SELF RELIANCE cooperation, not the building of tight walls around all units - although it may be argued that self-sufficiency in food is worth striving for. * * * From this indication of the practice of self-reliance let us briefly indicate what would seem to be the theoretical rationale for self-reliance in the present situation of gross asymmetries in the world, between the Center with its sub-centers and the vast peripheries. More precisely, there are at least thirteen hypothesis linked to this kind of structure that would seem to have sufficient a priori credibility to be worth gambling on: (1) Through SR priorities wi/1 change towards production for basic needs for those most in need. With the masses in control of the productive machinery, especially in the countryside, such ideas as using land for cash crops in order to "earn foreign currency" (for the elites to buy consumers goods, means of destruction - arms - and some means of production) would less easily emerge, unless the control over the economic cycle were sufficient to guarantee that basic needs would not remain unsatisfied.16 '(2) Through SR mass participation is ensured. A necessary condition for this to happen is a high level of control over the local economy - which is one of the many ingredients in SR. If the economy is steered by remote contrai, often of non-persona! forces, participation will remain formai, e.g. only take the form of participation in municipal elections, electing committees with as little control over the economy as the local stationmaster over a long distance express train (it is the train that directs his use of the contrai signais rather than vice versa). Thus mass participation becomes the alpha and omega of the self-reliance, both as necessary and as sufficient conditions. '(3) Through SR local factors are utilized much better. This aspect of SR picks up the accusation against capitalism that in addition to being exploitative capitalism is also irrational in 16 See the ,very interesting analysis by K. N. Raj, et al., Poverty, Unemployment and Deve/opment Policy - A Case Study of Selected Issues wlth Reference to Kerala '(Trivandrum, March 1975) where lt ls argued strongly that food should be produced looally in order not to become too expenslve for the people, and in order to utiMze fully marginal resources. 59
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