GOMEZ Oscar A.
   Department   Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University  College of Asia Pacific Studies
   Position   Associate Professor
Language English
Publication Date 2014/12
Type Research paper (Academic/Professional Journal)
Peer Review Peer reviewed
Title What Can the Human Development Approach Tell Us about Crisis? An Exploration
Contribution Type Single Work
Journal International Journal of Social Quality
Volume, Issue, Page 4(2),pp.28-45
Details Recognizing the influence crises have in shaping global governance nowadays, the present
work explores the possible contribution of human development thinking countering the
perverse effects of shock-driven responses to major emergencies. This is done by focusing on
contributions by Sen, Dreze, Haq and Stewart related to famines, violent conflict and the
idea of human security, analyzed using a selection of four criteria, namely, describing the
position of crisis inside human development thinking, issues of modeling and measurement,
the stance toward agency, and the actors gathered around the discourse. After strengths and
weaknesses are considered, the article suggests a tangential involvement through other
human concepts, so human development ideas do not get muddled by the logic of shocks
and fulfill the great responsibility of helping us avoid the many shortfalls of a security-
obsessed view of humanity.
DOI 10.3167/IJSQ.2014.040203
ISSN 1757-0344