The efficiency of words and concepts in the definition of economical development policies : An analysis of Côte d'Ivoire official and usual discourses ; De l'efficacité des mots et concepts dans la définition des politiques économiques : étude du cas de la Côte d'Ivoire à travers une analyse des discours

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the analysis of official and usual discourses in order to evaluate the efficiency of wording and concepts in the definition of the economic development policies implemented in Côte d'Ivoire, a country which was considered as a showcase of the implementation of these policies.The conceptual framework refers to the work of Pierre Bourdieu (1982, 1991), who emphasizes the power of discourse and associated vocabulary. Indeed, according to Bourdieu, there is a linguistic market on which is exchanged, an overbidding of words and concepts. In keeping with this vision, we believe that there is also such a market that is specific to development. This market is characterized by a balance of power between social actors for the control of a "symbolic power" which asserts itself in linguistic exchanges. Some of these actors named as "experts" thus create the words of development, while others, notably developing country governments (DCs) and their populations, receive, integrate or reinterpret them, sometimes giving another meaning. And as in any market, an equilibrium price allows regulating the exchanges. The amount of credits and financing granted by donors may be considered as such a price.In this context, the power of words and related concepts in the definition and implementation of economic development policies and their effectiveness in terms of poverty reduction can be questioned. It is answering to this question which constitutes the objective of the thesis.In order to answer this question we examined the discourse of the various stakeholders involved in the development of Côte d'Ivoire, by comparing the results of qualitative interviews from actors of the Ivorian social life to the official texts of the government and the Bretton Woods institutions IBW).The first part of the thesis examines the history of Côte d'Ivoire's economic development policies, showing how a discourse based on economic theories that underpins the practices of development allows the emergence of a symbolic power. Thus, ...