Mis-Contextualization and the Power of Community

Last Friday I listened to a friend, Andy, who we had worked with in Cambodia, share his insights on Khmer community and how it impacts Westerners' contextualizations of technology in Cambodia. He briefly summarized his research which looked at economic and social developments in communities where new technologies had been introduced. Andy also analyzed how the technologies were contextualized by the technology promotor in light of the spirituality, social setting and economics of the recipient culture. He illustrated how viewing the actions of Cambodian households through a Western worldview leads to the misidentification of how and why Khmer households choose or don't choose to adopt new technologies.

Andy had worked in MCC's rural agricultural program in a very poor province where rice yields were well below average compared to the rest of the country and region. Families were only able to grow enough rice to support their families for half a year. One might assume poor families would jump at the chance to use better technology and crop-growing practices to improve their living standards. MCC taught them how to grow vegetables during their dry months, how to irrigate, how to fertilize, etc. It was facinating to see that when the foreigner support was withdrawn, assuming the farmers could continue on their own, the new practices stopped. Why? Was it because they weren't receiving incentives anymore from the foreigners?

I have heard many foreigners who have worked with Cambodians for short time-periods make snide remarks about Cambodians' lack of motivation or laziness. Andy directly addressed that point in his analysis and I so appreciated his comments. He pointed out how those of us in the West have no idea the strength and the power of Cambodian community. To be part of Cambodian community, one needs to show loyalty and respect to the others and their status within the community; one needs to conform to what is trusted and understood; one needs to contribute to the others in the community and those traditions included within religion and culture. Cambodians are well-cared for by the community as long as they follow these social guidelines. Relationships are paramount and anyone who decides to leave the community are not seen as loyal or caring. (What does that say about us foreigners!)

When a member of the community decides to befriend a foreigner and take on foreign ideas and practices, it is a tremendous risk, for if a crop fails for someone who adopts a new type of technology, the community will believe it is because the person rebelled against the culture/community and some spirit will be named as the culprit. The key is whether or not new practices/technology are fully accepted and adopted by the entire community. If only by a few, the new ideas will forever be considered foreign and those who adopt them will be at risk. Those Cambodians who adopt them will not be fully accepted in the community because the community assumes he is choosing to disconnect himself. The spirituality that comes into play and the intense community power are key foundations to understand if contextualization of anything, be it technology, the Gospel or ways of thinking are really possible in Cambodia. I'm sure there are similar difficulties in other cultures. Unfortunately, it takes so long to figure that stuff out. It's no wonder it has taken decades for development to get going and centuries for the Gospel to take root. Again I consider, how prideful we are to think we can save the world by starting with our great ideas rather than learn and study with respect first.