A Comparative Analysis of the Top-Down and Bottom-Up Rural Development Strategies Concerning Social and Economic Effects in Cameroon Andkorea 1950-2022

A Comparative Analysis of the Top-Down and Bottom-Up Rural Development Strategies Concerning Social and Economic Effects in Cameroon Andkorea 1950-2022

Mbwoge Divine Ngome
PhD Research Student, Department of History, College of Humanities, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2023.701119

Received: 01 September 2023; Revised: 15 September 2023; Accepted: 27 September 2023; Published: 11 November 2023

ABSTRACT

The research coverers A comparative analysis of rural development strategies implemented in Korea and Cameroon. The study aims to elaborate on the effectiveness of community development projects in creating comfort zones for rural communities. To achieve the desired results, I carried out comprehensive research on the Korean New Village movement (Saemaul undong) and compared it with the top-bottom approach in Cameroon. Based on the findings from published documents, on Google Scholar, I realized bottom-up approach in community development is more reliable and efficient in sustainable development because the top-down approach usually takes a longer time and leaves the needs of the local people at the mercy of politicians who end up enriching themselves at the detriment of the people.  But it is instrumental in dealing with emergency cases. In rare cases, the two systems can be of significance if implemented simultaneously. The study concludes by attributing the neglect of rural development in the Tombel subdivision as the main reason for the ethnic cleansing in 1966.

Keywords: Community Developments, Conflicts, Comfort Zones, Sustainable Developments, Korea, Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION

 this study will expose two distinct countries with their unique political and socio-economic prowls. It began with the Republic of Korea, which has transcended into a top technological economy and industrial powerhouse after going through a series of wars and instabilities. Today, the Republic of Korea is proud of advanced industries in the manufacturing sector like automobile, electronics, petrochemicals, and ship building, and their companies are dominating the global market for example Samsung, Hyundai, and the LG corporation.

Looking into the socio-political aspect of the Republic of Korea, first, we have to understand that it has a robust democracy, operates a multiparty system and also, it has placed much importance on education, in addition, the society is dominated by the Confucian principles which place much respect to seniors, and is the root cause of gender inequality (Lee Jong  ‘’et al’’ 2001).

Meanwhile, Cameroon is located in the rainforest region of Africa, its economy is dominated by agriculture, oil and gas, mining, and services. The country is blessed with natural resources but the challenges they face are price fluctuations and it has a major challenge. For example, in 1997, cocoa prices dropped to 0.8 U.S. dollar (mbwoge Divine Ngome 2023) which influenced the mobility of labor and caused instability in the country. The agricultural sector plays an important role in Cameroon’s economy because illiterates can easily get something to do and the country is a leading producer of cocoa, coffee, cotton, and banana which are highly exported.

Based on the socio-political aspect of Cameroon, the country operates as a republic with a presidential system. However, based on the multiple ethnic groups of about 250 and the bilingual nature, the country faces a lot of challenges for example in 2016, English-speaking Cameroonians complained of marginalization, and ever since there has been insecurity in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

Looking at the two nations, South Korea showcases a booming economy with advanced technology and powerful industries while Cameroon’s economy is focused more on agriculture, oil and gas, and mining, above all, the socioeconomic setup of South Korea is stable and progressing while that of Cameroon is characterized of insecurity, and corruption

In recent years, there has been a growing concern for sustainable developments throughout the world, and it has prompted a greater understanding of sustainability for future demands with growing interest in rural areas. By so doing, countries have instituted different majors and strategies to achieve development at the rural levels and the most common strategies are implemented through Top-Down and Bottom-Up approaches. They all function based on the policies put in place by the central government but their implementations are different.

The alternative top-down approach is associated with changes caused by external influences, such as directions given from funding sources and encouragements for the use of specific knowledge and technology: It is therefore handed down as a law to the village administrative systems Meanwhile The bottom-up system starts from the villages for example, the ‘’saemaul undong’’, also referred to as New Community Movement or Saema-eul movement was a political framework introduced on April 22,1970, by South Korean President Park Chung-hee to Modernize the rural South Korean economy and is the best example of a bottom-up approach in Rural Development.(Asian Development Bank 2012)

The purpose of this study is to make a comparative analysis of the top-down and the bottom-up approach by looking at the contribution it makes in the socio-economic setup of Cameroon and South Korea and it will give us an understanding of which approach to recommend to achieve sustainable development in the rural areas.

