POLC90H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Relativism, Equity Sharing, Consumerism
Document Summary
Thou shalt not sit with statistics nor commit a social science w. h. When academics take away knowledge, and don"t contribute to those on the ground, research that affects policy, so little results . Poverty still persists, income inequality is getting worse. Paradigm shifts within development studies: the end of essentializing the 3rd world, the end of the belief in progress, the end of the belief in the role of the state (1). the end of essentializing. Crisis: mainstream theories fail to account for the diversity of experiences of third world countries. Solution: to focus on diversity rather than similarities, is what development studies is doing. Counter solution: without losing sight of common problems and solutions, to understand differences (sherman) (2). the end of belief in progress. Crisis: progress as a destructive force, linked to capitalism and consumerism. Solution: call for the poor of the third world to reject first world need, priorities, and practices.