In his book “TheComing Anarchy”,the American journalist Robert D. Kaplan paints a dark picture of the situation in many developing countries in the early 1990’s, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. He describes societies marked by disease, overpopulation, poverty and criminal anarchy, where nation-states are increasingly losing importance and life is controlled by mafia-like structures and private armies.
Table of Contents
I. From economic to human development – the emergence of a holistic approach to development politics
II. Development as Freedom – the theoretical background
1) The intrinsic and instrumental importance of freedom
2. Human Rights as instruments in the development process
III. Challenges and Criticism
1) The policies of the World Bank and the IMF – a challenge to human development?
2. Criticism from the inside
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the emergence of a human rights-based approach to development, analyzing how this paradigm shift integrates social, political, and economic dimensions to place the individual at the center of the development process.
- The historical transition from economic-growth-centered models to holistic human development policies.
- Theoretical contributions by Amartya Sen and the UNDP regarding the role of freedoms and capabilities.
- Evaluation of the instrumental vs. intrinsic value of human rights in alleviating poverty and fostering development.
- Critical analysis of institutional challenges posed by IMF and World Bank policies during the 1990s.
- Assessment of internal critiques, including the "Asian Values" debate and conflicts between collective and individual rights.
Excerpt from the Book
1) The intrinsic and instrumental importance of freedom
In the foreword to its Human Development Report 1992, UNDP defines “human development as the process of enlarging peoples choices, (…), increasing their opportunities for education, health care, income and employment, and covering the full range of human choices from a sound physical environment to economic and political freedoms”(23). This view is taken up by Sen and the Human Development Report 2000; both describe the process of human development as the enhancement of human capabilities by securing basic human freedoms.
The concept of freedoms is thus of central importance for their view of development. In his study, Amartya Sen views the expansion of freedom as both “the primary end and the principal means of development”(24). Freedoms play a constitutive role in enriching human lives; the capabilities of being able to avoid starvation and undernourishment, of learning to read and getting an education, of being able to participate in political decision – making and of exchanging goods in free markets play a central role in making human lives worth living. In this view, development is the process of enhancing human freedoms and capabilities, and the success of development has to be assessed with this consideration in mind(25).
Summary of Chapters
I. From economic to human development – the emergence of a holistic approach to development politics: This chapter traces the evolution of development policy from post-WWII economic growth models to a more comprehensive framework emphasizing human rights in the 1990s.
II. Development as Freedom – the theoretical background: This section explores the conceptual foundation of human development, focusing on Amartya Sen's argument that freedom serves as both the goal and the primary means of effective development.
III. Challenges and Criticism: The final chapter analyzes external critiques stemming from neoliberal international financial policies and internal cultural debates, such as the "Asian Values" claim, to discuss inherent tensions in the human rights approach.
Keywords
Human Rights, Development, Human Development Index, Freedom, Amartya Sen, UNDP, World Bank, IMF, Capabilities, Poverty Eradication, Asian Values, Democracy, Social Policy, Structural Adjustment, Economic Growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper explores the paradigm shift from narrow economic-growth-oriented development models to a holistic "human rights approach" that prioritizes individual freedoms and capabilities.
What are the primary thematic pillars of the work?
The work focuses on the theoretical underpinnings provided by Amartya Sen, the role of international UN agencies, the friction with neoliberal economic policies, and the cultural challenges to the universalism of human rights.
What is the central research question?
The paper investigates how placing human rights at the center of development policies can better address the needs of individuals and societies compared to traditional economic-only approaches.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author utilizes a qualitative, literature-based approach, synthesizing reports from the UNDP, UNICEF, and academic studies to compare competing development philosophies.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body evaluates the instrumental role of political and social rights in preventing crises, critiques the impact of IMF/World Bank structural adjustments in Russia, and examines the "Asian Values" debate.
Which keywords define this paper?
Key terms include Human Rights, Human Development, Capabilities, Freedom, and Neoliberalism.
How does the author interpret the role of women in development?
The author highlights that women's empowerment, education, and independent economic participation are critical factors in reducing discrimination, improving family health outcomes, and lowering fertility rates.
What conflict exists between traditional economic approaches and human rights?
The paper argues that traditional policies, such as the Washington Consensus, often prioritized macroeconomic stabilization through austerity, which frequently undermined the social services necessary for human rights realization.
- Quote paper
- Michael Rochlitz (Author), 2005, A Human Rights Approach to Development, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/50749
