| 1 |
Before any truth, there is a judgment that is not objective |
| 2 |
truths are fabrications of power |
| 3 |
power (2) |
| 4 |
imposes ‘truth’ as a means of control |
| 5 |
Fake news demonize today’s youth |
| 6 |
The market has emerged as the source of truths |
| 7 |
The view from statistics |
| 8 |
Do we (you) get involved in the repet**ive collection of some irrelevant data? |
| 9 |
Statistics |
| 10 |
shape cultures |
| 11 |
have become crucial |
| 12 |
development tools |
| 13 |
often used unknowingly by development experts to further entrench the Northern development discourse |
| 14 |
statistics are political technologies that |
| 15 |
translate into truth |
| 16 |
technocracy has conveniently forgotten human and nature’s rights |
| 17 |
technocrats (mis)lead us |
| 18 |
ignoring |
| 19 |
HR (2) |
| 20 |
A sub-view from Big Data |
| 21 |
Big data are becoming an instrument of psycho-political control |
| 22 |
the corporation |
| 23 |
its ma***ive acc***ulation of data |
| 24 |
Social movements need to |
| 25 |
act! (2) |
| 26 |
Algorithmic Injustice |
| 27 |
Algorithmic decision-making |
| 28 |
being deployed in |
| 29 |
social domains |
| 30 |
working behind the scenes |
| 31 |
what responsibilities and obligations do we bear |
| 32 |
? (22) |
| 33 |
Algorithms can purportedly avoid biased decision making |
| 34 |
the use of AI systems often replicates historical and contemporary conditions of injustice |
| 35 |
Algorithmic systems are simply not neutral |
| 36 |
need watchdog groups |
| 37 |
to monitor |
| 38 |
machine learning |
| 39 |
Algorithms |
| 40 |
creating a pernicious and worrisome feedback loop in which social injustice is not only replicated but, in fact, further entrenched. |
| 41 |
these systems continue to perpetuate those very conditions under the guise of neutrality. |
| 42 |
society as a whole |
| 43 |
to ask the deeper ex-ante questions, e.g., should we even use weak AI in the social domain at all? |
| 44 |
algorithmic decision making will continue to entrench social injustice |
| 45 |
The view from the social media |
| 46 |
internet |
| 47 |
the loudest voices prevail |
| 48 |
not giving enough (or any) time to think about humankind, HR and nature |
| 49 |
subst**uted debate with insult and fake news |
| 50 |
‘persuasion-and-manip****tion-media. |
| 51 |
we loose so much time dealing with the branches to evade what is really important |
| 52 |
social media are too often but an echo chamber of half truths |
| 53 |
We cannot be caught off guard in the battle for a ‘market share’ of the public mind |
| 54 |
give HR a better chance in the super highway |
| 55 |
The view from journalism |
| 56 |
Reporting has given way to opinion |
| 57 |
opinion becomes certainty |
| 58 |
freedom of expression |
| 59 |
The ‘great dis-informers’ of the public opinion |
| 60 |
devoted to defend the status-quo |
| 61 |
Journalism |
| 62 |
has become cheap currency |
| 63 |
It s thus urgent to change this state of affairs |
| 64 |
our collective views easily become ‘invented memory’ |
| 65 |
the judicial system |
| 66 |
fails the HR of those rendered poor |
| 67 |
(HR) activists; the challenge is to link them |
| 68 |
the HR movement opposes the neoliberal approaches in place and |
| 69 |
shares the same strategic enemy |
| 70 |
Collective action is indispensible |
| 71 |
for keeping HR |
| 72 |
at the very forefront |
| 73 |
a tall order |
| 74 |
activists (3) |
| 75 |
determine whether |
| 76 |
HR are having an actual impact |
| 77 |
the content ought not only to be aspirational, but mobilizing |
| 78 |
The HR community |
| 79 |
provides the perfect platform |
| 80 |
If HR activists believe that such networking is utopian |
| 81 |
they should |
| 82 |
say so |
| 83 |
The discussion on HR activism’s contents must depart from |
| 84 |
acknowledging that |
| 85 |
the powerless cannot do much |
| 86 |
In many cases the powerful actually exploit the powerless, particularly because claim holders are not broadly |
| 87 |
mobilized |
| 88 |
There is not much value in a coalition of organizations and militants who meet merely to discuss among themselves though… |
| 89 |
They treat us as ‘opiniologists’ |
| 90 |
A couple caveats here: |
