"This article discusses the current focus - especially within 'people-centred' development - on the use of indigenous knowledge as a significant resource. Although Agrawal recognises that the challenge to the monopoly enjoyed by 'Western' (scientific) knowledge is long overdue, he criticises the assumption implicit in the new indigenous knowledge discourse that there is a clear divide between indigenous and Western knowledge. This dichotomous classification of knowledge is bound to fail for two reasons. Firstly, each body of knowledge is so heterogenous that it cannot be clearly separated from the other. Secondly, the indigenous versus Western classification assumes that knowledge is a fixed system (in time, space and content). Instead, Agrawal argues that knowledge creation is a fluid process that evolves in close interaction with the changing (political, institutional, cultural, economic) context. Moreover, knowledge changes depending on the interests it serves and the purposes for which it is used. Therefore, different strategies for systematising and disseminating knowledge will not be 'neutral', but will benefit different social groups." ( Global Development Network website)