Narratives of Change : Youth Participation in Vietnamese Development Programs

Abstract: In development studies, the definition of what good "development" entails remains a contentious topic. In particular, the "participatory turn" in development practices has faced criticism due to its vague conceptualization, underlying assumptions, and often paradoxical outcomes. Concerns raised by various scholars include the instrumentalization of local beneficiaries to further the interests of the powerful, the co-optation of the process by elites, and the potential imposition of projects that lack relevance to the target community. Consequently, these studies emphasize the need for a more nuanced examination of local motivations within participatory development, and of the diverse meanings individuals associate with this process.Utilizing in-depth interviews with 31 young individuals and participant observation, this research delves into the experiences of Vietnamese youth involved in participatory development programs. The aim here is to explore and analyze how participation in development programs shapes young people’s civic engagement, visions, and aspirations towards the development process. The study features the narratives of Vietnamese post-reform youth, a generation who came of age during a period of rapid development following Vietnam’s 1986 economic reform.The findings shed light on the coexistence of exclusion and inclusion mechanisms within participatory development practices. While access to these programs tends to favor those who align with development practitioners' epistemology and class dispositions, young individuals can strategically negotiate their belonging by framing their motivations in line with neoliberal values and altruistic drives. Development programs are portrayed as a space of freedom, equality, and inclusion by those who successfully enter them. Their narratives highlight the profound impact of participatory development on transforming individuals from passivity and ignorance to self-efficacy and self-awareness. In addition, the narratives illustrate how development programs offer youth shared frames to interpret Vietnam's development challenges and future strategies, shaping their civic engagement.By examining four core dimensions related to participatory development practices—motivations, outcomes, challenges, and potential of participation—this study makes significant contributions to development studies and social movement scholarship. Theoretically, it sheds light on the intricate interplay between meaning-making, civic engagement, and civil society. Empirically, it uncovers the diverse and contextually embedded pathways through which youth can contribute to societal change within a Global South authoritarian regime. In this context, participatory development serves as a realm where assisting the state can simultaneously lay the groundwork for potential resistance against its hegemonic control.