In the past, Insecurity, poverty, and the search for better living conditions displaced millions of Africans, Cameroonians, and Koreans. In the 1950s for example the Korean War fought between North Korea and South Korea resulted in the death of about 2 to 4 million people and 70% of them were civilians (J.Pearce Rotondi 2021).After the war, the economy of South Korea was in shamble while citizens were devastated. After the war, Korea became one of the poorest countries in the world but in the 1970s, they laid down a master plan that led to their prosperity. On the other hand, African countries After independence, struggle with security issues. Cameroon, for example, struggled to contain the activities of the Union des Populations du Cameroun(U.P.C) whose goals were: separation from France with the dream of establishing a socialist economy(B. Victoria 2006). Their activities threatened the peace and stability in French Cameroon beginning in 1948 and 1955,The government of French Cameroon later banned the U.P.C party whose founders were, Charles Assale, Leopold Moume  Etia, Leonard Bouli, Theodore Ngosso, Jacques Ngom, and Ernest Wanji who was executed on the 15 January 1971 at Baffoussamin the west region of Cameroon because during their fight for Independence, the party developed a guerrilla fighting strategy and they were known as the Maquisars. Most of their hideouts were in the remote parts of the country. The purpose of this study at this juncture is to present how the neglect of community development in Cameroon as a result of the Top-down approach created a fertile ground for terrorist activities.

According to Piet, Konings.  ‘’Autochthony and ethnic cleansing in the post-colony: The 1966 Tombel disturbances in Cameron’’ Between 1955 and 1959, their activities were a call for concern and since the party leaders were mostly the natives of the Bamileke tribe from the west region of Cameroon, they faced attacks in many parts of French Cameroon like Douala, Bulu/Beti, and Sagmalima.(Piet Konings 2008) In Bamum for example, it is said that they were massacred but the perpetrators were never brought to justice since the sultan was a supporter of the regime of President Amadou Ahidjo. The fact that they were mostly made up of the Bamileke youths, made the regime see the Bamileke people as maquisards (U.P. Cguerrilla fighters).Based on Konings’ investigations, this made a majority of the Bamilekes migrate to West Cameroon. By 1960. The political leadership of West Cameroon was dominated by John Ngu Foncha, Augustine Ngom Jua, and Salomon Tandeng Muna. They were political tycoons from the North West region , and the political system at the time focused more on serving the people of the Grass Field region. Because the top-down gave the politicians power over the locals there by making, rural development a political affair in Cameroon with politicians struggling to satisfy their needs at the detriment of the people.

In Tombel which was the biggest town in the Bakossi region, the Bamileke settled in their numbers. this tells how the top-bottom system failed to make villagers comfortable in their communities. And with their entrepreneurial and dominant spirit, they ignited fear among the Bakossi people. Geographically, they move to Tombel Sub-Division to work in Cocoa plantations and smallholders since their region is mostly made up of hills. Their Movement brought a lot of Conflicts Between them and the native Bakossi people who hated the activities of the maquisard. On the 31^st of December, 1966. A blood bath took place in the Tombel Subdivision known as the Bakossi-Bameleke War(Piet Konings 2008).This study will analyze the Top-down and Bottom-up strategies and make Comparisons between Korean Saemual Undong (new village movement) with the Top-down approach introduced in Cameroon by the government of Cameroon.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TOP-BOTTOM AND THE BOTTOM-TOP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

Beginning with the conceptual views of the two systems, we have examined participatory decision-making, local knowledge and expertise, community empowerment, small-scale initiatives, Networking and collaboration, holistic Development, and adaptive and flexibility.

Talking about the participation in decision-making in the bottom-up approach, the system allows the local communities and the common people to express their views and this helps to define the development course for their area in line with their views, expectations, and plans. Meanwhile, the top-down approach relies on higher authorities to determine larger goals that will filter down to the tasks of lower-level employees(Kate Eby 2018). Also, the top-down approach is very significant in responding to violations against children and helping to save lives in highly dangerous situations (Kostelny et al. 2020)

In the domain of networking, the bottom-up approach is based on the composition approach while the top-down is based on the decomposition approach. In that case, in bottom-up there are instances where identifying overall challenges is difficult in the initial stage meanwhile in the top-down, it may not be possible to break the problem in to two set of smaller tasks.