| 91 |
Too often, the aim is clear, but |
| 92 |
The last thing a HR activist should loose |
| 93 |
A word of caution for activists: |
| 94 |
And then, there are the scholars in the human rights movement |
| 95 |
When scholars***p and activism compete |
| 96 |
Scholars***p will have limited influence if it is restricted to cla***rooms and professional journals |
| 97 |
and/or conferences |
| 98 |
need |
| 99 |
action-oriented keynote speakers |
| 100 |
The world is run by the people who show up! |
| 101 |
‘do or perish’ |
| 102 |
Go to the people! |
| 103 |
Bottom line here then is: |
| 104 |
By definition, one cannot empower someone else! Claim holders have to do it by themselves |
| 105 |
Power cannot be given |
| 106 |
Empowerment is at once a personal and a group process |
| 107 |
claim holders cannot depend on someone doing something for them |
| 108 |
A lot of opening of minds will be needed |
| 109 |
people to dig deeper into their emotions to hold onto their views. |
| 110 |
little |
| 111 |
can be achieved by bombarding |
| 112 |
with |
| 113 |
‘facts’ |
| 114 |
old and new wisdom mix admirably |
| 115 |
To tell someone they are wrong, first tell them they are right”: |
| 116 |
we must take note from what side s/he views the matter |
| 117 |
admit that truth to them, but also reveal to them the side on which their perception is false |
| 118 |
no one likes to be mistaken |
| 119 |
I am a ‘possibilist’ |
| 120 |
got to pull together |
| 121 |
Choose people in your life who are gutsier than you |
| 122 |
There are three cla***es of people |
| 123 |
a) (6) |
| 124 |
b) (6) |
| 125 |
c) (6) |
| 126 |
More foot soldiers, not only a few generals |
| 127 |
Do not underestimate: |
| 128 |
Most people |
| 129 |
Experience shows |
| 130 |
Finally |
| 131 |
One national public interest CSO ought to act as an umbrella HR organization |
| 132 |
giving other CSOs novel ideas |
| 133 |
brings members to a common ground |
| 134 |
In the cla*** from which most of us come from, overriding emphasis is placed on preserving the status-quo |
| 135 |
particular interests of a certain social cla*** |
| 136 |
impose them as if they were the interests of society as a whole |
| 137 |
domination intentions |
| 138 |
laws |
| 139 |
nothing but the expression of |
| 140 |
the dominant group |
| 141 |
Changing the const**ution is |
| 142 |
a political issue |
| 143 |
Political economy is |
| 144 |
we cannot thus look at political actors |
| 145 |
without looking at their |
| 146 |
cla*** |
| 147 |
Their ident**y is always embedded in a |
| 148 |
political framework |
| 149 |
corruption |
| 150 |
“If you pay peanuts you get monkeys; if you pay truffles you get pigs”. |
| 151 |
A great majority of people |
| 152 |
have long stored-up deep feelings of |
| 153 |
oppression |
| 154 |
stem from defeats |
| 155 |
suffered |
| 156 |
in a cla*** hierarchy |
| 157 |
Our current day drama centers around the fact that while domination is exerted in an articulated way, the forces of resistance are fragmented |
| 158 |
And how many anti-racist movements and organizations were not, at some point, s***ist and pro-capitalist? |
| 159 |
As long as |
| 160 |
fragmented resistance is maintained, it will not be possible to leave the capitalist |
| 161 |
h**** |
| 162 |
a***ess if those critiques have contributed or not to even further deepen the fragmentation |
| 163 |
find the angle |
| 164 |
that does not give the forces of the Right |
| 165 |
more |
| 166 |
weapons to increase their |
| 167 |
attack |
| 168 |
there is a dialectical relations***p |
| 169 |
we have to build on |
| 170 |
Perceived anarchy |
| 171 |
not about chaos |
| 172 |
The problem with political jokes is they get elected |
| 173 |
Does voting make any sense? |
| 174 |
While people vote |
| 175 |
it is not just the economy that influences them: “It is inequality, stupid”, it is the violation of HR |
| 176 |
that will be what will hopefully mobilize young people to vote |
| 177 |
I am left with a few questions here |
| 178 |
slow re-politization |
| 179 |
claim holders breaking the silence |
| 180 |
economic and intellectual liberation of claim holder |
| 181 |
politically conscious scholars |
