
The theory of “positive deviance” has a strong resonance with people working in community development, and it’s something I’ve covered on the Arab spring, the workplace and it’s something I’ve explored in my chapter for Radical Future. but in what other areas could this approach work? They can trigger disruption, such as when developers go into residence (@codeforamerica) to disrupt the way local government approaches technology or when hairdressers are recommended to advise councils (@demos).
But what about more extreme positive deviance?
“The way we dealt with it (social problems) before is sweeping it under the carpet, if you try to do it within these informal settlements, they’ll take out the city”
This is just one of the stories from @paulmasonnews radio documentary on the slums which ranges from managing scarcity to alternative forms of democracy. You can listen to it on his podcast.
