OK - hope everyone saw our latest newsletter -- The Bark! -- it will be posted on our resource page.
In the meantime, one of the things that catches my attention is how quickly the debates on "global development" are changing. [Spoiler alert: this is going to lead to a cool video about some of our ICF colleagues working in Community Development.] Our entire field was born out of a "us and them" vision: developed versus "third world" (remember?), former colonial powers versus former colonies, high growth high GDP versus low growth low GDP countries, industrialized versus non-industrialized. I know it was a while back, but that's what we've inherited and built upon.
Now we're moving into a globalized, post-colonial and post-modern world. (Maybe colonization was the worst of the hubris of modernization -- but that's a philosophical discussion for another day.) And the us versus them doesn't really make sense anymore. (Thank God for small favors!) Development and sustainability in development are going to remain big questions for a little while, but it's just that we're going to have to look at it differently. If we're going to make good on the MDGs for example, I remember an excellent paper by Davidson Gwatkins back in 2002, basically saying that the poverty and "development" differentials within countries were to a large extent greater now than the between-country differences. And the case is clearly made when you look at the wealth and social protection differentials observed in today's United States. Horror stories about people losing their jobs, homes, and having no access to care in this country can quickly take on the seriousness and hopelessness of a"developing world" story.
I think personally that development has always been a global human and social issue, and it's just becoming more apparent now. Of course, we're still dealing with very substantial resources' differentials, even between Prince George County in the US (where I sit) and many towns and districts in Sub-Saharan Africa. I'm not saying there are no differences, just that they are shades of grey, rather than black and white.
In this context, it's been interesting to hear from and exchange with some of our colleagues in different corners of ICF, both the Public Health group (working on domestic/US health issues) and our Community Development division, which works primarily on domestic issues. The players change, but the variables at hand for building sustainable positive social change?... often not that different really.
So, read more and have a look at this marketing video about the good work of our colleagues (go to "View" on the right side), or click on 'go to video' link below:
Cheers all,
Eric
In the meantime, one of the things that catches my attention is how quickly the debates on "global development" are changing. [Spoiler alert: this is going to lead to a cool video about some of our ICF colleagues working in Community Development.] Our entire field was born out of a "us and them" vision: developed versus "third world" (remember?), former colonial powers versus former colonies, high growth high GDP versus low growth low GDP countries, industrialized versus non-industrialized. I know it was a while back, but that's what we've inherited and built upon.
Now we're moving into a globalized, post-colonial and post-modern world. (Maybe colonization was the worst of the hubris of modernization -- but that's a philosophical discussion for another day.) And the us versus them doesn't really make sense anymore. (Thank God for small favors!) Development and sustainability in development are going to remain big questions for a little while, but it's just that we're going to have to look at it differently. If we're going to make good on the MDGs for example, I remember an excellent paper by Davidson Gwatkins back in 2002, basically saying that the poverty and "development" differentials within countries were to a large extent greater now than the between-country differences. And the case is clearly made when you look at the wealth and social protection differentials observed in today's United States. Horror stories about people losing their jobs, homes, and having no access to care in this country can quickly take on the seriousness and hopelessness of a"developing world" story.
I think personally that development has always been a global human and social issue, and it's just becoming more apparent now. Of course, we're still dealing with very substantial resources' differentials, even between Prince George County in the US (where I sit) and many towns and districts in Sub-Saharan Africa. I'm not saying there are no differences, just that they are shades of grey, rather than black and white.
In this context, it's been interesting to hear from and exchange with some of our colleagues in different corners of ICF, both the Public Health group (working on domestic/US health issues) and our Community Development division, which works primarily on domestic issues. The players change, but the variables at hand for building sustainable positive social change?... often not that different really.
So, read more and have a look at this marketing video about the good work of our colleagues (go to "View" on the right side), or click on 'go to video' link below:
 |
| Go to Video: Community Development Work of our ICF Colleagues |
Cheers all,
Eric
No comments:
Post a Comment