Adding to that, A bottom-up approach values collaboration across the organization to determine the steps needed to achieve the company goals meanwhile top-down collaborations are usually organizational or policy oriented.(Katarina E. et al 2015)

In terms of their flexibility, the top- down approach some times can be less flexible, as decisions are made at the higher level and transcended through a well structure organs while the bottom -up approach allows for more compliance and rehearsal based on feedbacks and changing equipment. Also, the top-down approach can be risky, as decisions are made at a higher level and may not account for all the facts and complexities of the complicated, while the bottom-up approach addresses dangerous issues by focusing on the details and restating based on feedback

According to Simpli learn .com. Top-Down approach vs Botom up approach : Understanding the differences 2023, The top-down approach prioritizes high-level planning and decision-making while the bottom up approach prioritizes the execution of individual tasks and the development of detailed knowledge it also made it clear that both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, and that the best approach will depend on the specific context, including the nature of the problem, the resources available, the timeline, and the desired outcome.

The top-down approach method of the Community Development Program opens up to external influence to contribute to a country’s domestic policies and make changes necessary, especially in funding, and also encourages the use of specific knowledge. Also, a disadvantage is the fact that decisions will always take a longer time due to a lot of procedures. When compared to a bottom-top approach, the local actors are active participants in decision-making about the strategies and the selection of the priorities to be pursued in their local areas.

In research carried out by Christopher R. Larrison, A Comparative of Top-down and Bottom-up Community Development Intervention in Rural Mexico 1999, Larrison studied the two models, top-down and bottom-up that were put in place by Community development programs in Central America, his study was meant to find out if the strategies put in place by the bottom-top accomplished the state goals for Community Development better than those implemented by the top-down approach. He made a judgment that the two approaches are good but for emergency and quick success, bottom-up is preferable (Christopher R. Larrison 1999).

Also, Laura Macdonald, NGOs and the Problematic Discourses of Participation: The Case from Costa Rica 1995. Laura agrees with Christopher R. Larrison as she favored the Bottom-up approach, and talked about how the top-down Community Development Strategies (CDS) have left people’s needs at the mercy of politicians. And explained how the system always leads to poorly informed decisions. Politicians end up giving foul information to the headquarters while money goes to their private accounts (Laura Macdonald 1995).  This has been the exact occurrence in Cameroon and Tombel Sub-division Since 1960, the road from Tombel to Bangem has been used only with Land Rovers because of its poor nature. In addition, many big rivers in the western Bakossi region are without bridges Also, the villagers keep protecting themselves with self-defense groups known as Vigilantes. For example, Nyandong Vigilantes, Mekom, and Eboko Bajoh Vigilantes.

According to the United Nations Development Program 1998, these developmental projects oaths to increase the standard of living for more people in rural communities (United Nations Development Program 1998) But the Top-Down development approach has instead allowed politicians to enrich themselves. Based on an analysis carried out by a U.S economist, Blanchard, D. Empirical strategies of bottom-up Development 1988. His analysis brought to light the importance of bottom-up approach strategies, which include Comprehension of Community Participation, motivating local Communities, expanding Learning opportunities, improving local resource management, replicating human Development, increasing Communication and interchange, and localizing financial access (D. Blanchard 1988).

Also, Miguel, Altieri A., and Omar Masera. ‘’Sustainable rural development in Latin America: Building from the bottom-up’’ 1993. Miguel and Omar argued that ‘’top-down’’ development strategies have proven inefficient in their ability to promote equitable and environmentally sustainable development in Latin America and by so doing, poverty, unhealthy living conditions, and environmental degradation continue to be a widespread problem.(Miguel, Altieri A., and Omar Masera 1993) At this juncture, this study will analyze the Saemual undong as an example of the ’’bottom-up’’ rural development approach, it will bring out the approach and how fast its results were realized then we will then compare it with the case of Cameroon(Tombel Sub-division in particular)in the 1960sand 1970s.

