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7 - In defence of inclusiveness

On sustainable human development, capability and indicators of progress*

from Part II - Inclusiveness, Social and Individual Agency

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2024

By
Mozaffar Qizilbash
Edited by
Flavio Comim ,
P. B. Anand  and
Shailaja Fennell
Flavio Comim
Affiliation:
Universitat Ramon Llull
P. B. Anand
Affiliation:
University of Bradford
Shailaja Fennell
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

Mahbub ul Haq’s sustainable human development (SHD) paradigm and Amartya Sen’s capability approach (CA) are both inclusive views inasmuch as they are articulated in such a way as to be compatible with certain other views. The CA is one of a range of perspectives compatible with the SHD. There is a tension between an ‘exclusive’ reading of the CA (which suggests that capability and functioning should be the only objects of informational focus) and the inclusion of ‘income’ as a ‘choice’ in the SHD. Attempts have been made to defuse the tension and to merge the two views into one ‘human development and capability approach’. There are risks that, in such a merger, (a) the SHD becomes associated with a specific perspective that is, arguably, hard to ‘operationalize’ and (b) the SHD can no longer ground coalitions, or consensus about indicators of progress across views as diverse as the CA and utilitarian perspectives focusing on the quality of human lives. While ‘inclusive’ interpretations of the CA can minimize the first risk, the capacity to ground coalitions and consensus is central to the inclusiveness of Haq’s SHD and to his legacy, and this chapter argue in its defence.

Keywords

sustainable human developmentcapability approachbasic needsutilitarianism;indicators of development
Type
Chapter
Information
Social Choice, Agency, Inclusiveness and Capabilities , pp. 139 - 169
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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