| 182 |
Does anything of substance change |
| 183 |
The human rights struggle is about turning human suffering into history rather than destiny |
| 184 |
Our approach must be political |
| 185 |
governments |
| 186 |
embarra*** them! |
| 187 |
Will it be |
| 188 |
the street |
| 189 |
where we will find the essential truths? Who defines the stage where the game against neoliberalism with its HR violations will be played? |
| 190 |
It will most probably neither be |
| 191 |
philosophers nor us |
| 192 |
who will define the stage |
| 193 |
The stage will be set by a ma*** movement |
| 194 |
that will |
| 195 |
struggle in the squares and the streets |
| 196 |
Injustice and violence always comes from above |
| 197 |
times when national sovereignty |
| 198 |
hiding grave suffering and HR violations |
| 199 |
We are thus called to fight same-wars-in-different-fronts |
| 200 |
urgent |
| 201 |
World elites have already joined forces |
| 202 |
In the struggle for limited resources, who has more chances? The more organized |
| 203 |
Bottom line: |
| 204 |
defined political and economic objectives. …Do you have such? |
| 205 |
“Tell me what you presume to be and I will tell you what you are not” |
| 206 |
HR workers envision what can be… How much slow progress can we all tolerate? |
| 207 |
Postscript/Marginalia (6) |
| 208 |
Marx has died. But Marx resuscitates annually |
| 209 |
– (2) |
| 210 |
he was a committed democrat |
| 211 |
no thinker should be treated as a fixed repository of ‘the truth’. Instead, Marx’s writings are an important resource to fall back-on. |
| 212 |
For him, the excess power of the executive branch was dangerous |
| 213 |
bureaucrats |
| 214 |
‘a cast’, ‘an army of parasites’ and ‘a cla*** of boot leakers’ |
| 215 |
It is thus imperative to him to replace the machinery of the state controlled by the dominant cla***es |
| 216 |
a radical political transformation. |
| 217 |
-The use of religion by the right wing |
| 218 |
hate against gender equality, against LGTBs, against abortion, against immigrants. |
| 219 |
Never forget: Much of external funding (deceptively called ‘foreign aid’) is spent on goods and expertise imported from the North |
| 220 |
External funders are good at |
| 221 |
‘paying for things’ |
| 222 |
development a***istance(?) has been a combination of money and ideas |
| 223 |
imposed on the South |
| 224 |
offering simplistic and politically neutral solutions |
| 225 |
wither human rights |
| 226 |
External funding cannot transform anti-democratic structures of power. |
| 227 |
gives the elites a greater stake |
| 228 |
contributes to increased powerlessness of the rendered poor |
| 229 |
In short: |
| 230 |
its objectives are strategic rather than humanitarian. Local elites |
| 231 |
strengthen their hold on power |
| 232 |
food aid |
| 233 |
treats the symptoms of poverty, not its causes |
| 234 |
Ponder |
| 235 |
Has the time come for recipient countries to impose reverse conditionalities? |
| 236 |
we must keep our eyes constantly open |
| 237 |
this funding |
| 238 |
purporting to ‘aid’ |
| 239 |
Procrastination |
| 240 |
is the lifeblood of the status-quo |
| 241 |
this also calls for fighting for a more democratic governance at the international level |
| 242 |
Global governance is a broad concept relating to (regulating?) the functioning of international inst**utions generally |
| 243 |
Global governance |
| 244 |
depends on it being accepted by a majority |
| 245 |
But it is a political myth |
| 246 |
the representativeness of global governance a myth |
| 247 |
The myth continues with a***uming there is such a thing as all global civil society backing global governance. |
| 248 |
useful |
| 249 |
for wide public consumption |
| 250 |
the lack of a global antagonist |
| 251 |
the |
| 252 |
idea that CSOs are the transmission belt from-the-local-to-the-global |
| 253 |
is really larger than life |
| 254 |
it lends a fake legitimacy |
| 255 |
collective deaf-to-gra***roots-claim-holders-demands |
| 256 |
Selected CSOs have become willing partic****nts and have thus perpetuated the myth. |
| 257 |
only some CSOs are included in a meeting and others are left out for opaque reasons |
| 258 |
