The objective of this study is to clarify the sociological approach in international development studies through analysis of the relationship between individual and society in livelihood improvement in rural areas of Japan. The rural livelihood improvement program started in 1949in response to the promulgation of the Agricultural Improvement Promotion Law of 1948, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The program put emphasis on creating self-reliant farmers, particularly female farmers. Even though the program finished in 2004, rural livelihood improvement as a movement continues among self-reliant farmers.
In the development assistance studies, the livelihood improvement approach is worthy of attention as a successful experience of rural development. This experience can provide lessons and suggestions valuable to people in developing countries. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has implemented livelihood improvement projects in developing countries. This study pointed out the limitation of these studies and projects because they focus only on the experience of economic poverty alleviation in rural areas of Japan, particularly in the late 1940s and 1950s. It is better for them to add the analysis of multi-tiered relationships changing and expanding over time.
This study recommends two wider views of the sociological approach as international development studies. One view is the sociological analysis of the multi-tiered relationship between individual and society. Society has three different levels of practices: micro, meso and macro. Regardless of the level, the very basis of any society is the individual. This study found that the key concept of livelihood improvement is to create self-reliant farmers. They could shift their livelihood improvement from a program to a movement. These results were achieved through the empowerment of individuals and societies. It is necessary to analyze individual aspects such as identity, pride and self-confidence. The other view is the comparative analysis between developing countries and Japan. Even the the female farmers in Japan who have much experience of livelihood improvement are still trying to tackle problems that they face. It is necessary for development study scholars to provide information for mutual learning between farmers in developing countries and Japan.
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