[EQ] An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach

An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach

Freedom and Agency

Edited by

Séverine Deneulin is Lecturer in international development at the University of Bath and Education Officer at the Human Development and Capability Association.
Lila Shahani is Editor for the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation at the United Nations Development Programme
Earthscan/IDRC 2009 - ISBN 978-1-84407-806-6 - e-ISBN 978-1-55250-470-3

Available online at:

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-143029-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html?utm_source=IDRC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bulletin

“…..The textbook is divided into three parts: Concepts, Topics and Policy.
The first three chapters provide the conceptual foundations of the human development and capability approach. Chapter 1 discusses the importance – indeed, the unavoidability – of value judgements in development and public policy in general. It illustrates that different normative frameworks lead to different actions and consequences in people’s lives. Chapter 2 introduces the fundamental principles of the approach, and constitutes the conceptual foundation for all subsequent chapters. Chapter 3 situates the approach within the context of other schools of thought and development thinking as a whole.

The second part is divided into separate topics and presents a human development angle into each one. There is no particular reason why the topics are arranged in this way, and they can be read in a non-linear fashion. Chapter 4 discusses the topic of economic growth and describes different views about the role of economic growth in promoting human flourishing.

Chapter 5 reviews theories of justice and examines where the approach stands in relation to them. Chapter 6 deals with the topic of measurement, which is central to policy-making since it enables policy-makers to identify target groups in need of intervention. Chapter 7 analyses the role of institutions and markets in expanding people’s opportunities to live the lives they value. Chapter 8 discusses democracy and political participation as mechanisms through which people become agents of their own destiny.

Chapters 9 and 10 discuss two topics to which human development has often been reduced: education and health. Chapter 11 analyses how the topics of culture and religion have been addressed in development studies and critically discusses the contribution of the human development and capability approach. Other topics could have been added, such as a specific chapter on gender, or one on the environment, or another on conflict. However, we have limited ourselves to the topics above for practical reasons of time and length. It will be up to the teachers using this textbook to supplement the chapters with other topics relevant to human development.

The third part deals with policy considerations. Chapter 12 describes the many areas of policy that the human development and capability approach touches upon, and offers useful tools for policy analysis. Chapter 13 collects different policy case studies that can be used as a teaching method to prepare students in human development policy-making and practice.

CONTENT
Introduction

Part I. Concepts

1. A Normative Framework for Development

2. The Human Development and Capability Approach

3. Ideas Related to Human Development

Part II. Topics

4. Economic Growth

5. Equality and Justice

6. Poverty and Inequality Measurement

7. Institutions, Markets and Economic Development

8. Democracy and Political Participation

9. Education

10. Health

11. Culture and Religion

Part III. Policy

12. Human Development Policy Analysis

13. Policy Case Studies

Appendix 1. Teaching the human development and capability approach: Some pedagogical implications

Appendix 2. Didactic pictures

 

*      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website
Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.