CSO partic****tion too often depoliticizes global governance. |
| 259 |
likely to be coopted and tamed |
| 260 |
–wither HR. |
| 261 |
This all challenges how we think about the so-called ‘CSO-community’ |
| 262 |
Global governance fora have thus reinforced exclusionary practices fostering power hierarchies within civil society |
| 263 |
CSOs |
| 264 |
reproduce the North-South divide |
| 265 |
not routinely serving as oppositional or corrective forces |
| 266 |
the mythical narrative remains unchallenged. |
| 267 |
–wither HR |
| 268 |
Response to an article written by the internationally known scientist John Scales Avery for the Transcend Media Service |
| 269 |
Government and corporate policies |
| 270 |
determining |
| 271 |
human rights (HR) policy |
| 272 |
impact of this relations***p |
| 273 |
craving for profit |
| 274 |
characterizes development policy making |
| 275 |
technologies: they are not neutral |
| 276 |
private foreign investment |
| 277 |
served the needs of a rich elite |
| 278 |
Socially and HR appropriate technology does exist! It: |
| 279 |
a) will |
| 280 |
d) |
| 281 |
e) |
| 282 |
common good |
| 283 |
is |
| 284 |
reached when the private interest |
| 285 |
is subordinated to the public interest |
| 286 |
unrestrained pursuit of profit of the 1% |
| 287 |
violence of big corporations and individuals against the 99%. |
| 288 |
There is no common good |
| 289 |
when TNCs capture politicians |
| 290 |
this ‘politico-enterprise corruption’ has also now crossed over to men in uniform |
| 291 |
economic development |
| 292 |
meant applying directed-social-transformation-measures |
| 293 |
If only we can demonetize the goals of development |
| 294 |
social gain can indeed justify economic costs |
| 295 |
Linking current development indicators to gains in GDP |
| 296 |
Deterministic development vs sustainable development |
| 297 |
The role of international organizations in development will remain modest |
| 298 |
reflects the priorities and goals of the countries rendered rich |
| 299 |
development (2) |
| 300 |
legitimizes or delegitimizes (mostly) knowledge |
| 301 |
proposed by claim holders. |
| 302 |
Do not be fooled: |
| 303 |
It is non-technical conflicts that have impeded long-term disparity reduction. |
| 304 |
take home message |
| 305 |
The |
| 306 |
United Nations was built on a concept of sustainable development that is exactly the opposite of globalization |
| 307 |
UN |
| 308 |
concept |
| 309 |
everybody taking part in it was going to be more |
| 310 |
in |
| 311 |
globalization |
| 312 |
everybody would have more |
| 313 |
Just ponder: |
| 314 |
alternative of social protection |
| 315 |
a ‘new social contract’ is what is now being called |
| 316 |
Beware: (2) |
| 317 |
Bottom line (4) |
| 318 |
Any policy has three components |
| 319 |
Human rights have, at best, been over-studied and under-acted upon. |
| 320 |
We have too often tended to mistake endless negotiations on HR for action |
| 321 |
false premise …false promises |
| 322 |
development failure is measured in continued marginalization, misery and death |
| 323 |
the changes to push |
| 324 |
will only come from an organized pop****r movement |
| 325 |
global in scope |
| 326 |
dispel a myth: |
| 327 |
Eleven Sins Against Humanity (and against HR) |
| 328 |
As used today, the Food Systems concept is a non-political attempt to make issues technical |
| 329 |
The UN |
| 330 |
propagating a disappointingly narrow interpretation of what nutrition actions |
| 331 |
are supposed to be |
| 332 |
exclude claim holders |
| 333 |
persistent attempt by governments to secure cheap food for the pop****tion. Cheap food is required to keep salaries low |
| 334 |
neglect of the hidden costs of producing |
| 335 |
deterioration of the environment |
| 336 |
social costs born by farmers and fisherfolks |
| 337 |
difficult to think out-of-the-box |
| 338 |
those who succeed |
| 339 |
considered |
| 340 |
important elements |
| 341 |
quietly eliminated from the discussion |
| 342 |
regulations that are adapted to industrial ma*** production |
| 343 |
resistance against any change |
| 344 |
‘Big Data’ operators will become the new bosses of our food system. |
