Human Development and Capability Association Annual Conference
Jan 12, 2009 → Dec 31, 2009
Human Development and Capability Association, Annual Conference
Lima, 10-12 September 2009
Organised by Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima
Conference Theme: PARTICIPATION, POVERTY AND POWER
The Annual Conference of the Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) sets out to explore the relationships between participation, poverty and power from the perspective of their contribution to human development and capabilities.
The Conference has as a main purpose the analysis and deeper understanding of how power structures can be changed in order to advance the capabilities of the poor, particularly in contexts where there is ethnic, racial, regional, or religious diversity. There will be an emphasis on the role of political participation by the deprived.
It is hoped that papers presented will analyse power and participation in relation to the capability approach from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Papers may analyze and critically evaluate the diverse experience of social participation in Latin America and elsewhere in the world, ranging from participatory decision making to social mobilization, and aim to increase our understanding of the structure of power and the exercise of it in society from the family level to the local, the regional (subnational), the national and to the global, through political (state, democratic government, civil society) economic (economic policy and enterprise) and cultural institutions (i.e. through media, art, intercultural interactions, etc.).
Continuing the established tradition of the HDCA conferences, papers are also welcomed which advance conceptual clarification of the capability approach (in relation, for example, to agency, rights, entitlements etc.); which include empirical work (including research methods to capture situations and social practices contributing to the wide range of valued capabilities (political, family, religion, education, etc.); and which are from a range of disciplines (including economics, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, political science, theology, law).
Some of the issues that can be addressed are the following:
• Participation and power of the poor in economic, social and political institutions
• Participation and power of individuals and groups of diverse cultural backgrounds
• Gender, race and other factors of discrimination
• Values, religion, culture and freedom
• Concepts of poverty, theoretical, measurement and empirical issues
• Growth, inequality and Human Development in Latin America
• Connections between diverse inequalities and different aspects of poverty
• Markets, State, civil society and poverty
• Economic and social policies and their impact on poverty
• Sharing with the poor, and influence of political power
• Quality of democracy, institutions and the capabilities approach
• Contrast between political and economic equalities and inequalities
• The meaning and legal, social and cultural scope of empowerment of the poor
• Legal empowerment of the poor
• Power of individuals and power of groups
• Crises in politics, institutions and citizenship
• Natural disasters, water, and human development
• Human rights and capabilities
Prospective paper writers can examine these issues from diverse perspectives – encompassing theoretical and conceptual perspectives including philosophical arguments, empirical analyses including econometric analyses, and policy considerations. Papers may contribute to debates on how and what degree concrete experiences of participation imply by themselves itself poverty reduction and empowerment. In general, we would like to connect the three elements of the theme as much as possible.
Emma March Human Development and Capability Association Boston University 67 Bay State Road Boston, MA 02215 Emma March