ANALYZING THE CASE STUDIES OF THE BOTTOM-UP AND TOP-DOWN RURAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Examining the ‘’saemaul undong’’ (New Village Movement) as an example of a Bottom-up Rural Development approach

According to the Asian Development Bank. In the 1960s, 70% of the Korean population lived in villages and most of them were not accessible by car, also, the local farmers battled with frequent famine, drought, floods low productivity, and increased debts,(Asian Development Bank 2012)

Figure 1: Korean Village houses in the 1960s

During this period, there was a massive migration from rural areas to urban areas There was a call for concern to ameliorate the poor economy and harsh living conditions in the rural areas.

On the 22^nd of April 1970, President Park Chung He brought a lasting solution through his idea of the New Village movement, ‘’saemaul undong’’ with a dream of overcoming poverty and achieving sustainable living conditions for all Koreans.

 Edward P. Reed, in a paper prepared for an international symposium in commemoration of the 40^th anniversary of the Saemaul undong hosted by the Korean Saemaul undong center on September 30^th, 2010, titled ‘’ Is Saemaul Undong a model for developing countries today?

When analyzing the Saemaul Undong experience P. Reed made us understand that there are two important clarifications to make. The first is the scope of the program. SMU began as a rather conventional integrated community development program to improve the physical environment of villages, introduce new attitudes and skills, and increase incomes through small-scale self-help projects introduced by government agents and implemented through village cooperation. Based on the explanations from P. Reed, the main drivers of the SMU were the local communities but various ministries had their roles to play (Edward P. Reed 2010).

Figure: 2 Real GDP at Constant National Prices for the Republic of Korea

Source: University of Groningen and University of California, Davis, Real GDP at Constant National Prices for Republic of Korea [RGDPNAKRA666NRUG], retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RGDPNAKRA666NRUG, August 14, 2023.

Based on the Real GDP at constant national prices for the Republic of Korea, it shows that in the early 1950s, Real GDP was around 30,000 U.S. Dollars but by 1980, the prices experienced a constant increase and were above 200,000 U.S. Dollars. The success that Saemual undong enjoyed had to do with Government Organizations related to the Saemual Undong. For example, The Ministry of Culture and Education, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Public Health and Society, and National Agricultural Cooperation Federation worked together to achieve self-reliable villages by 1980.

According to the European Parliament’s Smart Villages Concepts, Issues and Prospects for E.U Rural Areas 2021. Cooperation, involving partnerships and support of the local authority is Key because it involves cooperation between villages and nearby urban areas and this allows the villages to upgrade and become smart villages. (European Union 2021)

Thanks to village cooperation spirit, Saemaul undong environmental projects included the expansion and pavement of village entry roads, the expansion and pavement of village inroads, cleaning villages and improving streams, building public laundry facilities, building public wells, modernizing roofs from rice straw roofs to tile, slat roofs, modernizing fences from mud to bricks, building bridges, improving water systems and building Compost fields(Asian Development Bank 2012).

Figure 3: Saemual Undong environmental project.

Figure 4: The Construction of a village bridge through a community labor

Figure 5: Modernizing Fences from mud to bricks through community labor.

The terms work and effective coordination in bottom-up approach led to the transformation of villages. In Analyzing the key to the success of the New Village movement is the Mental transformation, devotion and sacrifices by community leaders, and motivation and support from the government.

According to Straza Consulting, Community development is important because it provides the base or the starting point that a city needs to grow, it improves the lives of citizens, creates a bond, and a sense of belonging, and builds communities that can attract and keep talents. Also, it creates favorable environments for business and helps citizens to overcome challenges making citizens happier, healthier, richer, and with long life spans.(Straza Consulting 2023)

More so, the Asian Development Bank and the Saemaul Undong movement in the Republic of Korea share knowledge on Community-Driven Development. The research made a clear declaration that Sinbaram or enthusiastic participation in the SMU movement changed the mentality of the locals from government control to more powerful village meetings in executing SMU projects. This gave the villagers the enthusiasm, the sense of belonging, and the passion to make sure projects were done accurately(Asian Development Bank 2012).Based on the analysis provided by Professor Whan-bok Cho during the 2023 spring Course on a leadership training program. He analyzed income generation and poverty reduction by SMU. According to professor Cho, absolute poverty was 28% in 1970 but it was reduced to 11% by 1978 and rural household income increased nine times in the 1970s.