| 345 |
requires us to (re)act |
| 346 |
profound changes |
| 347 |
resistance is to be expected from powerful groups |
| 348 |
revolution of |
| 349 |
behaviors is what is required |
| 350 |
extremely challenging |
| 351 |
At the end of the food system are the consumers of the wrong processed foods |
| 352 |
we are under the spell of The Nutrition Triple Profit Cycle |
| 353 |
We cannot have the food sector killing us. |
| 354 |
big companies |
| 355 |
produce junk food |
| 356 |
that leads to NCDs |
| 357 |
they |
| 358 |
say: “It is not our responsibility” |
| 359 |
actions that will be needed |
| 360 |
production processes |
| 361 |
supply chains |
| 362 |
Are the companies good corporate citizen? |
| 363 |
The role of science and technology is, in fact, peripheral to solving the problems of malnutrition in the world |
| 364 |
2013 Lancet series of papers on nutrition made it clear we must adhere to the ‘technical coherence’ |
| 365 |
at the cost of |
| 366 |
excluding research |
| 367 |
that does not fit |
| 368 |
dominant paradigm |
| 369 |
science builds on a***umptions about what are legitimate domains of study |
| 370 |
current practices |
| 371 |
propagate a narrow, private sector-influenced interpretation of what nutrition means. |
| 372 |
inherent biases |
| 373 |
struggle with |
| 374 |
human rights (HR) issues |
| 375 |
removes the context |
| 376 |
of non-technical social or political actions |
| 377 |
Take nutrition education: |
| 378 |
Malnutrition has thus been removed from the realm of the ethical and political |
| 379 |
consciously framing nutrition in terms of the-dominant-development-discourses-of-the-day |
| 380 |
limits the things that-we-are-able-to-do |
| 381 |
Rendering an issue technical eventually leads to designated experts being the only people accredited to talk about it with authority |
| 382 |
basic and structural causes |
| 383 |
being relegated to the back burner |
| 384 |
The UNICEF conceptual framework |
| 385 |
widened the nutritionists’ horizon |
| 386 |
the ‘rendering technical’ of complex |
| 387 |
processes |
| 388 |
nutrition scientists as an interest group too often take a technical stance |
| 389 |
rather than focusing research on ways to reorganize the power relations |
| 390 |
purely technocratic cures |
| 391 |
minimal inconvenience to the haves of the world |
| 392 |
‘policy inertia’ |
| 393 |
in tackling any of the three components of the so-called Global Syndemic |
| 394 |
inadequate political leaders***p and governance |
| 395 |
as well as the lack of unequivocal demand for policy action by claim holders, combined with strong opposition to those policies by powerful commercial interests. |
| 396 |
the ones that would lose most |
| 397 |
transnational corporations |
| 398 |
It is not enough to react to hunger; we need to prevent it ( |
| 399 |
The generation of those who are born today does not wait |
| 400 |
Hunger is a stranger to most of you and me |
| 401 |
inefficient use of resources |
| 402 |
Hunger entails four emotions: |
| 403 |
People rendered poor have known hunger since the dawn of history |
| 404 |
man |
| 405 |
condemned to starve by the indifference of others |
| 406 |
Low purchasing power is actually the key word, not hunger; hunger is the consequence |
| 407 |
pragmatic question |
| 408 |
what the critical ma*** of income the household needs is |
| 409 |
more direct questions |
| 410 |
and b) |
| 411 |
Choose the right strategic allies: the people! |
| 412 |
dangers |
| 413 |
underestimating your (strategic) enemies |
| 414 |
unemployment is the biggest cause of hunger for many |
| 415 |
subsistence farmers |
| 416 |
do not need incentives to grow more food; they need the power to do so |
| 417 |
Nutrition professionals: The good, the bad and the ugly |
| 418 |
Public health nutrition |
| 419 |
affected by |
| 420 |
health and agriculture |
| 421 |
nutrition |
| 422 |
in itself, is not threatening to |
| 423 |
political aspirations |
| 424 |
because it is considered a small technical field |
| 425 |
public health nutritionists, are used as pawns of the status-quo |
| 426 |
believe and dream that what they actually do is making a sustainable difference |
| 427 |
