Disciplinary Technologies of Microfinance: Fictitious Proximity, Visibility and Surveillance in Rural Microfinance in Bangladesh
Year: 2019
Author: Hussain, A. H. M. Belayeth
Sociologus, Vol. 69 (2019), Iss. 2 : pp. 147–166
Abstract
In this paper, I delve into governmental and disciplinary technologies in microfinance practice. I aim to reveal the disciplinary and governmental powers that guarantee proper repayment of debt in state- and NGO-sponsored microfinance programmes. Using Foucault’s notion of conduct of conduct, I uncover how loan officers consistently maintain meticulous control over borrowers and assure a docility-utility relationship. Based on seven months of fieldwork on rural microfinance in the North-eastern part of Bangladesh, I reveal the strategic relationship of loan officers and borrowers, the loan officers’ techniques of recording and reporting borrowers, the methods of differentiating good and bad borrowers, the practices of putting special attention on particular borrowers, and surveillance processes over borrowers’ family and economic activities. While microfinance programmes are repeatedly hailed as an effective measure of development policy, this empirical research in Bangladesh arrives at a different result: A high extent of governing and disciplinary behaviours are present in microfinance programmes. As a result, financial success is ensured through proper debt repayments.
You do not have full access to this article.
Already a Subscriber? Sign in as an individual or via your institution
Journal Article Details
Publisher Name: Global Science Press
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3790/soc.69.2.147
Sociologus, Vol. 69 (2019), Iss. 2 : pp. 147–166
Published online: 2019-07
AMS Subject Headings: Duncker & Humblot
Copyright: COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press
Pages: 20
Keywords: Microfinance disciplinary technology governmental power Foucault Bangladesh Mikrofinanz Disziplinierungstechnologie Regierungsgewalt Bangladesch
Author Details
-
Why Does Microfinance Target Women? Empirical Evidence from Nigeria
Okesina, Musiliu
Global Journal of Emerging Market Economies, Vol. 14 (2022), Iss. 2 P.246
https://doi.org/10.1177/09749101211040144 [Citations: 1] -
Rural–urban financial inclusion: Implications on the cost sustainability of microfinance lenders
Mia, Md Aslam | Sangwan, Sunil | Hussain, A. H. M. Belayeth | Malim, Nurhafiza Abdul KaderManagerial and Decision Economics, Vol. 43 (2022), Iss. 6 P.1899
https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.3498 [Citations: 2]
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. H. M. Belayeth Hussain: Disciplinary Technologies of Microfinance: Fictitious Proximity, Visibility and Surveillance in Rural Microfinance in Bangladesh | 1 | ||
| Abstract | 1 | ||
| 1. Introduction | 1 | ||
| 2. Fictitious Proximity of Loan Officers | 7 | ||
| 3. Fields of Visibility | 1 | ||
| 4. Surveillance | 1 | ||
| 5. Discipline Through Dispositif and Panopticon? | 1 | ||
| References | 1 |