Development Studies
What can development institutes such as the Institute of Social Studies contribute to a more sustainable politics of globalisation? In their education and training they should continue to teach the lessons from the past: the theories, the processes, the facts. And they should focus on issues and questions that can be expected to determine the future. That may require deviating from what the middle class considers to be modern and fashionable. It certainly also requires a firm link between analysis and policy, between theory and practice. All this has been the Institute’s raison d’être since its inception.
But, as well as teaching, development institutes can contribute with studies, analyses and research, in particular by doing work that is neglected by others. I see three niches:
First: to carry out research on poverty. But not macro, worldwide, because this is already done rather well by others, despite all the critical comments that can be made on these studies. It would be more relevant to focus on poverty in specific countries and regions, not income poverty but human poverty, with the help of indicators that are representative for the region or country concerned. Study local poverty, measure its dimensions, expose the underlying mechanisms, both the general ones and those that are specific to that situation, reveal the impact on the life of poor people of forces and policies outside their control. Write and tell the stories of the poor, as concretely as possible.
Second: study negotiations that have taken place in the past. What has been agreed and decided and what not? Which decisions and agreements have been implemented and which not? What went wrong and why? Bring negotiators, policy-makers and managers of the past together to reflect on their roles, the results they achieved, the chances they took, the opportunities they missed, the constraints they had to obey.
Third: study globalisation, not only its bright side, but all its consequences. Try to do so not only from the perspective of those who run affairs, but choose the perspective of those who run the risk: people doomed to stand aside or to be pushed aside.
Such policy-oriented studies can have an impact on the politics of globalisation: less collateral damage, no calculated default, no betrayal of commitments, but sustainable benefits for all.
But, as well as teaching, development institutes can contribute with studies, analyses and research, in particular by doing work that is neglected by others. I see three niches:
First: to carry out research on poverty. But not macro, worldwide, because this is already done rather well by others, despite all the critical comments that can be made on these studies. It would be more relevant to focus on poverty in specific countries and regions, not income poverty but human poverty, with the help of indicators that are representative for the region or country concerned. Study local poverty, measure its dimensions, expose the underlying mechanisms, both the general ones and those that are specific to that situation, reveal the impact on the life of poor people of forces and policies outside their control. Write and tell the stories of the poor, as concretely as possible.
Second: study negotiations that have taken place in the past. What has been agreed and decided and what not? Which decisions and agreements have been implemented and which not? What went wrong and why? Bring negotiators, policy-makers and managers of the past together to reflect on their roles, the results they achieved, the chances they took, the opportunities they missed, the constraints they had to obey.
Third: study globalisation, not only its bright side, but all its consequences. Try to do so not only from the perspective of those who run affairs, but choose the perspective of those who run the risk: people doomed to stand aside or to be pushed aside.
Such policy-oriented studies can have an impact on the politics of globalisation: less collateral damage, no calculated default, no betrayal of commitments, but sustainable benefits for all.