To ponder: |
| 428 |
coping strategies |
| 429 |
lock people rendered poor into a low-level-food-security-trap |
| 430 |
need for a radical reappraisal |
| 431 |
Stunting may not represent a failure in coping, but the cost of coping! |
| 432 |
Nutrition is a difficult product to sell to politicians, because its results are long term |
| 433 |
Food is the world’s most highly charged political issue |
| 434 |
most basic symbol of |
| 435 |
disparity |
| 436 |
also the touchiest political issue in many countries |
| 437 |
converting pa***ive food consumers into active food citizens! |
| 438 |
Dignity does not come from being fed; it comes from providing for oneself. |
| 439 |
The most important |
| 440 |
right to food actions are |
| 441 |
local –not originating in Geneva and/or in New York. |
| 442 |
We are |
| 443 |
left with difficult questions |
| 444 |
and d) |
| 445 |
Ponder: |
| 446 |
The ruling cla***es are not interested in getting rid of malnutrition. |
| 447 |
Does ‘strategically ambiguous’ often mean contradictory? |
| 448 |
) ( |
| 449 |
Technical approaches |
| 450 |
frame a response totally side-lining needed ethical and political actions in the direction of |
| 451 |
the direction of the right to food and adequate nutrition. |
| 452 |
Values affect approaches to addressing malnutrition… |
| 453 |
it will determine |
| 454 |
how final solutions are decided. |
| 455 |
You can guess the risk here: |
| 456 |
should nutritionists stay in positions of nutrition governance if they do not solve malnutrition’s problems…? |
| 457 |
The international |
| 458 |
nutrition community is not monolithic, |
| 459 |
has been split |
| 460 |
the international nutrition community has been characterized as fragmented |
| 461 |
implications for progressing a coherent agenda |
| 462 |
pract**ioners |
| 463 |
cherry-pick options |
| 464 |
according to their political interests |
| 465 |
One cannot carry out work in the name of ethical principles without a critique of politics |
| 466 |
Ethics is unavoidable |
| 467 |
a human conventional attempt to regulate social practices |
| 468 |
there is no hope of success without |
| 469 |
a political strategy |
| 470 |
The ethical discourse is thus inseparable from an ideology |
| 471 |
The moral discourse cannot function on its own. It needs politics |
| 472 |
as its practical ground of reference without which it would condemn itself to futility. |
| 473 |
Competing moralities are rooted in competing political struggles |
| 474 |
what is meant by the |
| 475 |
lack-of-political-will |
| 476 |
i |
| 477 |
t is not a lack of political will |
| 478 |
a political will must be pulled from (and not pushed by) those in power. |
| 479 |
Five possible types of commitments (reflecting a political will) that we can make in human rights work |
| 480 |
Rhetorical commitment: |
| 481 |
Inst**utional commitment: |
| 482 |
Operational commitment: |
| 483 |
Embedded commitment: |
| 484 |
System-wide commitment: |
| 485 |
Political will and commitment do not come from the sky |
| 486 |
Both have to permeate from society. |
| 487 |
problem: |
| 488 |
political will is exerted top-down when what is needed is bottom-up |
| 489 |
(How) Do ‘liberals’ make this ethico-political commitment? |
| 490 |
Be mainstream or be quiet! …? |
| 491 |
Centrism can be equated with not doing anything that can provoke |
| 492 |
the dominant power |
| 493 |
This is not to be confused with pragmatism. |
| 494 |
Centrism denies an essential thing: Conflict. |
| 495 |
Centrism goes for consensus –but consensus around what? |
| 496 |
consensus around the interests of the more powerful. |
| 497 |
conflicts come back |
| 498 |
centrism infiltrates the political discourse of both the Center-Left and the Right |
| 499 |
political parties have stopped leading the people’s struggle |
| 500 |
against human rights (HR) violations |
| 501 |
they want to function within the space that the dominant cla*** allows them to occupy. |
| 502 |
these parties will continue collaborating with neoliberalism. |
| 503 |
as long as there is capitalism, there will be patriarchy |
| 504 |
the struggle awaits |
| 505 |
At this point, I am left with nothing but a bunch of questions |
