Written by schuftan@gmai.com   

Human rights: Food for a tough talk thought  ‘HR and development’

 

Human Rights Reader 529

 

#: The only ‘free’ cheese is in the mousetrap.

 

-In many ways, the problems we see around us today are related to past (market-based?) attempts to foster (a certain) development that has not delivered as per expectations. Development models tried have not worked very brilliantly; failures have been variously justified explaining that ‘the model could not be applied entirely…’. Hmm!

 

Development models/strategies promoted by the ruling class are mere bandages on the wounds of social injustice

 

-Northern development planners play with ideas and do not then properly deal with the consequences on the ground.

-Are Northern-led development-theory-heroes closer to astrology than to astronomy…?

 

1. Northern development planning actually has its base in the principle of utility, i.e., to maximize the latter. It, therefore, treats people as human capital, ergo as a means only. Take an example: malnutrition should not be attacked because it brings humanity utility, but because it is a moral necessity. We can justifiably ask: How much or what type of planning is needed if there is a commitment to equity, equality and human rights (HR) --and not utility?

 

2. Two ‘bewares’ are called-for here:

• A large number of development studies and surveys carried out on these models have, not infrequently, been counterproductive and have led to a lack of true guidance on truly people’s felt needs priorities: their guidance mostly tinkers around with the model in an effort to ‘improve’ it.
• Partial successes only make us believe that technocratic solutions* can solve structural problems in the long run; but, in reality, they delay us. Also, why do we expect ‘others’ (and not us!) to bring about needed structural solutions?

*: In the same vein, ponder: international technical conferences are not technical anymore…perhaps never been. The politics in them is shunned.

 

3. Development models calling for multidisciplinary approaches are often nothing but a deliberate non-political substitute for structural changes; they are a (not so) new catch word clearly delaying needed structural changes; they point towards the discredited slogan ‘capitalist development with a human face’ ‘miraculously’ to be achieved by engaging different ‘specialists’ (that is, in different aspects of the Northern development model…).

 

4. In short, given the increasing marginalization in so many countries around the world, these Northern-led development models have proven to be a mere quixotic enterprise. (Z. Pathak)

 

Science as an impulse for development: Where does that leave human rights?

 

-Ever thought about this?: Science is the one culture that all humans share. (Martin Reese)

-To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; is to take (steal) them from many persons research?

 

5. As a currently and ultimately Northern concept, development is bound up with Northern scientific knowledge and how knowledge is presented. Both the work of academics, as well as the accumulated (non-empirical) knowledge, affect all facets of development. (Jody Harris)

 

6. Too often, models ‘justified’ by science are more concerned about being scientifically correct (are they really…?) than programmatically effective. Development of valid, demonstrable and solid knowledge in this area is not to be necessarily based on the exact sciences as the sole possible instrument to validate reality and assess development needs. (FIAN Colombia)

 

7. Repeated reference to science (e.g., meta analyses?) and policies as evidence-based is understandable, but tricky: the generation of ‘scientific evidence’ is not neutral, nor can it be assumed to be; it depends on political and economic interests/factors; there is also the question of what is deemed acceptable as ‘science’.** (Shalmali Guttal)

**: Scientist, traditionally research more a posteriori; so they actually too often report a post-mortem. This has dire consequences in social sciences and development research with dire consequences for HR. So many research projects are just ‘historic research projects’ only there to record past data to eventually project trends.

 

8. So, do we have science on our side in HR work? I would hope so. But more of the same science? (Wenche Barth Eide) We have passed the era where we asked basic scientists to become applied researchers. Now we are asking scientists to become socially conscious and committed researchers-doers. How important this is for HR…

 

9. Models come with the use of the right development ‘buzzwords’. The latter signal understanding and belonging. Meanings attributed to them may be so broad as to allow for multiple interpretations though. (We have seen how ‘human rights’ has been used deceivingly --or only referring to civic and political rights, disregarding social, economic and cultural rights). It is precisely this ‘all-things-to-all-people’ property of the development (and HR) concept that both potentially enables action on a common cause but, at the same time, limits progress on these endeavors when practitioners pull in different directions (not infrequently on purpose).

 

Two classics in development work: Charity and nepotism

 

10. We must remember that there is a condiment that recipients must swallow with the food of charity, a humiliating ingredient that is known as pride. (Wole Soyinka)

 

11. Even in the ‘fortunate nations’, only the most exceptional person could do much if s/he was born in a ghetto as the illegitimate child of a 15 year old mother ...and only the worst nerd would fail if his parents were doctors in Beverly Hills or Soho. (You can figure out the equivalent wording for what happens in ‘non-fortunate nations’).***

***: I leave these two statements as stand alone short paragraphs. I do not need to say more to convey the message.

 

Bottom line

12. Development institutions need a resident consciousness ombudsman versed in HR, even if they rarely are listened to --but it is a beginning.

 

13. Ignoring HR and social issues is resulting in non-viable development paths.

 

14. What is the true fate of sound HR-based development solutions that, for political reasons, cannot be implemented? Who are we left to ‘sell’ them-to then? Elemental Watson!: Claim holders…

 

15. So, Are we here to promote real changes or to sophisticate our data collection and use the data for not-so-sophisticated top-down planning and implementation techniques?

16. At the end of the day, put your right hand over your heart: you do know where you stand and do know on whose side you are acting? Just ask yourself: Where are we going to end up if nothing is done?

 

Claudio Schuftan, Ho Chi Minh City

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All Readers are available at www.claudioschuftan.com

 

Postscript/Marginalia

-A development goal is a dream wrapped up in a deadline.

-Development is slow per-se, but slower due to our incapacity of carrying out meaningful interventions. We, for instance, take with us our values and culture and destroy the indigenous one. Standard solutions do not work for non-standard problems.

-The purpose of looking at the future is to disturb the present. (Gaston Berger) But the future is just not what it used to be…