The Invisible Chain - Qualitative Study of Development Justice Movement

Abstract: The thesis aims to explore the role of movements in elaborating alternative development. Through the qualitative approach, the study investigates the Development Justice movement in the Asia Pacific region as a case study. The document analysis and semi-structured interview reveal how the movement had built and formulated its demands in relation to mainstream development. The study is theoretically informed by decoloniality that allows exploring the movement in relation to historical processes between the Global North and the Global South. The study reveals that mainstream development has historically impacted groups and individuals in the Asia Pacific. These groups and individuals later formed a movement and created demands for new, alternative development. This alternative framework not only addresses the mainstream development as such but also its rationality of beliefs. The thesis provides insights into alternatives and informs the development field about the role of movements in promoting, creating and framing alternative frameworks.