Development from below: The road or the goal

Abstract

This article summarises the contents of papers and discuss issues raised at the international conference “Development from below”, organised by the Institute of Anthropology in October 21, 2021 and published in the Anthropology Review, No. 1, 2022. All these studies share a common theme of the need for local community involvement, the understanding and application of local knowledge, characteristics, values and practices into development policy, programs and projects in Vietnam. On that basis, the article introduces some perspectives on the concept of “development from below” from the viewpoint of scientists, especially anthropologists, and discusses how this model should be applied in the ethnic minorities areas of Vietnam today.