Theodore
E. Downing
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updated 21 March 2002 11:46:42 AM
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Maho Shimizu
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Lecture objectives and organization. Purpose of policy laboratories. Downing policy background. What are global social development policies?
What is global social development policy (SDP)? Who makes it? Why has there been increased concern for SDP among financial intermediaries , such as The World Bank, and project developers? Is this international law? Are the emerging global social development policies becoming primary human rights documents?
Standards play a critical role in defining social life. Professor Downing offers you examples of several standards that have emerged in the last hundred years. The next lectures are to introduce you the architecture of the international social development. Modern, global social policies emerged from the private sector during the late 19th Century. The case of the standardization of time by the US railroads is considered. We also consider the reactions against globalization of time and its deep impact on social life. In the global negotiation over the standards for mobilizing and distributing capital, social development issues have been marginal. Recently, social standards are playing a significant role in the emergence of the new global economy. A wide range of forces and voices - ranging from social and environmental justice advocates to investment bankers - are converging. They are beginning to hammer out rudimentary international social development standards.
Over 10 million people in the world are involuntarily resettled each year to make way for development projects. Research has shown that most displaced people are deeply impoverished in many ways. They may not only lose houses, land, but access to communal resources, income, jobs, their health, and their community and social support system. Impoverishment is not, however, an inevitable outcome of involuntary displacement. Professor Downing was worked on involuntary resettlement problems in Chile, Argentina, Mexico and the USA. He presents numerous photographs, videos, and examples of the impact of forced displacement.
I focus on policies intended to "safeguard" those in the way of development from harm. I use involuntary resettlement (IR) policy as an example because (1) IR has the longest history of policy evolution, (2) IR influences all dimensions of a society (health, political authority, economic productivity, social interactions, etc.) and (3) the IR policies are under revisions at this very moment. The impoverishment risks associated with involuntary displacement of people by development projects are examined as a background to understanding Bank policy. The objective is to unearth how Bank social development policy is made. World Banks draft Involuntary Resettlement Policy.
The World Bank is trying to play a major role in the development of global social development standards. It develops, modifies, and enforces policies intended to "safeguard" those in the way of development from harm.He identifies 4 to 8 specific social "safeguard policies" that have emerged in the World Bank Group. He argues that these policies are becoming important, but limited, human rights and environmental standards. The centerpiece of these safeguard policies relate to involuntary resettlement of people caused by infrastructure development. The impoverishment risks associated with involuntary displacement of people by development projects are examined as a background to understanding Bank policy. The objective is to unearth how Bank social development policy is made.
The best way to understand policy is to make policy. In the policy lab, you will have an opportunity to participate in policy formation. Professor Downing introduces a method that he uses for analyzing social development policies. The methods are applicable to policies in almost any domain. For an example, Downing will help the students examine The World Banks policy on indigenous peoples. A revised version of this policy was published on 6 July 2001. The public is being asked to comment on the proposed revisions by 14 December 2001. Should students wish, they may submit their policy recommendations to the Bank for consideration. In previous years, Ritsumeikan students have responded and influenced global policy.
The World Bank has played a major role in the development of international social development standards. These policies have emerged as a set of human rights standards for those who find themselves in the way of development. This session surveys the policy architecture of the World Bank Group including its overriding ideology, guidelines, project cycle, its mode of operation, and its capacity to influence social change. The World Bank Group develops, modifies, and enforces policies intended to "safeguard" those in the way of development from harm. The centerpiece of these safeguard policies relate to involuntary resettlement of people caused by infrastructure development.
To understand the significance of social development policies, Professor Downing examines, in detail, the world-renowned case involves the involuntary resettlement of the Pehuenche Indians in Central Chile. The Bank policy framework focuses primarily upon governments being the primary source of financially induced, policy change. The Bank hoped to change government practices and policies by sector-reforms or project-related agreements. This model is becoming less relevant as private sector lead investments have become the major force in economic development. Using a case study, this session examines the most significant transformation in the socio-economic field that is challenging international social development policy. A highly controversial hydroelectric development in southern Chile has become the center of considerable attention within the Bank Group, among human rights advocates, among those concerned for the plight of Indigenous Peoples, and among environmental proponents. It may be leading to fundamental policy reforms. Or it may not. Can the Bank Group deal with the social policies for private sector investments? Professor Downing was a consultant to the International Finance Corporation (the private sector arm of The World Bank Group) that financed the first of a series of dams on the Alto Bio Bio River. He offers a detailed account of the events so students will understand the on-the-ground problems associated with developing a workable, global resettlement policy.
Continuation of discussions and work in previous policy laboratory. Continuation of discussions and work in previous policy laboratory.
Continuation of case from lecture 9. Professor Downing provides photographs and statistical evidence of the involuntary resettlement problem.
In each of these social policy areas, comparable policy problems appear again and again. From the perspective of the policy scientist, the central challenge in social development is to find financial and institutional solutions to recurring social and economic problems. Applied social scientists command a catalog of solutions to recurring social problems. Skilled policy scientists can can discriminate between what is likely and unlikely to work. Downing argues that good policies increases the predictability of social interaction. And good policies confines and institutionalizes conflict. I provide a brief overview of six recurring social problems that well formulated policies must address.
Applying the lessons to each person's personal policy concerns. The "Butterfly Effect"
I have designed an unorthodox grading method
Initial questions. The first day of class, I wish a detailed email or note given to Downing indicating a) your educational and travel experience, b) your area of policy interest, c) an example of a problem involving people that you find most interesting. (10% of final grade)
· Questions about the lectures. Students are expected to ask me questions using email or paper. I will stop the lectures and provide you with about 10 minutes to submit a question. However, questions are much more important than comments. There are no bad questions. Asking a question means you understand. Asking a very good question means you understand very well. I will occasionally answer good questions in class, without identifying individual writers. You may submit these questions by email after class, if you wish. You may submit a copy of your question in Japanese to Ms. Maho - if you wish. I am not grading English, so do the best you can. If I don't understand, I will ask. Please do the same. (70% of final grade)
· Team work. We will work in teams in the policy laboratory. . Your contributions to improving the draft policy currently under review in the policy laboratories. (20% of final grade)
Readings and Assignments
Textbook: Professor Michael Cerneas Putting People First (Japanese edition), including introduction by Hidehiko SAZANAMI.Web links: Information is posted on this website.