Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
Bio
Author Biography
Stephen Thompson is a researcher who has worked across the disciplines of geography and international development since 2007. He is a Research Fellow in the Participation, Inclusion, and Social Change research cluster at IDS, and contributes to teaching on the MA programme in Development Studies. His research mainly focuses on the themes of social justice and inclusion, with a particular interest in disability inclusion in low‑income contexts. Stephen has previously worked in the field of evidence use and policy creation. He has research interests in education (with a particular focus on inclusive education and tertiary education), participatory methodologies, and sustainable development.
Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
Bio
Author Biography
Mariah Cannon is a Research Officer at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), where she has been part of the Participation, Inclusion, and Social Change research cluster since 2017. She holds an MA in Development Studies from IDS. Mariah’s current work focuses on children’s and youth’s participation in promoting children’s rights and tackling the worst forms of child labour. She has a particular interest in adapting participatory methods to use with different groups and across various thematic areas.
Volume 54
Number 1A
Published: March 29, 2023
Robert Chambers is one of the most influential and prolific scholars to write about participation, poverty, and knowledge in development studies. His books, chapters, and papers have revolutionised the discipline, inspiring both participatory processes and more inclusive practice. Perhaps not as well known are the articles he authored for the IDS Bulletin. This Archive Collection explores Robert’s contributions to the journal across five decades with a view to resurfacing buried gems of development studies theory and reinvigorating debates about how the sector can improve: it collates his most important articles and presents a new introduction reflecting on key ideas and offering a critical analysis of the common themes throughout Robert’s work. New perspectives discuss how theories have changed over time, and the continued relevance of key ideas. The articles reproduced here show not only how Robert’s thinking evolved but also hint at broader changes in strategic focus for the Institute of Development Studies itself, as well as development theory in general.
