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The scenarios and arguments that drive and sanction much of Third World rural development are often dismissed as myths, ideologies, conventional wisdoms or fads. Yet these development narratives persist through time and frequently in spite of evidence learned in the field. Instead of calling for more site-specific learning to overthrow narratives that seem to be blueprints for development interventions across countries, the wiser course is first to examine ways in which these narratives can be improved or superseded. Four case studies show how policy makers and practitioners can think more enterprisingly about development narratives specifically and blueprint development generally.