In Pursuit of Development

Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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Global Structural Reform: Poverty, Freedom, Justice, and Innovation — Thomas Pogge Feb 07, 2024

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We explore the idea that the gravest deficits in freedom are intrinsically linked to poverty, impacting individuals and nations worldwide. We also examine the global innovation regime's crucial role in shaping progress and human development. International impact funds encourage and reward innovations based on their social benefits, potentially revolutionizing the current innovation regime. Towards the end of the conversation, we briefly discuss the work of John Rawls and the theory of justice as fairness, which describes a society of free citizens holding equal basic rights and cooperating within an egalitarian economic system.

Thomas Pogge is the Leitner Professor of Philosophy and International Affairs at Yale University. He has has authored many influential books on cosmopolitanism, global justice, and extreme poverty. @ThomasPogge

Resources:

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
The poverty-freedom relationship – 03:12
Is poverty a violation of human rights? – 06:52
The urgency of development finance – 19:19
Innovation and impact funds – 27:50
Profits, patents, and incentives – 39:42
Global justice and solidarity with strangers – 47:00
John Rawls and a global theory of justice – 51:52

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Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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The Future of Industrialization – Jostein Hauge Jan 31, 2024

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Few events have transformed society as profoundly as the Industrial Revolution. The introduction of the factory system not only revolutionized the production landscape but also reshaped the social and economic contours of nations. This transformation was marked by the birth of industries such as textiles, iron, and glass-making, which catapulted productivity and altered every facet of daily life, setting the stage for modern civilization. However, the bastions of industrialization are not impervious to change.

Jostein Hauge is a political economist and Assistant Professor in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge, based at the Centre of Development Studies and the Department of Politics and International Studies. In a new book – The Future of the Factory: How Megatrends are Changing Industrialization – he advocates for adaptive, forward-looking industrial strategies that are attuned to the realities of the 21st century. He argues that the current era is characterized by four 'megatrends' or significant shifts in technology, economy, society, and ecology that are collectively redefining the essence and trajectory of industrialization. These trends are challenging the conventional wisdom of manufacturing-led growth and industrial strategies. From the rise of service economies and digital automation to the complex web of global production networks and the pressing imperatives of ecological sustainability, these megatrends demand a reevaluation of the future of factories and the very notion of industrial development. @haugejostein

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
Industrialization, factories, and wellbeing – 03:56
Labor conditions in global production networks – 09:27
Devising a good industrial strategy – 14:01
The role of manufacturing – 24:14
Automation and the fear of mass unemployment – 29:35
Global governance and leveling the playing field – 38:03
Industrial strategies in an age of ecological breakdown – 41:53

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Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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Development as a Right: Unpacking Principles and Practices — Surya Deva Jan 24, 2024

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The right to development enables individuals and communities to actively participate in and benefit from various forms of development — economic, social, cultural, and political — while ensuring their human rights and freedoms. It involves a range of responsibilities, including the roles of states, multinational companies, NGOs, businesses, and educational institutions. Central to this right are principles of self-determination, intersectionality, intergenerational equity, and fair distribution, aiming for inclusive, diverse, and sustainable development. The shift towards a rights-based development framework is evident in initiatives like the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Bridgetown Initiative. Additionally, the role of businesses in this context is guided by frameworks like the UN Global Compact and the Business and Human Rights Guiding Principles, moving beyond the traditional "do no harm" approach. Despite its significance, the right to development faces challenges and legal critiques regarding its implementation and necessity.

Surya Deva is the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development and a Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Environmental Law at Macquarie University, Australia. @ProfSuryaDeva @UNSRdevelopment

Resources:

Declaration on the right to development (1986)
Reinvigorating the right to development: A vision for the future (report submitted to the Human Rights Council, August 2023)
Role of business in realizing the right to development (July 2023)

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
The right to development and its added value– 03:46
The value of binding conventions versus non-binding declarations– 09:25
Why the judiciary often prioritizes civil and political rights – 15:16
Legalization of the right and the role of the courts in upholding binding conventions– 26:18
Has the definition of the right to development been overly broadened or inflated? – 31:31
The Global North perspective and the role of businesses – 40:23

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Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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Shifting Paradigms: The Global South and Feminist Political Economy Unveiled — Sara Stevano Jan 17, 2024

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The term "Global South" has seen an exponential rise in both academic discourse and international policy dialogues, having evolved from a mere synonym for the “Third World” to a complex geo-historical concept. In the first part of this episode, we critically analyze the utility and limitations of the term, acknowledging the diverse economic, political, and cultural realities it attempts to encapsulate. In the second section, we unpack how feminist political economy scrutinizes the power relations underlying production and consumption, challenges the fictitious separation of economic realms from the social, political, and cultural spheres, and highlights the gendered nature of economic inequalities. We explore the critical themes of social reproduction, care economies, labor market inequalities, and the household as a site of gendered power dynamics, all while considering the intersectionality of gender, race, and class.

