The Case of Etsako West
In the world of rural development and physical planning, grand, comprehensive blueprints often capture the imagination. Yet, in communities like Etsako West Local Government Area in Nigeria, these meticulously designed plans frequently fail to translate into tangible improvements.
The reason lies not in the vision itself, but in the approach. Enter disjointed incrementalism—a pragmatic strategic decision-making model that champions small, manageable steps over revolutionary leaps.
This "muddling through" method, first articulated by political scientist Charles E. Lindblom in the 1950s, is far more than a theoretical concept 8 . In grassroots physical planning, it represents a practical response to real-world constraints: limited information, political complexity, and scarce resources.
For the residents of Etsako West, where rural-urban migration drains human capital and basic amenities remain lacking, this approach offers a viable path toward sustainable development by building on what already exists, one marginal improvement at a time 4 .
Disjointed incrementalism emerged as a direct challenge to the rational-comprehensive model of policymaking, which assumes decision-makers can identify clear goals, generate all possible alternatives, and predict the consequences of each choice 8 .
Lindblom argued this ideal was unattainable in practice because policy makers almost always face conflict over objectives and possess inadequate information to accurately predict outcomes 8 .
The approach emphasizes addressing concrete, immediate problems rather than pursuing abstract, distant goals like an idealized vision of social justice 8 .
Unlike the rational model that separates ends from means, incrementalism recognizes that means and ends are typically considered together 8 .
No single actor possesses sufficient information to make comprehensively rational decisions; instead, knowledge is distributed across society 8 .
| Feature | Rational-Comprehensive Model | Disjointed Incrementalism |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of Analysis | Comprehensive, all alternatives examined | Limited, few marginal alternatives considered |
| Theoretical Basis | Value-maximizing choice based on complete information | Successive comparison and mutual adjustment among stakeholders |
| Decision Process | Ends established before means | Means and ends considered simultaneously |
| Primary Orientation | Pursuit of abstract ideals and future goals | Solving immediate, concrete problems |
| Information Handling | Relies on complete, centralized information | Leverages socially fragmented knowledge |
Etsako West Local Government Area in Edo State, Nigeria, faces typical rural development challenges: basic infrastructure gaps, limited employment opportunities, and significant rural-urban migration 4 9 .
A 2025 study highlighted these issues, noting that "integrated rural development strategy has been pointed and recommended as a feasible and viable measure towards minimizing the rate of rural-urban migration" 4 .
Various community segments voice specific, immediate concerns—a failed borehole here, a impassable road section there—rather than proposing comprehensive development plans.
Planners focus on solutions that differ slightly from previous interventions, such as repairing existing water infrastructure rather than designing entirely new water distribution systems.
The local government addresses issues piecemeal, starting with the most pressing problems identified through community input, budget constraints, and political feasibility.
Through a process of negotiation, local officials, community leaders, and residents gradually converge on workable solutions that balance competing interests.
Policies are adjusted over multiple budget cycles based on lessons learned from previous interventions, gradually converging on more effective approaches.
Local government councils have found incrementalism "suitable for application in local government councils based on its core tenets and attributes," particularly its "consideration of marginal incremental values and simplicity in application" 1 .
| Planning Aspect | Traditional Comprehensive Approach | Incremental Approach in Etsako West |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Development | Large-scale housing estates requiring significant capital and land acquisition | Incremental improvements to existing housing stock and small-scale infill development |
| Infrastructure Provision | System-wide infrastructure upgrades | Targeted repairs and extensions of existing networks based on immediate needs |
| Employment Generation | Major industrial parks or agricultural modernization schemes | Support for small-scale agro-processing and cottage industries |
| Community Participation | One-time comprehensive consultation during plan formulation | Ongoing, issue-specific input through multiple touchpoints |
Research conducted in Etsako West provides compelling evidence for the effectiveness of incremental approaches. A study administering 367 questionnaires to local residents sought to identify rural development projects and the extent of rural-urban migration 4 .
The hypothesis tested through Chi-Square analysis revealed that integrated rural development strategy—essentially a form of logical incrementalism—served as a viable measure for minimizing rural-urban migration 4 .
The findings based on analyzed data suggested that pursuing rural development planning with "emphasis on the provision of basic amenities as well as provision of employment opportunities in the rural areas though the development and management of agricultural and agro based industries" could effectively minimize migration to urban areas 4 .
This demonstrates how incremental improvements to rural quality of life can collectively address a significant socioeconomic challenge.
| Priority Area | Specific Community Needs | Incremental Intervention Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Amenities | Access to clean water, electricity, passable roads | Sequential improvement of existing infrastructure based on available resources |
| Food Security | Availability of fresh, affordable food | Support for community gardens and small-scale agricultural initiatives |
| Economic Opportunities | Employment, particularly for youth | Development of agricultural and agro-based industries through staged investment |
| Social Infrastructure | Community spaces, meeting areas | Adaptive reuse of existing buildings and gradual enhancement of public spaces |
Techniques for identifying the "multiplicity of actors advocating different values, representing different interests, and possessing different information" to ensure all affected interests are represented 8 .
An approach to resource allocation that builds gradually on previous budgets rather than reinventing systems each cycle, allowing for "gradual change within the company" and greater stability 5 .
Methods for pinpointing immediate, concrete problems rather than abstract goals, focusing planning efforts on issues that are actionable and politically feasible 8 .
Systems for continuous community input and policy adjustment, recognizing the "serial nature of the policy process" that allows policymakers to "learn through a process of trial and error" 8 .
While disjointed incrementalism offers practical advantages for grassroots physical planning, it's not without limitations. Critics point to the "Beagle Fallacy"—the risk that by focusing only on immediate, incremental changes, planners may miss broader opportunities or threats, much as a beagle with excellent smell but poor eyesight might miss prey right in front of it 5 .
There's also the danger of inertia, where the "absence of incentives" for innovation can stifle creativity among planning staff 5 .
Nevertheless, for communities like Etsako West, incrementalism represents a pragmatic path toward sustainable development. By making small, deliberate adjustments to physical planning approaches, local governments can gradually transform rural landscapes while avoiding the pitfalls of overambitious, underresourced comprehensive plans.
As one analysis concluded, adopting disjointed incrementalism offers a "dependable strategy for local governments in Nigeria" seeking to improve rural conditions through practical, achievable steps 1 .
In physical planning as in nature, the most enduring transformations often occur not through seismic shifts, but through the cumulative power of small, consistent actions—each building on the last to create landscapes that truly serve the people who inhabit them.