INSTITUTIONS, CONSENSUS AND CONFLICT - IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE

This article reflects on the challenges faced when the ideal of consen sual communities is questioned. A more complex view of institutional r elationships at the local level is envisaged, one which emphasises con flict as much as consensus. This,in turn, suggests some implications f or institutional design and processes of conflict negotiation. A numbe r of alternatives are explored, ranging from targeted, institutional d esign to more flexible, learning process approaches. Support for effec tive negotiation processes is highlighted, including the enhancement o f claims-making capacity through processes of participation and empowe rment. Due ru the inherent uncertainties in both ecological and social dynamics, institutional design can never lake a blueprint form. Inste ad, a flexible, adaptive style of dealing with institutional complexit y and uncertainty is envisaged. Despite the necessity of disagreggatin g 'community' imagery for local-level implementation, such imagery can also be used strategically and effectively by local people and other development actors in struggles to define and direct processes of chan ge.