There is a question people often ask which is “Why isn’t the whole world developed?” In order to answer this question, it is first useful to understand what the hegemonic view of development is. The IMF and World Bank (WB) have promulgated an idea of what underdevelopment is. To these development institutions, underdevelopment means not having the economic infrastructure to generate growth. It is assumed that a non industrialized country has little GDP, and therefore, cannot provide for the material needs of its citizens. These countries are therefore considered poor. Assessing a country’s development based on its ability to generate a high GDP requires, then, that underdeveloped countries adopt market economies in order to provide materialistically. Equating development with materialism and modernization, and underdevelopment with a lack of, marks the beginning of the West’s quest to “develop” the underdeveloped world. And, at the forefront of this mission are development economists and INGOs.
While acknowledging that (extreme) poverty is a real phenomenon that cripples both social and economic development, this paper shows how the development framework of development economists, and the language and imagery used by International Non Government Organizations (INGOs) to convey the urgency of development, they both impact, in two but interconnected ways, our perception of non-Westerners (or the other): Development economists who see poverty as institutional failure have pinned poverty to internal malfunctions of underdeveloped countries. Though there is much validity in their institutional analysis, there are critical implications that affect our understanding of the non-Western political economies. INGOs, on the other spectrum, negatively portray underdeveloped countries in order to legitimize their “humanitarian” interventionist activities. While some of the work carried out by these transnational bodies has helped many, perpetuating negative views of the non-Westerner creates intolerance towards those living outside the parameter of market values and modernization. As a result, both development economists and INGOs, I claim, enable the globalization (or imperialism) of Western ideals. Thus, I argue that understanding the differences of non-Western cultures is imperative in order to break the cycle of Western domination… in order for development institutions and policy makers to cease assuming that communities unlike their own need to be developed by their own standards…in order for Westerners to stop assuming that we must all be developed.
The paper is organized into three sections. The first section reviews the implications of explaining poverty through the lens of institutional underdevelopment. I look at how this approach has stigmatized underdeveloped countries as sole proprietors of causes of poverty. The second section shows how INGOs have become purveyors of social transformation and how, through their efforts, they have created, propagated, and perpetuated negative perceptions of the non-Western world. The third section draws from Sen’s understanding of poverty to show the importance of being able recognize and acknowledge poverty—and not miss it when present—without muddling the difference between cultural differences and projection of Western standards (projecting ignorance). Finally, I conclude that because development economists and INGOs negatively portray underdeveloped countries, Western citizens have joined the crusade to “develop” the non-Western world. And as long as Western citizens are bred to have patronizing attitudes towards non-Western cultures, development (as in poverty alleviation) will masquerade the globalization of Western ideals (markets and values alike). To read full paper click here
Hi Klara,
ReplyDeleteHow are you? Hope everything is well, with you and your family!
Part 1
After having read your paper, I would have to admit, it has me a bit perplex! Rather, to go through, all the themes, that you have put forth, I would prefer to answer the question that you posed, while, interlacing it, with some of the arguments that you have presented.
The essential question and that is; Why isn't the whole world developed?
The answer to that question, is simply, those that are developed, have a vested interest, in keeping, a good portion of the world, in an underdeveloped state.
Let us venture, in another field, simply to illustrate, what takes place! If we were in a race, and the very first winners, after having crossed the line, made sure, that the rest of the participants, would simply not finish the race, by minding the field, in other to either, slow them down or to prevent them from finishing the race. Yet, it is the same people, the winners, that go back in other to help them finish the race! The race to feed your population, the race to attain technology and so on! Those that have it, are working very hard, to keep it from, all those that have yet to get it!
Economically, the Capitalist system, has 3 key components, in its armor! Those three pillars are: Unlimited Growth, Scarcity and Debt! These weapons are applied strategically, with the use of the monetary system, to do two things: The first is to maximize profit, and the second is to control and to impede development, therefore, reinforce dependency! That is the mission, of the imperialist!
The Criticism that is levied at these third world countries, either by governments or by institutions, such as, the IMF or the World bank are basically true! The problem is the solutions are always false, especially if, these two institutions are the chosen ones, they are there, to promote debt and to facilitate the resource grab! The under developed countries are profoundly corrupt, which is, by in large, an adjunct of a society of scarcity, reinforced by culture, prolonged instability and many other factors. It is to be stated, that the external factors have weighed heavily, on these societies, which has removed any possibility, of an organic growth, it is instead, replaced by military interventions, economic dumping, blockades, sustained poverty, cultural depreciation, which in turn, profoundly corrupts their values, their institutions, both physical and in thoughts, are always depressed. Those elements create a massive cultural lag, it invariably affects all aspects of life, including the economic sphere.