Sara Stevano is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at SOAS University of London. Sara’s areas of expertise include the political economy of work, food and nutrition, inequalities and social reproduction. Her recent book with Sara Cantillon and Odile Mackett is Feminist Political Economy. A Global Perspective. @SaraStevano @SOAS

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
The utility and limitations of the term the "Global South"– 03:58
The term "Global South" often comes under criticism for several reasons– 10:12
The added value of feminist political economy approaches – 16:36
The feminization of poverty – 21:06
The complex relations between gender, growth, and poverty – 26:46
The global care chain and the double burden – 34:20
Feminist political economy and climate change – 44:54

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Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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Beyond Trade: China's Cultural and Political Relations in Africa – Joshua Eisenman Jan 10, 2024

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China's burgeoning relationship with the African continent has been characterized by significant economic investment, trade, and infrastructure development, with China emerging as Africa's largest trading partner and a major player in the continent's evolving economic landscape. In recent years, we have seen an influx of Chinese involvement in African industries ranging from mining and construction to manufacturing and retail. This has been accompanied by an ambitious drive to develop Africa's infrastructure with projects that span roads, railways, ports, airports, and telecommunications networks. But the ties between China and Africa extend far beyond economics. We're witnessing a dynamic cultural exchange, burgeoning diplomatic activities, and even aid and military support. However, these activities have not been without controversy, igniting debates over so-called debt-trap diplomacy and resource exploitation.

Joshua Eisenman is an Associate Professor of Politics in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. His research focuses on the political economy of China’s development and foreign relations with the United States and the Global South —particularly Africa. Together with David Shinn, Josh has recently co-authored a new book entitled: China’s Relations with Africa: A New Era of Strategic Engagement. @Joshua_Eisenman

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
China and an alternative world order – 03:20
The quest for soft power – 10:40
Debt burdens and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – 15:10
Revamping the BRI – 18:11
Why “debt-trap diplomacy” is misleading – 24:10
China’s growing relational power - 30:14
Increasing the voice of the Global South – 39:57
New forms of Chinese multilateralism – 45:53

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Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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Accountability in Action: The World Bank's Inspection Panel on the Frontlines – Ramanie Kunanayagam Dec 27, 2023

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Established as an independent complaints mechanism in 1993, the Inspection Panel is tasked with bringing transparency and redress to those adversely affected by World Bank-funded initiatives. The Panel is widely recognized as an international pioneer in respect to holding a major multilateral organization to account on social and environmental issues. Over the past three decades, it has registered numerous “Requests for Inspection”, from communities potentially affected by World Bank-financed projects, and has focused on a range of issues, such as environmental assessment, resettlement and the rights of indigenous peoples. Just how effective has the Inspection Panel been in safeguarding the interests of marginalized groups while holding one of the world’s most powerful institutions to account?

Ramanie Kunanayagam is the Chairperson of the Inspection Panel. She has a distinguished track record in leadership roles within the realm of sustainability, having served in prominent capacities in the corporate world and on the boards of several non-profit organizations. Linkedin

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
How does the Inspection operate? - 03:32
Shrinking civic space and the Panel’s accessibility - 10:44
How the Bank acts upon the Panel’s recommendations - 16:53
Typical complaints - 21:23
The puzzling lack of consultation of local residents - 25:29
The business and human rights linkages - 38:33
Learning from past mistakes - 48:51

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Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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From Miracle to Menace: The Fight Against Plastic Pollution — Gloria Majiga Dec 20, 2023

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Once heralded as a miraculous material, plastic now poses a slow and insidious threat to our waterways, landscapes, and ecosystems. Plastic pollution impacts different regions of the world to varying degrees, and Malawi stands out as a notable example. An estimated 75,000 tons of plastic are manufactured annually in the country, with a minimum of 80% of these plastics being discarded as single-use items. Following pressure from environmental activists, the Government of Malawi took action by implementing a nationwide prohibition on the production, distribution, and importation of thin plastics in 2015. This ban was specifically aimed at plastics with a thickness of 60 microns or less, roughly equivalent to the thickness of plastic bags commonly used for fruits and vegetables in grocery stores.

One of the prominent advocates driving the campaign for the prohibition of single-use plastics was Gloria Majiga, a community development officer and dedicated environmental activist. She was awarded the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa, acknowledging her remarkable efforts in championing the implementation of the nationwide ban on single-use plastics in Malawi. Linkedin

Resources:

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
The development-environment tradeoff - 05:03
Waste management strategies and practices - 07:47
Goats and the plastic ban - 20:27
The role of the judiciary and implementation of the ban- 32:12
The environmental consequences of investments - 40:58
Are leaders the problem? - 47:26

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Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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Decoding Development: The Crucial Role of Institutions – Shiping Tang Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Development implies not just growth over a significant period of time but also progressive changes in the structure of an economy. Many influential scholars have identified the crucial role of property rights and the importance of constraining the power of the state while others highlight the importance of political settlements, development clusters, and inclusive economic and political institutions.

Shiping Tang is Fudan Distinguished Professor and Dr. Seaker Chan Chair Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, China. In his latest book, The Institutional Foundation of Economic Development: A systemic account of how institutions shape economic development, he argues that institutions play a pivotal role in shaping and influencing economic development through four key factors: possibility, incentive, capability, and opportunity. In addition, his framework encompasses six significant dimensions: political hierarchy, property rights, social mobility, redistribution, innovation protection, and equal opportunity. Sustained economic development, however, necessitates not only a robust institutional foundation but also strong state capacity and well-crafted socioeconomic policies.

Key highlights

Introduction – 00:24
What is economic development? - 03:15
The development-democracy linkage - 05:19
Why established understandings of institutions are incomplete - 11:30
The institutional foundations of economic development - 14:45
The new development triangle - 21:02
Explaining China’s economic success - 25:40
Power and influence of local leaders in China - 34:23
Achieving sustained economic growth – 44:10

Host:

Centre for Global Sustainability, University of Oslo

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