Table 1: Classification of Villages by Development Level.

Source: Asian Development Bank. The Saemual Undong Movement in the Republic of Korea 2012, Retrieved 5/03/2023.

Based on the analysis gathered above, from the experience of the Saemual undong, many villages became comfort zones for the Koreans and this encouraged more people to stay and contribute to the growth of their communities. On the other hand, the lack of comfort zones in many villages in Cameroon has been one of the reasons for migration, intertribal conflicts, protests, and agitation all over the country since the 1960s. This study will drive us to examine the Bakossi Bamileke war as a conflict that resulted from lack of comfort zone and the effect of Top-down approach in community development.

How the Top-down approach masterminded stagnation and conflicts in the Tombel subdivision of Cameroon.

In the 1970s and 1980s, while Korean communities were struggling to achieve sustainable developments in rural communities by paving village roads, building bridges, modernizing their houses, and building embankments to control flooded rivers, Cameroonians were struggling to get employment in the Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC) Plantations. According to S. Berdeman, The Cameroon Development Corporation: Partners in National Growth 1968.He made it clear that the existence of the CDC came as a result of the ordinance passed by the Nigerian legislative council between the 6^th and 12^th of December 1946. The Ex-Enemy Land (Cameroon)Ordinance No. 38 gave Britain the right to take possession of formal German properties while Cameroon Development Corporation Ordinance No.39provided for the creation of the proposed body(C.D.C)(S.Berdeman 1968)

The migration into the Tombel region was so easy because of its short distance from Loum a region in the formal French Cameroon and political criminals easily escaped into the region. They easily infiltrated the region in the 1950s and it served as a hideout for their guerrilla fighting strategy because rural areas were completely neglected. Figure 6is an illustration of the map of Formal West Cameroon also indicating the area of study.

Figure 6: The map of Tombel Sub-Division

Source: Tombel Council retrieved 02-15-2023.

Since the era of West Cameroon and East Cameroon, effective developmental projects like Rural electrification, health care, road construction, and other emergency networks like Firefighting services have been lacking and the fact that is it just a stone’s throw from Loum a formal East Cameroonian town, it became a hideout for so many guerrilla fighters. And with the opening of rubber and cocoa plantations in the Tombel sub-division, gave migrants excuses to infiltrate the region. This study, therefore, brings out how the top-down approach neglected community developments in Tombel Subdivision and Cameroon.

In 1955 when the French Cameroon Government Finally banned the activities of the U.P.C political party, a good number of them easily entered Tombel. And since the region was inaccessible, it became a hideout for the guerrilla fighters who were also referred to as maquisards because they mostly lived in the forest and mountains, and appeared mostly at night.

In 1961 the, British Southern voted in a United Nations-organized plebiscite to achieve independence by joining with French Cameroon. In the Constitutional Conference held at Fumban on the 17^th-21^st of July 1961, the two States became West and East Cameroon this, therefore, was the reason why more French Cameroonians entered the region. At this point, the study will therefore lead us to the causes of the misunderstandings that led to the 1966 massacre in Tombel and how rural development like the Korean Saemual Undong would have prevented it. At this point, the top-down approach in Cameroon failed to handle inter-ethnic conflict.

This study also makes open the fact that the Bamilekes tribe did not have a Comfort Zone as a driving force for conflicts and clashes with other tribes. In research carried out by Elizabeth Kuster, Expand your Comfort Zone 2023.Kuster borrowed from Rhonda Britten she said our Comfort zones are our safe places. According to Britten, a comfort zone is where we go to recharge in an ever-changing world. She said it’s our place of reprieve, where we can conserve our energy and not have to figure anything out. Britten concluded by saying if you deny that you don’t have a comfort zone or pretend that you don’t need one, you will be stressed all the time(Elizabeth Kuster 2023). This, therefore, explains how the lack of community development projects like those of the Korean Saemul undongmade Bamileke people uncomfortable in their region.

