SERVICE, BELIEF SYSTEMS, BELIEFS, BRIDE BURNING, CASTLE, CHURCH, CITIZENS, CIVIL SOCIETY, CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIL WAR, COLLAPSES, COLLECTIVE, COLLECTIVE ACTION, COLLECTIVE ACTION PROBLEMS, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES, CONFIDENCE, CORRUPT, CORRUPTION, CRIME, CULTURAL BACKGROUND, CULTURAL HERITAGE, CULTURES, CUSTOM, CUSTOMS, DANCE, DEMOCRACIES, DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, DISPUTE RESOLUTION, DISSEMINATION, DIVERSITY, DIVISION OF LABOR, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, ECONOMIC COSTS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, ECONOMIC RIGHTS, ECONOMIC THEORY, ECONOMICS, EDUCATION FOR GIRLS, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, EQUALITY, FAMILY RESOURCES, FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION, FERTILITY, FORMULATION OF STRATEGIES, FREE PRESS, GAME THEORY, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORIANS, HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS, HUMAN ACTIVITY, HUMAN BEINGS, HUMAN CULTURES, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN SOCIETIES, ILLNESS, IMMUNIZATION, IMPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT, INCOME, INDIVIDUALS, INNOVATION, INSTITUTIONAL RULES, INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES, INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEMS, INTEGRITY, INTERNATIONAL LAW, INVESTIGATION, INVESTIGATIONS, JUDICIARY, JUSTICE, LABOR FORCE, LABOR MARKETS, LABOR MOVEMENTS, LAWS, LEARNING, LEGAL STATUS, LIMITED, LIMITED LIABILITY, LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATIONS, LITERATURE, LOCAL COMMUNITY, MARKET ECONOMY, MEDIA, MENTAL HEALTH, MODERN MEDICINE, MORTALITY, MUTUAL RECOGNITION, NATIONAL EFFORTS, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, NATURAL RESOURCES, NEWS RELEASE, NUMBER OF CHILDREN, OUTPUTS, OWNERSHIP STRUCTURES, PARTNERSHIP, PEACE, PERCEPTIONS, PERFORMANCES, PHILOSOPHY, PLURALISM, POLICE, POLICY DISCUSSIONS, POLICY IMPLICATIONS, POLICY RESEARCH, POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER, POLITICAL CONTROL, POLITICAL ECONOMY, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, POLITICAL PARTIES, POLITICAL POWER, POLITICIANS, POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT, PROCUREMENT, PRODUCTIVITY, PROGRESS, PROPERTY RIGHTS, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC SERVICES, RADIO, RAPE, RELIGIOUS GROUPS, RENTS, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, RESPECT, RULE OF LAW, RULE OF RECOGNITION, RURAL AREAS, RURAL COMMUNITIES, SAFETY, SANCTION, SCHOOLS, SERVANTS, SERVICE DELIVERY, SOCIAL ACTION, SOCIAL COHESION, SOCIAL CONFLICT, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SOCIAL JUSTICE, SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, SOCIAL NORMS, SOCIAL PRACTICES, SOCIAL SCIENCE, SOCIAL SCIENCES, SOCIETIES, SOCIETY, SPECIALIZATION, STAKEHOLDER, STOCKS, STORYTELLING, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, TELEVISION, THEATRE, TRADITION, TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, UNION, UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND, UNIVERSITIES, VACCINES, VIOLENCE, WAGES, WARS, WORLD HERITAGE, WORLD HERITAGE SITE, WORLD POPULATION,
Online Access:	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110623174557 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3471
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