by
John Langmore
Experts
from all world regions were recently invited to examine different
pathways to social development during a conference organised by
the United Nations Division for Social Policy and Development
and the Council of Europe’s Directorate General for Social
Cohesion, 28-30 May, at the Convento da Arrabida, Portugal.
Recognizing
that “there is no single universal path to achieving social
development”, participants, were urged to question conventional
wisdoms. One key finding was that participants found unchecked
neoliberalism to be a constraining factor to social development.
Their views, highlighted below, are not necessarily those of the
UN or the Council of Europe. The full report “Expert Reflection
on Pathways to Social Development” is under preparation by
the UN and the North-South Centre.
Common elements
Though pathways to social development vary worldwide, common elements
generally include: political engagement in democratic processes;
equitable growth of incomes (between individuals, genders, regions,
ethnic groups, and peoples in occupied territories); improvements
in social services; redistribution of income, wealth, power and
assets; adoption of national anti-poverty programs; and strengthening
of the regulatory role of the state. A strong consumer movement,
good corporate citizenship and an independent and responsible
media were recognized as critical emerging forces.
Diversity
Some broad differences in social development were noted. The West
European pathway has been shaped by internal struggles
between interest groups, by human rights and, more recently, by
anti-poverty and anti-exclusion strategies. North America
presents a similar picture of great wealth co-existing with poverty.
Here social deprivation has deep historical roots in exclusion
manifested along ethnic lines.
The Asian region is very diverse, and its experience
varied. Many Asian countries have been led by authoritarian regimes,
which embraced the market and economic growth. China for example,
after having prioritised equality for decades, has now embraced
‘efficiency first, some equity later’. This is resulting
in impressive economic growth but with high social costs thereby
raising doubts about the long-term sustainability of the strategy.
Nonetheless, China is placed high on the human development index.
In contrast India, which does not enjoy a high ranking, has a
vibrant civil society movement.
The Arab world generally prioritises government-led
economic development while taking into account the ideals of Islam.
Civil society organisations are still emerging. By contrast, Latin
America’s civil society has grown impressively. The poor,
women, and indigenous communities have consolidated into innumerable
organisations at the community level and have entered the public
sphere.
Africa is challenged with external debt, poverty,
the spread of HIV/AIDS, and internal conflicts. Africa as well
as former centrally planned economies have been
hardest hit by neo-liberal globalisation, often with the collusion
of national elites. In transition economies, as represented by
Moldova, there has been a rapid descent into dire poverty within
the past ten years. Despite the outward trappings of democratic
governance, political accountability is weak if not absent.
Neo-liberalism as a ‘wild horse’
Neo-liberal globalization was seen as a ‘wild horse where
the strong stay on but the weak are thrown-off’. In its current
operations, it lacks accountability and transparency. Democratic
principles need to imbue global relations no less than those at
national and local levels.
Neo-liberal globalization was termed fast-track
globalization. In reaction to it, a slow-track globalization
was emerging characterized by new alliances among civil society
groups often in association with the United Nations. These groups
prioritised people and the environment.
Neo-liberalism’s worst effect has been a cavalier neglect
of the world’s greatest resource of all: its people, manifested
in an indifference to investing in their education, health, housing
and general wellbeing. Global unemployment is shamefully high
representing a missed opportunity for humanity. If current policy
trends prevail the agreed objective of reducing absolute poverty
to half by the year 2015 will not be attained.
World Bank and IMF poverty reduction strategies should not be
embraced uncritically. While the private sector has a vital role
to play in invigorating economies, privatisation without due care
has impacted negatively on services, particularly for the poor.
What social development needs
 Social
development does not necessarily depend on high economic growth
but rather on the conscious adoption of strong social policies
in areas of health care, education, housing and employment.
Promotion of gender equality produces multiple effects.
Empirical evidence consistently shows that empowerment of women
has led to marked improvements in child survival, school enrolments
and in general levels of nutrition and health.
Since social policy is the outcome of political conflict and bargaining
over competing goals and claims, the engagement of vulnerable
and marginalised communities is crucial if their concerns are
to be adequately addressed. Democracy is therefore
an integral part of social development.
Community organizations have historically played
a critical role in the development of European welfare states.
NGOs and local communities worldwide continue to demonstrate a
strong capacity to effectively empower the poor. However, the
poorest and most marginalised tend to remain disconnected and
without representation.
Indigenous peoples are bearers of a distinct worldview
and ways of living. Their voice must be heard and their identity
asserted against globalisation and the pressure of homogenisation.
Cultural and religious explanations of development
(or poverty) should be used cautiously since these forces have
manifested both positive and negative traits at different times
and places.
When the poor and marginalised are informed of their civil and
political as well as economic, social and cultural rights they
have sometimes been empowered to achieve access to these rights.
If learned and internalised in childhood, human rights
can shape an individual’s worldview, providing protection
against abuse and inoculation against becoming an abuser. Individual
rights imply responsibility for others’ rights; in that sense,
they support community development.
Multi-sectoral partnerships involving government,
employers, unions and civil society have been effective in ensuring
sustainable social development in a number of countries. Information
is needed on the range of these partnerships worldwide.
A sustainable mix of economic and social policies
is needed. The UN Commission for Social Development will focus
on integrating economic and social policies at its February 2002
meeting.
Whereas the state used to provide a buffer against
the world economy, today it often works to integrate national
economies into an uneven global market. States are also entertaining
(and acting on) decentralisation. While this can
benefit local areas, it can also further entrench pockets of power
while marginalising the socially excluded. The regulatory role
of the state is important to prevent corruption and the imposition
of unsustainable shock treatments and structural adjustments.
The practice of proofing government policies from
the human rights, gender, and poverty perspectives was suggested.
Such proofing could help ensure that government policies are in
line with their international commitments.
Recommendations
Participants called for the following, among others:
- Continuing
exchange
of social development practices worldwide;
- Recognition
that globalization without democratization is unfair,
unsustainable and a violation of the basic democratic principle
that people should be involved in decisions affecting them.
- Affirmation
of civil society as a mainstream actor for global social
development and as a watchdog for trends running counter to
the public interest;
- Investment
in education, from capacity building in the global South
to awareness raising in the North of sustainable consumption
patterns and worldwide acknowledgement of equitable global development
as being key to human security;
- Investment
in girls and women
in order to redress inequality and promote harmonious gender
relations at all levels;
- Upholding
the interdependence of human rights, democracy and development
as well as the need for good governance over national
and global markets;
- Strengthening
United Nations
economic and social institutions towards improved governance
of globalization.
In
conclusion, it was stressed that the scale and depth of persisting
poverty worldwide in the midst of rising levels of wealth and
capacity is unacceptable. Failure to remedy structural inequalities,
whether historic or contemporary, runs the risk of fuelling social
disintegration and inter-communal conflicts.
John
Langmore is Director of the Division for Social Policy and
Development, Department of Economic
and Social Affairs, United Nations
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