| 506 |
Is there such a thing as (2) |
| 507 |
is everything OK |
| 508 |
Liberals |
| 509 |
do they really mean |
| 510 |
populist rhetoric |
| 511 |
rather contribute to demobilize |
| 512 |
Does the cult of ‘extreme centrism’ |
| 513 |
Has ‘extreme liberalism’ attempted |
| 514 |
Has that liberalism not died |
| 515 |
Historically |
| 516 |
philosophers of liberalism |
| 517 |
Marxism did it differently |
| 518 |
Fast forward |
| 519 |
New International Economic Order |
| 520 |
Political realists have tried |
| 521 |
How? |
| 522 |
Do you, therefore, think (2) |
| 523 |
(How) Do politicians make this ethico-political commitment? |
| 524 |
Ignorance of the ma***es about their HR is bliss for politicians |
| 525 |
Are any of your politicians aggressive |
| 526 |
Important: |
| 527 |
peasants are not a political force |
| 528 |
Peasants thus badly need |
| 529 |
to become a true pressure group |
| 530 |
Further ponder: |
| 531 |
Cities will continue to deteriorate if the countryside does not prosper. |
| 532 |
urban consumers |
| 533 |
are politically more important to politicians |
| 534 |
The rest of what I want to say here actually fits into my iron laws |
| 535 |
Politicians’ feeling of guilt |
| 536 |
He who controls the definition |
| 537 |
He who sows misery |
| 538 |
reaps anger. (Graffiti in a Paris wall) |
| 539 |
It is safer to be feared |
| 540 |
Many politicians are as unreliable |
| 541 |
Less political prisoners |
| 542 |
Do politicians pay pipers |
| 543 |
For certain politicians |
| 544 |
Men and nations do behave wisely |
| 545 |
Bureaucratized politicians |
| 546 |
Political leaders |
| 547 |
Beware of politicians who do not care |
| 548 |
A (pre)last word: Charismatic politics has displaced democracy-as-usual ( |
| 549 |
charisma is effective only in a receptive social climate |
| 550 |
is hardly benign |
| 551 |
Let us analyze: |
| 552 |
‘authoritarianism-in-democracy |
| 553 |
Philippines and India |
| 554 |
Does not Trump fit in here as well? |
| 555 |
do not lack in intellectual leaders***p |
| 556 |
Partic****tion and representation-with-a-binding-character |
| 557 |
are part of a human right encompa***ing the right to voice and influence |
| 558 |
Partic****tion has been called ‘the right of rights’ |
| 559 |
decisions |
| 560 |
by a majority |
| 561 |
already |
| 562 |
found in Roman law |
| 563 |
In the current development paradigm, partic****tion is being seen as a luxury rather than as a human right (HR) and thus as a legal obligation |
| 564 |
people being instrumentalized by coercion |
| 565 |
decide about how to handle this |
| 566 |
claim holders rightfully feel |
| 567 |
manip****ted |
| 568 |
restricted |
| 569 |
partic****tion |
| 570 |
falls prey to clientelism. |
| 571 |
we are living in a ‘(non)democratic partic****tion crisis’ |
| 572 |
the World Bank model purports to have ‘the’ model of partic****tion of ‘the poor’ |
| 573 |
‘the poor’ are expected to partic****te |
| 574 |
without challenging the basic a***umptions |
| 575 |
of neoliberalism |
| 576 |
this has more of a smell of ‘managed democracy’. |
| 577 |
repression |
| 578 |
follows |
| 579 |
How to get to such a managed democracy stays in the dark |
| 580 |
Societies can be compared with a stream. The sectors of major partic****tion flow through the center of the stream; towards the edges, partic****tion diminishes gradually until we reach those sectors that do not partic****te at all in society |
| 581 |
We often hear discouraging messages |
| 582 |
insatisfaction |
| 583 |
“it is our fault” |
| 584 |
those who detent |
| 585 |
want claim holders to be in such a state |
| 586 |
belonging to a bigger group is crucial |
| 587 |
anger can then actually be mobilized |
| 588 |
to demand |
| 589 |
The misery many claim holders live-under |
| 590 |
the result of an acc***ulation |
| 591 |
dragged from generation to generation |
| 592 |
individuals are handicapped |
| 593 |
part of underdevelopment |
| 594 |
High income groups |
| 595 |
use those rendered marginal to their own benefit |
| 596 |
society as a whole becomes explosive |
| 597 |
The marker of progress towards an equitable HR approach is when local and national groups no longer have to wait to be invited-in! |
