The Will to Improve: Governmentality, Development, and the Practice of Politics

The Will to Improve examines development initiatives in Indonesia through an anthropological lens, focusing on highland Sulawesi from the colonial period through the present day. Through extensive fieldwork and historical research, Tania Murray Li documents how various programs and experts have attempted to transform rural populations and their practices. The book tracks multiple waves of intervention in the region, from Dutch colonial authorities to World Bank projects and contemporary NGOs. Li analyzes the methods these groups used to identify problems and implement solutions among highland communities, revealing both intended and unintended consequences of their efforts. The work centers on the concept of "improvement schemes" - systematic programs designed to enhance the welfare of populations through calculated interventions and reforms. Li examines how these schemes intersect with local power structures, cultural practices, and forms of resistance. This ethnography contributes to broader discussions about the nature of governance, development, and social change in Southeast Asia and beyond. The analysis raises fundamental questions about expertise, authority, and the complex relationship between those who seek to improve others' lives and those who are targeted for improvement.

Readers emphasize the book's detailed ethnographic analysis of development projects in Indonesia and its critique of how "improvement schemes" affect local communities. Many academic reviewers note its effectiveness in connecting theory to real-world examples. Likes: - Clear explanation of Foucault's governmentality concept - Rich case studies from Central Sulawesi - Balance of theoretical framework with fieldwork data - Accessible writing style for graduate-level readers Dislikes: - Dense theoretical sections challenge undergraduate readers - Some find the conclusions too pessimistic about development - Limited discussion of alternative approaches - Focus on Indonesia may not translate to other regions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (87 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (22 ratings) One reviewer on Goodreads notes: "Li effectively shows how expert knowledge and good intentions can lead to problematic outcomes." Several academic reviewers cite its usefulness in development studies courses but recommend it for advanced students.

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🌿 Author Tania Murray Li conducted over two decades of ethnographic research in Indonesia's upland regions, living among communities and documenting their experiences with development programs. 🔍 The book's title plays on philosopher Michel Foucault's concept of "governmentality," examining how governments and organizations attempt to shape human behavior through seemingly benevolent improvement schemes. 🌏 The study focuses on Indonesia's Central Sulawesi highlands, where colonial authorities, development experts, and NGOs have implemented various "improvement schemes" since the early 1900s. 📚 Li's work reveals how development programs often frame complex political and economic issues as technical problems that can be solved through expert intervention, thereby overlooking deeper structural inequalities. 🤝 The author coined the term "trustee position" to describe how development experts position themselves as knowing what's best for communities, often disregarding local knowledge and agency in the process.