(Part 2)
ReplyDeleteHence, you have the element of game, set, match. Simply, the organism has been transformed, those corruptive impulses, more like instincts, are intelligent in the destructive sense, like a cancer spreading and building its network, developing its means of advancement, its means of sustenance.
When the organism has been ignited, it now has a life of its own, the engineers and architects of such insidiousness, can now withdraw, in large part, intervening, but strategically, to manage the cancer from without! The Capitalist has become the biggest cancer causing agent out there, it is fulfilling its mission admirably, in absence of a clear antibody, the immune system continues to depress! These antibodies must be armed with a now intelligence, to counter this constant attack, this endless aggression, it must organized its counter force, grouping cells together, with the understanding, that a holistic approach, a systems approach is paramount, to fully appreciate the ills, that lye before them! Having traveled on this trek for a bit, yet, it allows us to view other disciplines,and are, profound relationships with them! The remedies offered, for cancer, are quite similar, to the solutions we've expressed, to the systemic social-economical problems, that are ravaging our societies, and that is patch work, in other words, cut out the tumor, but the cancer continues to grow! We often deal with some of the manifestations of the problem, restricted only to, the particular problem and are overwhelmed, by the fundamental causes, and the need to fully eradicate.
We are living in a highly critical moment, yet, with the advent of technology, we can safely say, that we can feed all of the worlds people, without any hesitation. The continent were the most pillage, has taken place, certainly, in recent history, has the richest land and also has the capacity, to feed the worlds population, many times over!
That Continent is Africa!
As we travel, in this sphere, of time and space, in this moment, we ought to ask, pursuant to your question, "What can each one of us do, to transform are world, into a beautiful oasis"? Where all lives are not only valued, but are all cherished, where all living organism, are given their space, where the earth and all that it comprises, can be shared sanely, with all of the worlds peoples!
A far better world is possible!
Thank you so much for your feedback. I appreciated like your succinct reasons for why the whole world is not developed. It's very true. However, while I am very aware of those points, I didn't mention them in my paper because I wanted to tackle the question from a different perspective: form the perspective of ideology: both INGOs and development economists have falsely promulgated this idea that we all need to be "developed" and I put developed in quotation marks because it's development according to what the west values as developed. Or explanation, though I also agree with it, does suggest that third world countries ARE poor and backwards and acknowledges that they do need help. But that they have been getting the wrong help. I vacillate between that and what I claim to be utter ignorance of how we interpret the "other's" life style. We are misunderstanding their ways of life. And this misunderstanding has done more than benefit the interpreters: It has sanctioned their imperialist expansion in the name of development. yesterday was imperialism of religion---the spread of Christianity. And today it's imperialism of markets/capitalism and to do this you have to develop nations. And to develop nations you have to claim that they are poor, backwards, disfunctional, diseased, uncivilized, etc.
ReplyDeleteNeither you nor they, misunderstand, the way of life, of indigenous people! They take a great deal of time to understand their culture, their way of life and their philosophy! Then they begin to chip away, they shift the paradigm and prepare the prey for the taking! I would agree, there is an arrogance, which translates, into racism and you can add, whichever ism, you so prefer! You value the words of the oppressors, so much, that you have included yourself, with them! You have not misinterpreted anyone life style, you have not misunderstood, their way of life but unfortunately, neither the oppressors. Whether it is development, democracy or terrorist, they painstakingly apply, an appropriate application for the specific circumstance, in other words, as they see fit! All oppressors, certainly, in this day and age, the most important thing, they bring to these countries, is their way of life, as the carrot to achieve, and that is ideological, and it cuts like a hot knife through butter!The culture has been forever changed, that marketing approach, fragments the population and creates opportunities that are endless! We also disagree, on how you view, these underdeveloped countries, with a sense of bliss, a sense of preserving their sanctity, their sovereignty, which many of them, have lost centuries ago! If you are connected to the monetary system, you've already lost, if you can not feed the whole country, you are good to go, if most of the population, is illiterate and unemployed, it is game, set and match!
ReplyDeleteTake good care!