The cornerstone of development

The Cornerstone of Development, published in 1998 by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), emerged from a period of increasing scholarly focus on participatory research methods within the Global South. It was commissioned to address the practical and theoretical challenges of integrating indigenous knowledge into mainstream development projects, serving as a methodological guide for researchers and practitioners navigating the intersection of local expertise and institutional development agendas.

The volume was edited by Jamie Schnurr, who curated a collection of case studies and analytical essays aimed at reconciling top-down development strategies with grassroots community engagement. The work was well-received within academic and non-governmental organization circles for its emphasis on the ethics of collaborative research, and it remains a foundational reference for those studying sustainable development and institutional policy-making.