Zur Umsetzung des Selbsthilfekonzeptes in Indonesien

Abstract Since the beginning of the eighties the self-help concept has earned the reputation of being the development strategy for improving the situation of the lowest social strata in the countries of the Third World. But even with this strategy substantial changes for the benefit of the "poorest of the poor" have still not been achieved. By the example of the Indonesian self-help organisation PEKERTI the article tries to explain the reasons for the failure of this concept. It is shown that it is the specific local, socio-cultural and political conditions, rather than limited resources, which are the reason why "real" self-help cannot develop.