WHERE ARE WE AND HOW DID WE GET HERE? A Short History of International Development Schemes Claudia J. Ford, RISD 25 Sep 08

“…the MDGs are poorly and arbitrarily designed to measure progress against poverty and deprivation…” Easterly

“…the MDGs are poorly and arbitrarily designed to measure progress against poverty and deprivation…” Easterly

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Up to the late 1970s development efforts centered around: Savings and capital accumulation Foreign aid Investment Population control Reduction in mortality, especially infant mortality

Up to the late 1970s development efforts centered around:

Savings and capital accumulation

Foreign aid

Investment

Population control

Reduction in mortality, especially infant mortality

STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT PROGRAMS (SAPS) A precondition for aid or debt reduction by the World Bank or IMF on developing countries, with the objective of integrating the national economy to the globalization process through economic liberalization.

A precondition for aid or debt reduction by the World Bank or IMF on developing countries, with the objective of integrating the national economy to the globalization process through economic liberalization.

GOVERNANCE THEORY THE DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM OF THE 1990s Public sector management Financial accountability Legal framework for development (Rule of Law) Transparency and free flow of information (Media) Human rights and civic participation (Civil Society)

THE DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM OF THE 1990s

Public sector management

Financial accountability

Legal framework for development (Rule of Law)

Transparency and free flow of information (Media)

Human rights and civic participation (Civil Society)

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT The needs of the present generation must not be met at the expense of future generations. The Bruntland Report (1989): Elimination of poverty and depravation. Conservation and the enhancement of the resource base. Development that covers economic growth with social and cultural development. The unification of economics and ecology in decision making at all levels.

The needs of the present generation must not be met at the expense of future generations.

The Bruntland Report (1989):

Elimination of poverty and depravation.

Conservation and the enhancement of the resource base.

Development that covers economic growth with social and cultural development.

The unification of economics and ecology in decision making at all levels.

SUSTAINABILITY That natural resources are finite and there are limits to the carrying capacity of the Earth’s ecosystems. That economic, environmental and social gains must be pursued together within these limits. That there is a need for equity in pursuing development goals: intergenerational equity, current fair distribution of resources and gender equity.

That natural resources are finite and there are limits to the carrying capacity of the Earth’s ecosystems.

That economic, environmental and social gains must be pursued together within these limits.

That there is a need for equity in pursuing development goals: intergenerational equity, current fair distribution of resources and gender equity.

GLOBALIZATION Even the global market's most ardent supporters accept that it fails to alleviate poverty - not only in poor countries but in the rich North as well. Margaret Legum (2004)

Even the global market's most ardent supporters accept that it fails to alleviate poverty - not only in poor countries but in the rich North as well.

Margaret Legum (2004)

The present development culture promotes: An economic conception of time The cult of competition Universalizing the claims of the development model An image of individual success transmitted as a value Money as a universal yardstick for deciding what people and things are worth The commodification of people and goods The compartmentalization of life N'Dione, et.al. (1995)

An economic conception of time

The cult of competition

Universalizing the claims of the development model

An image of individual success transmitted as a value

Money as a universal yardstick for deciding what people and things are worth

The commodification of people and goods

The compartmentalization of life

N'Dione, et.al. (1995)

"Underdevelopment as a state of mind occurs when mass needs are converted to the demand for new brands of packaged solutions which are forever beyond the reach of the majority." Ivan Illich (1971)

"Underdevelopment as a state of mind occurs when mass needs are converted to the demand for new brands of packaged solutions which are forever beyond the reach of the majority."

Ivan Illich (1971)

"Forty years ago only about 5 percent of transactions were speculative; the rest financed trade or investment in the real economy. Today the proportions are reversed: some 95 percent is purely speculative, only 5 percent is linked to the real world of goods and services." M. Legum (2004)

"Forty years ago only about 5 percent of transactions were speculative; the rest financed trade or investment in the real economy. Today the proportions are reversed: some 95 percent is purely speculative, only 5 percent is linked to the real world of goods and services."

M. Legum (2004)

“ The existing world economic order constitutes a system of plundering and exploitation like no other in history.” President Fidel Castro, 2002

“ The existing world economic order constitutes a system of plundering and exploitation like no other in history.”

President Fidel Castro, 2002

WAY FORWARD Development means laying the foundation for a new social order that can cultivate the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness (Bah á'is). Development is the process of enabling a sustainable livelihood in harmony with natural resources, as a foundation for spiritual progress (Hindus). Harmony or a right balance must be the key ingredient of any development goals, the balance between rich and poor, and between human society and the whole universe (Taoists).

Development means laying the foundation for a new social order that can cultivate the limitless potentialities latent in human consciousness (Bah á'is).

Development is the process of enabling a sustainable livelihood in harmony with natural resources, as a foundation for spiritual progress (Hindus).

Harmony or a right balance must be the key ingredient of any development goals, the balance between rich and poor, and between human society and the whole universe (Taoists).

THE FIRST AND SECOND WAY The threats to gender and economic justice come from poorly regulated processes of globalisation on one side, and fundamentalism - the strengthening of national, religious, or ethnic identities that assert traditional gender roles and systems of authority - on the other side.

The threats to gender and economic justice come from poorly regulated processes of globalisation on one side, and fundamentalism - the strengthening of national, religious, or ethnic identities that assert traditional gender roles and systems of authority - on the other side.

THE THIRD WAY Equity, democracy and respect for diversity. “ A global social contract that integrates issues of social justice, environmental justice and gender justice, and provides a fair basis for negotiating the interests of producers and consumers, employees and corporations. Fair shares of environmental space and control. Equitable relations among women and men.”

Equity, democracy and respect for diversity.

“ A global social contract that integrates issues of social justice, environmental justice and gender justice, and provides a fair basis for negotiating the interests of producers and consumers, employees and corporations. Fair shares of environmental space and control. Equitable relations among women and men.”

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE.

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE.