Air Quote by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan
“I think we go wrong when we insist, as some have done since 1945, on using experts who are paid Western salaries, drive beautiful cars and live in air-conditioned houses to teach people in the Third World how to improve their living conditions.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: United Nations Development Forum, 1975
Relying on affluent Western experts to teach the Global South perpetuates inequality and ignores local knowledge.
In simple terms: Western experts often lack relevance for the Global South.
Key Takeaway
Empower local expertise and context‑specific solutions.
Themes
inequality
development
expertise
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
critical
Type
policy
ethical
When to use this quote
- rural education
- healthcare delivery
- agricultural innovation
- policy design
Key Concepts
postcolonial theory
capacity building
knowledge transfer
Questions to Reflect On
- How can international aid balance expertise with local ownership?
- What mechanisms ensure knowledge exchange is reciprocal?
A Different Perspective
Local expertise may lack resources or broader perspective.
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