Also, we are all conditioned by our environments and seeing this we can make out that we are all the same, beneth the surface. We all want to live in peace and happiness. We adopt the ways that we are told, somewhere we also start to assume that only we know the way. only ‘us’/my nation, my country is better, so when I need to define myself in a way that is more that ‘I am’ then I need to do something about it. So I compare, I pass judgements on others as ‘they being bad’ or they making mistakes’ or ‘we being good’. Possibly, in the process of labelling, we create our own misery; otherwise we just are. But when I live an ambition of being a ‘world leader’ as a nation, then I feel I am supposed to help or parent others.

May be development should start with ‘me’ understanding ‘myself’. So that I stop being part of the problems which are based on our greed, our exploitation of others, our need to find a definition outside here and now. It all basicly starts with questionning the ‘me’, me a nation. Else we can have a technically ‘developed world’ where insane person can start a nuclear war.

We have seen materialially blessed nations having too many psychologiclal problems, ‘Prozac Nation’, family breakdown and general unhappiness is there as well so what do we actually mean by development. Is it better toilet-seats and more fancy cars or guns that even kids can carry ? Because we are not paying any attention to ‘developing human beings from inside’/developing the heart. And we keep seeing ourselves as sepearte from others which is not a fact. It doesn’t matter whether you are black or white or brown/hispanic/chinese, I am just another face of you. Seeing this first is essential point from where we can start to talk of development, else I am going to exploit you for my physical or psychological needs (in name of your development and my need of assurance that I am developed enough by comparison).

All too often “development” is more to feed the needs of the “giver” (e.g. whether it is strategic economic initiatives to expand markets or sincere compassion, guilt, etc).

It is so below the surface that it is hard to see.

A big part of “development”, then, should definitely be coming to terms with my own motives, needs, fears, hopes, perspectives, identity, etc.

I could answer more explicitly why (any)projects fail? (I am teaching Project Management so it could be quite straightforward). From my point of view we need more global approach since we face problems mainly not trough ignorance but from preconceived ideas…
…some of them mentioned in the video…
looking forward to your comments!

First of all, thanks a lot for listening to my session ‘International Development: A failed regime?’

Please find below some ideas that I tried to present in the session.

Firstly and foremostly, I wanted to emphasize on the need of seeing the world as a stage of power relations, perceptions, biases and propaganda. We all are guided by such forces in some way or another, and the two end-of-the-world videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZMwKPmsbWE and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTX2rHTvW-E) were an attempt to bring out some of these forces that exist around us, and to see them objectively, with a conscious and critical mind and the realization that we need to be together as a world for real development.

The next part was aimed to explain the current global context, the world that we live in, including -

Recent major socio-cultural forces:

Transnational migrations
Post-colonialism
Rise of civil society
Grey revolution (North) – demographic dynamism (South)
weakening state and international dimension of power, especially in developing countries context
“Supra-national processes are seen as undermining the power of national states and their ability to maintain territorial governance based on inclusive political communities”
“As global market forces and global culture are held to be beyond national control, as are climate change, terrorism, health crises like AIDS and mass migration”.

Complexity
Multiplicity (relations, voices, arenas, forms/sources of knowledge, layers of action/governance/relations)
Asymmetrical power relations
From linear conceptions of progress to multi-causality & non-linearity
Connectivity & relational geographies
Diversity (social)

and to see the current world order as a system of hegemonies, a la Samir Amin’s idea of world economic order. In this regard, I also tried to point out that what we refer to Globalization is merely Internationalization of trade with no level playing field for the poorer nations, and even the multilateral agencies being vetoed by the powerful lobbies of rich nations.

Of seeing the inherent politics in international development, and the explicit focus of bilateral aid on strategic and commercial gains. To illustrate it, Soren very rightly pointed out that Finnish Development authority is actually under the ministry of trade and commerce. Another friend from NZ described the protest against the use of NZaid for strategic and commercial advantage, following the precedent of aid agencies like USAID, AUSAID etc. And hence the realization that International Development is actually a regime, of certain powerful interests.

Further, I tried to give a record of how development policies have constantly changed and contradicted themselves, all being perceived in the Global North and forced upon the Global South by means of powerful conditionalities and International Institutions (again formed according to the convenience of soem powerful nations), all symbolizing the failure of this ‘regime’.

The final part was a realization that after the end of structural adjustment program and the understanding that it is the developing world governance systems that know better and that they just need capacity development than some Global North ideas being forced upon them, to help them grow; coupled with the fact that the crises that face us are global, and the bias in International Development has lead to failure and distrust, and that we need an alternative, more inclusive approach to development. I tried to suggest a world order based on equal participation of all nations irrespective of their economic, military or political might, of seeing ourselves and others as equals, as global citizens; and the need for communication, flexibility, mutual learning and development.

The session ended on a positive note, with the identification of ICT4D as a natural way to attain this flexibility, communication and mutual learning, and hence a way for us into the future.

In response to Myriam’s question of pursuit of happiness, I suggested that human life is all about striving to attain development, to attain happiness, and it is a task that is very dynamic, like the life itself. Every moment we try to be happy, every moment we try to make our lives better, and this shall never stop. What my humanitarian model seeks to achieve is not to reach perfection,but to strive to be close to it, for every little instance of time, and the instances of time after it, not just for one, but for all, not as an act of mercy, but as opportunities and resources for everyone, limiting every person on this earth by just their imagination. And the little instance of time when we will attain such a fate, International Development will fulfill its purpose at that instance………………….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0

Best wishes, warmth and sunshine from India.

Raj

ICT can help me in different ways. The first kind of applications gives me immediate benefits.

I want to spend more time with my family ( that is my need), so I want to limit my waiting time at a bus stop for public transport. How can ICT help me?. It can send me an sms five minutes before reaching at the nearest bus stop, so I can reach the bus stop. I am also willing to pay for the service.

The second kind of applications gives benefits that are no so visible. For example, ICT systems for transparency, good governance etc..