Hi Ed,
Without presuming to speak for Tamojit Dutta, I read the post that I
forwarded as offering the very interesting notion of "entitlement" as a
sort of "shorthand" way of getting at issues of democratic rights,
and administrative and even political accountability.
In Canada and in most developed countries, with citizenship goes certain
"rights/entitlements". The specifics of these vary and may be argued but
the overall framework is seldom completely in doubt. These entitlements
are a "call" on the "commonweal".
Dutta following Sen suggests that in developing countries this framework
of "entitlement" is absent. The reasons for this absence may be
historical and complex, deeply embedded in cultural patterns, land-holding
systems, political traditions and so on. Responding directly to these to
achieve lasting economic development has proven enormously difficult.
Perhaps, it is being suggested, one way of getting around this
difficulty/complexity is to, just by fiat grant an "entitlement"...to a
basic income, shelter, education, a job...whatever. Once granted, such
an "entitlement" and enforcing, fostering and promoting it may
become the base for the development of broader civil society
institutions, not to mention the contribution which such an entitlement
might make directly to the wellbeing of the poor in certain developing
countries.
Advocacy for this strategy using its programs and good offices, Dutta is
further suggesting, may be an appropriate role for the UNDP to consider in
the context of its current self-examination.
Mike Gurstein
On Sat, 17 Oct 1998, Ed Weick wrote:
> > I visualise the UNDP as a giant global strategist with a clear long term
> > vision. That vision is to 'create entitlements' in developing countries.
> > Prof Sen, '98 Noble laureate in Eco, says that it's 'lack of entitlements'
> > that result in extreme poverty. Low entitlements is different from low
> > incomes for it's entirely possible to be poor in income but rich in
> > education, health and gender equality. (e.g the state of Kerala, India) I
> > think the UNDP's role is to 'create entitlements' (through education,
> > health etc) such that over time developing countries themselves can
> > initiate and sustain growth. Also, by 'creating entitlements', Joyce's
> > apprehensions would be partly answered. An educated, healthy, aware
> > population is a much more potent force in checking corruption, demanding
> > growth, forcing democratic decisions. As Prof Sen's fascinating seminal
> > work on famines have shown, not a SINGLE famine in the last 40 years has
> > been in a democratic country!! That's the power of 'entitlements'.That
> > could also be the vision of the UNDP!
> >
> > Tamojit Dutta
>
> There are cultural elements which are not so easy to overcome. I'm thinking of
>Russia and perhaps some of the other former Soviet Republics, where populations have
>been educated and have had a relatively good standard of health care. Russians feel
>"entitled", yet nothing seems to work for them. And even though Russians may feel
>entitled and now have a democratic form of government (maybe), they may soon be
>starving.
>
> What may be missing is not feelings of entitlement, but a means to make entitlement
>practical - a system of rational and reasonable laws and property rights, and courts
>and authorities which can enforce laws and rights. This would not be easy to put
>together - in the west it took centuries to develop. What Russia is demonstrating is
>that without such fundamental institutions, felt entitlements and a democratic form
>of government are not very helpful.
>
> Ed Weick
>
>
>
Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.
ECBC/NSERC/SSHRC Associate Chair in the Management of Technological Change
Director: Centre for Community and Enterprise Networking (C\CEN)
University College of Cape Breton, POBox 5300, Sydney, NS, CANADA B1P 6L2
Tel. 902-563-1369 (o) 902-562-1055 (h) 902-562-0119 (fax)
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Http://ccen.uccb.ns.ca ICQ: 7388855