According to Ejedepang, Koge The tradition of a people 203 and Esambe L. Ngalame, ‘’Bakossi and their Neighbours 1977,Plantation agriculture allowed them to seek refuge in the Tomel region and the Paramount chief Fritz Ntoko- Epie, gave the Bamilake lands to cultivate in return for free labor for the chief(S.N. Ejedepang, Koge1977) but it was not confirmed if they were granted legal ownership. The study, therefore, leads us to analyze the cohabitation of two ethnic groups without the intervention of any legal authority. Unlike the case of Korea where villages became self-reliant by 1978, the top-down approach failed to achieve developmental projects at the local levels and failed to educate the local people on how to be sustainable.

The Newcomers became industrious, saved money, and bought farms. Due to their domineering spirits, they had land disputes with so many people. The most prominent of them was the land dispute between John Kamga(Bemeleke migrant) and Ben Nyame(native of Bakossi). Piet Konings ‘’Autochthony and Ethnic Cleansing in the Post-Colony: the 1966 Tombel Disturbances in Cameroon’’ published in 2008, Konings made mention of the fact that the Bameleke people accused the Bakossi native of conniving with the judges in court(Piet Konings 2008). Some of the lands were acquired legally while others were illegally acquired. The top-down approach failed to unite the two groups there by creating a battle field in disguise

Also, Victor T. Levine’s study, Cameroon Federal Republic published in 1971. He mentions the fact that these immigrants perpetuated Robbery attacks and violence on the Bakossi natives by the guerrilla fighters. This made the Bakossi people become unsecured in their land and complained of being neglected by the government because it was as if their partitions were not fruitful

Initially, the game plan of the Maquisards(guerrilla fighters)was to attack the administrator, and military officials but they changed their plans and started terrorizing villagers. On the 14^th of December 1965 the Bakossi traditional council, Paramount Chief Mambo Ntoko, and the elitesof Bakossi accused the West Cameroon government of Neglecting them. According to local reports in Tombel, between 1964and 1966, the dead bodies of Bakossi people were discovered,(Senior District Officer Kumba 1966)

 and among them was a young boy who went to fetch water at the stream between Ngab and Mbule. This brings us to the points raised by Laura about how the top-down Community Development Strategies (CDS) have left people’s needs at the mercy of politicians as compared to the bottom-up system where the locals have the right to mobilize.

With the incessant attitude of the guerrilla fighters, in August of 1966, the government gave the newly formed self-defense units the authority to carry firearms instead of the government stepping in to investigate the issue and to ameliorate lasting solutions. according to Piet Konings, the Bamilekes also wrote a partition to the government, complaining of intimidation and oppression by the self-defense groups(A petition Presented by the Non-Bakossi Speaking Cameroonians Resident in Kumba Eastern Region to the Senior District Officer, Kumba, 27^th July 1966). Konings mentioned the fact that the district officer of Kumba invited the Bamileke youths to be part of the self-defense group but they refused. The constant attacks by the maquisards(guerrilla fighters)continued to ignite tensions but the most prominent was the attack on the Land Rover traveling from Tombel to Nyasoso which was high jacked at Mbulle. This led to the deaths of Four passengers three Bakossi natives a day before Christmas and among them was a school teacher. All these happened because the region was a band one and it allowed the bandits to commit atrocities and escape without traces. The people of Tombel who were for long been victims of neglect, decided to take laws into their hands. This, therefore, brings us to how  top-bottom approach to rural development has been detrimental to the local people.

On the 31^st of December 1966,traditional medicine men all over Tombel, oath-taking, and secret societies started a serious mobilization. Sango Adulf Ngole and Sango Madibo provided the Bakossi warrior with charms and secret fighting sticks. Also, Mwankum the traditional male secret society which is also a symbol of authority in Bakossi culture, warned them of the insecurity and advised them to take appropriate measures.

 On this date, the Bakossi natives rioted and attacked the Bamilekes as many as possible and a total of 236 deaths were officially established. When Compared to the Korean New Village movement or Saemual undong,  this region lacked efficient Law enforcement Authorities, they lacked rapid intervention measures and they lacked a mediator to calm down tension instead the district officer in Kumba authorized self-defense groups be responsible for peacekeeping and he was so nonchalant to allowed the natives to protect themselves against guerrilla fighters.

