Tuesday, September 13, 2011

V515x1: Development

IF YOU ONLY HAVE 5-10min TO READ THIS, YOU'D GET A LOT MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK FROM WATCHING THE VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM.  IT'S WAY COOLER AND MORE INSIGHTFUL THAN MY MUSINGS.

"Development" is a concept that everyone knows should be technical, yet none can agree on it's technicalities; thus, it remains a source of less-than-productive debates, political posturing, and a bunch of hot air.

"Sustainable development" might seem worse, but I think the qualifier actually provides a parameter to work with...things can "develop" in oh-so-many sequences, trajectories, iterations, forms...but, being "sustainable" can only mean so many things.  I mean, it's opposite, "terminal" obviously forecloses a lot of options...

Wheeler and Roseland do a fine job of surveying the problems and promises of a "sustainable development" concept, so I won't belabor the point.  Yet, I'll make one that's related.

When we talk about technical definitions, operationalized concepts, and the implementation of policies, it's no far stretch to realize the power of language.  Two of us could talk, at length, using the same words, in the same syntax, yet walk away completely befuddled, simply given the fact that words can come with - highly variant - culturally and experientially loaded connotations. This can even be intentional, equivocating, and used for strategic ends. 

*I mention this because of our readings' presentation of international declarations, agendas, and local/domestic policy instruments.  Though there are many features of these documents that make them popularly significant, strategically artful, and of historical significance, it is also the case that they are highly  technical instruments with some strangely counter-intuitive properties.
(1) Roseland mentions the "target populations" to which interventions/instruments should be applied.  It is astute to recognize that instruments should be tailored to specific subsets of communities - often along demographic cross-sections of various sorts...however, an extra step is required.  The very language of a law, regulation, policy can affect the success of its implementation: “Social construction become embedded in policy as messages that are absorbed by citizens and affect their orientations and participation patterns. Policy sends messages about what government is supposed to do, which citizens are deserving (and which not), and what kinds of attitudes are appropriate in a democratic society. Different target populations, however, receive quite different messages.” [1]

(2) The logic behind policy implementation is not always straightforward and, in many cases, cannot be. Decades of experimentation with measurements of Maximum Sustainable Yield have concluded that resource ecosystems can become so complex that the linear-cycle assumptions of MSY can obscure critically important, large, slow-moving, systems variables that can't always be estimated by conventional means [2].  Thankfully, the human mind - some argue - is better equipped with cognitive shortcuts, or heuristics, that can assemble structures of meaning that are context - rather than text - dependent.  "Ecological rationality" describes the use of heuristic processes for the navigation of explanatory and predictive theoretical obstacles and is geared toward the pragmatic resolution of indeterminacy, especially where computing optimization – under constraints or otherwise – is implausible [3].

(3) There are more, but this is approaching TLDNR so we can leave the rest for another day.
LASTLY, on the note of "development" several selections in our readings mention notions along the lines of "moral development."  Though I can't quite speak to that, I'll advocate the expansion of empathy. IF YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE, DON'T FOLLOW THOSE CITATIONS...WATCH THIS VIDEO INSTEAD:





[1]: Schneider, Anne and Helen Ingram. 1993. Social Construction of Target Populations: Implications for Politics and Policy. American Political Science Review 87(2): 334.
[2]: Wilson, James. 2002. “Scientific Uncertainty, Complex Systems, and the Design of Common-
Pool Institutions.” In The Drama of the Commons, ed. Elinor Ostrom, Thomas Dietz, Nives Dolšak,
Paul C. Stern, Susan Stonich, and Elke U. Weber, 327-359. Washington, DC: National Academy
Press.
[3]: Gigerenzer, G. (2008). Rationality for Mortals: How People Cope with Uncertainty. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

The Empathic Civilization
http://youtu.be/l7AWnfFRc7g

3 comments:

  1. Well thanks a lot Ryan! I have now just spent 30 minutes of my oh-so-valued time watching this video and two others by RSAnimate!! HaHa

    This is such an intriguing way to learn as the dialogue is very insightful and the illustrations are equally entertaining. I really like this approach and appreciate your sharing it with the class. Keep the inspiring thoughts and sweet multimedia examples coming!!!

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  2. I admit I didn't make it all the way through the post, but I did watch the video. I got lost at "Decades of experimentation with measurements of Maximum Sustainable Yield have concluded that resource ecosystems can become so complex that the linear-cycle assumptions of MSY can obscure critically important, large, slow-moving, systems variables that can't always be estimated by conventional means [2]. Thankfully, the human mind - some argue - is better equipped with cognitive shortcuts, or heuristics, that can assemble structures of meaning that are context - rather than text - dependent. "Ecological rationality" describes the use of heuristic processes for the navigation of explanatory and predictive theoretical obstacles and is geared toward the pragmatic resolution of indeterminacy, especially where computing optimization – under constraints or otherwise – is implausible. [3]" Further clarfication would be wonderful.

    Regardless, I appreciate the idea that we are empathic beings, whose true selves are based in compassion rather than violence, and that we have a biological familial connection. We sure do a good job complicating things, though. Where do you think that comes from?

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  3. Ryan, I think you have this blogging thing down. Perhaps a little too lengthy at times, but worth reading and you have connected me to many great references I missed. I have learned a lot from you already. Loved the video as it sets the stage for Community Based Social Marketing. The Apollo 13 analogy is right on. We are on a spaceship and "Houston, we have a problem."

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