| 598 |
Communities |
| 599 |
mobilizing |
| 600 |
is the precious a***et lost when partic****tion is applied mechanically and top-down |
| 601 |
the full consent of local female and male (and children) claim holders is key |
| 602 |
academics |
| 603 |
ought |
| 604 |
to do work |
| 605 |
complementary to that of organized social movements |
| 606 |
Partic****tory research |
| 607 |
its aim is to awaken the community |
| 608 |
It addresses |
| 609 |
the feeling of dissatisfaction |
| 610 |
what is sorely needed is legally-secured truly democratic decision-making processes. |
| 611 |
by excluding ordinary people in countries rendered poor from partic****tion in deciding the fate of their HR only reinforces and amplifies existing inequalities |
| 612 |
Why teach an old dog new tricks that are doomed to fail |
| 613 |
Rosa Luxemburg |
| 614 |
considered this the first obligation to get |
| 615 |
partic****tory ma*** action going |
| 616 |
claim holders can learn from Rosa Luxemburg |
| 617 |
Hope is the last thing one ought to lose |
| 618 |
Only those who are in the battle can win it |
| 619 |
has not delivered as per expectations |
| 620 |
failures have been |
| 621 |
justified explaining that ‘the model could not be applied entirely |
| 622 |
Development models/strategies promoted by the ruling cla*** are mere bandages on the wounds of social injustice |
| 623 |
development planners |
| 624 |
do not |
| 625 |
deal with the consequences |
| 626 |
Northern development planning |
| 627 |
has |
| 628 |
its base in the principle of utility |
| 629 |
treats people as human capital, ergo as a means only |
| 630 |
ask: |
| 631 |
what type of planning is needed if there is a commitment to |
| 632 |
human rights |
| 633 |
Two ‘bewares’ are called-for here: |
| 634 |
surveys |
| 635 |
have led to a lack of true guidance |
| 636 |
guidance mostly tinkers |
| 637 |
Partial successes only make us believe that technocratic solutions* can solve structural problems |
| 638 |
internationa |
| 639 |
conferences are not technical anymore |
| 640 |
The politics in them is shunned. |
| 641 |
multidisciplinary approaches are often nothing but a deliberate non-political subst**ute for structural changes |
| 642 |
discredited |
| 643 |
‘capitalist development with a human face’ |
| 644 |
In short, |
| 645 |
Northern-led development models have proven to be a mere quixotic enterprise |
| 646 |
Science as an impulse for development: Where does that leave human rights? |
| 647 |
development is bound up with Northern scientific knowledge |
| 648 |
affect all facets of development |
| 649 |
models ‘justified’ by science are more concerned about being scientifically correc |
| 650 |
than programmatically effective |
| 651 |
knowledge in this area is not to be necessarily based on the exact sciences |
| 652 |
evidence-based is |
| 653 |
tricky |
| 654 |
‘scientific evidence’ is not neutral |
| 655 |
research more a posteriori |
| 656 |
often report a post-mortem |
| 657 |
with dire consequences for HR |
| 658 |
do we have science on our side in HR work? |
| 659 |
we are asking scientists to become socially conscious and committed |
| 660 |
Models come with the use of the right development ‘buzzwords’ |
| 661 |
allow for multiple interpretations though |
| 662 |
‘human rights’ has been used deceivingly |
| 663 |
this ‘all-things-to-all-people’ property |
| 664 |
limits progress |
| 665 |
Two cla***ics in development work: Charity and nepotism |
| 666 |
charity, a humiliating ingredient |
| 667 |
pride |
| 668 |
Development inst**utions need a resident consciousness ombudsman versed in HR |
| 669 |
Ignoring HR |
| 670 |
resulting in non-viable development paths |
| 671 |
HR-based development solutions |
| 672 |
Who are we left to ‘sell’ them-to then? Elemental Watson!: Claim holders… |
| 673 |
Are we here to promote real changes |
| 674 |
Just ask yourself: Where are we going to end up if nothing is done? |
| 675 |
We |
| 676 |
take with us our values and culture and destroy the indigenous one. Standard solutions do not work for non-standard problems. |
| 677 |
The purpose of looking at the future is to disturb the present. |