According to a report given by the Dibusi Tande Mbwog Ekoose(Bakossi Community2016) the military intervention was rapid and 143 native Bakossi were tried at the military court, 17 of them faced a firing squad, 37 were detained for life,38 were imprisoned for life,10 were jailed for 10 years, 4 were detained for 20 years: 36 were freed and 1 died during the trial. With the escalation of conflict, the top-down was effective due to is tradi

CONCLUSION

The ‘’bottom -up’’ Community Development strategy implemented by the Saemual Undong saw a great transformation in Korean villages from 1972 to 1979. By 1978, 96.5% of the villages in Korea were self-reliant. This brings us to the idea of having a comfort zone by Elizabeth Kuster. Also, Larrison’s study of two models, top-down and bottom-up that were put in place by Community development programs in Central America, his study was meant to find out if the strategies put in place by the bottom-top accomplished the state goals for Community Development better than those implemented by the top-down approach. He made a judgment that the two approaches are good but for emergency and quick success, bottom-up is preferable. for example, in the 1970s Korean villages transformed their communities, by replacing mud walls with walls made with brick, cleaning their slums to avoid standing waters, the replacing roofs made of taches with those made with tiles, unlike the villages in Cameroon with dilapidated and ramshackle structures.

In addition, the top-down and bottom-up approach in Community development in Korea and Cameroon to an extent can never work at the same speed based on the fact that the two are Homogeneous and Heterogeneous communities. Even though there are so many communities in Cameroon where the people are from the same ethnic groups. However the heterogeneous nature of Cameroonian communities has led to mixed breeds even in the smallest communities and this affects collective thinking as compared to a homogeneous community where all members share the same beliefs, values, and demographic characteristics. In that case, the government of Cameroon should assess which models will be more effective and which should be implemented.

The models of Rural Development in Cameroon and Tombel Subdivision are certainly responsible for the underdevelopment of Cameroon. Because of the Top-down method, The Government has failed to target modernization, dependency issues, globalization, and world-system from 1960 to 2022. Based on the statistics provided above, the Tomel subdivision was created in 1977 and till 2023, many villages are not accessible. Looking at the map of Tombel Subdivision, the western Bakossi region for example can be accessed only through Konye Subdivision (Meme Division) meanwhile it is possible to create a road from Nguti that will pass through Nyandong in the western Bakossi and connect with Tombel.

Also, the attack on the Land Rover traveling from Tombel to Nyasoso which was high jacked at Mbulle in 1966 exposes neglect was easily carried out because of bad roads and lack of security services. It is good to understand that the road is still the same in 2023 and used by Land Rover cars and 4WD cars. Also important is the fact that the local people had to create self-defense groups to fight against terrorists and guerrilla fighters. It happened in 1966 and it repeated in 2019 during the anglo phone crisis. So many villages in western Bakossi had to organize themselves to fight against separatists because the government officials claimed they didn’t know or have the map of western Bakossi. This led to the death of so many poorly armed villagers and the worst part was the fact that the military mistakenly killed some.

This study, therefore, confirms the failures of the rural development strategies implemented by Cameroon and suggests that the government should copy the Korean example which led to the direct participation of all villagers, the construction of mountain roads, linking villages to urban areas with good roads, train the villagers to think collectively and make all villages self-reliant.

Also to add is the story of Bill Fitzpatrick, 59, who was flying from Kano, Nigeria, to Douala Cameroon. His final destination was the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in Congo which is managed by African Parks, a nonprofit group based in Johannesburg. The central African park which consists mostly of rainforest, hosts gorilla researchers and tourists who join expeditions tracking the great apes.

Bill Fitzpatrick’s plane crashed and landed in the forest of western Bakossi in the Tombel subdivision on June 23, 2014, and was later discovered on a Friday, April 10, 2015. By a team of hunters from Eboko Bajoh. This discovery would have been made within days after the incident if the western Bakossi region had mountain roads as the Republic of Korea does.

Laura Macdonald, NGOs and the Problematic Discourses of Participation: The Case from Costa Rica 1995. Laura talked about how the top-down Community Development Strategies (CDS) have left people’s needs at the mercy of politicians. For decades, politicians have been promising the people of Tombel Subdivision pipe water, good roads, schools’ electricity, and better health care but none has been achieved instead they build big houses for themselves and drive exotic cars. To round it off, we have to answer some questions, is it possible for the Korean strategy to work in Cameroon? If implemented how long can it take before villages become self-reliant? And also, can sustainable developments help to prevent inter-ethnic conflicts?

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