Allam Ahmed, Sussex University, UK
Gale T C Rigobert, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
We are pleased to present the seventh volume of World Sustainable Development Outlook series, OUTLOOK 2010. The focus of Outlook 2010 is ‘Towards Epistemic Sovereignty: (Re)-thinking Development in a Changing Global Political Economy’. The different chapters in this volume are selected from the 2010 International Conference of World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD).
The WASD 2010 conference is jointly organised with The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and under the distinguished patronage of Honourable Stephenson King, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia. The objective of the WSAD 2010 conference is to question the intrinsic ideological value of neoliberal thinking and methodologies; and to assess whether neoliberal approaches to development are appropriate for the socioeconomic challenges that beset Third World nations.
The theme of this year’s WASD international conference is ‘Towards Epistemic Sovereignty: (Re)-thinking Development in a Changing Global Political Economy’. The theme is indeed apt and very timely. Over the last two years the world has been reeling from the pressures of the worst global economic and financial crisis since the 1930s. Both developed and developing countries have been adversely affected, and there have been calls for a serious interrogation of the epistemological merits of free market economics.
The World Sustainable Development Outlook series has this year attracted scholars from the world over distinguishing the publication as a truly global product; both in the varied national and cultural origins of the contributors as well as the range of topics and case studies covered. The perspectives presented here challenge traditional development thought and seek to present avantgarde ways of thinking about achieving sustainable development (SD), particularly in developing countries (DCs). Outlook 2010 covers a range of topics that ensemble endeavour to address growing concerns about the problems of the third world underdevelopment, even after decades of experimentation with one development strategy or another; all of which failed to deliver the majority of the world’s population from the bowels of poverty.
In the Caribbean region, changing weather patterns and rising sea levels render small island states (SIDS) even more susceptible to vicious hurricanes, flash floods, longer droughts all of which have adverse negative effects on their productive capacity and ability to generate much needed foreign exchange to finance their development.
The earthquake in Haiti, the floods in Pakistan and the recent Hurricane Tomas in the Caribbean are poignant reminders that responsible use of our natural and physical resources are not born out of wishful thinking about what ought to be, but must be essential elements of sustainable development practices. Deterioration of the physical environment, therefore, is a major challenge for all countries, especially those of the Third World whose potential for development is already seriously hampered by other vulnerabilities.
There are also, concerns about health security, energy security and food security, in particular. The softer issues of social and environmental consideration are often relegated to the back burner in favour of what are seen narrowly as the hard issues of politics …! However, energy, economic, health, environmental and social security are interrelated and give definition to the overall socio-economic well-being of a nation. Thankfully, these are gaining resonance with development practitioners, international donor agencies and governments as critical variables in the development equation. It is imperative, therefore, that Third World countries embrace a more holistic approach to development.
The theoretical perspectives presented here provide a framework for understanding and presenting solutions that take into account a variety of international, institutional and intellectual approaches. In doing so there must also be an acknowledgment of the lessons learnt from those who have gone before and have had some measure of success, and a desire on the part of developing nations to emulate their example, albeit in part.
This volume provides the impetus for the cross-fertilisation of knowledge—across physical boundaries, cultures and epistemic schools. The rich exchange of knowledge emphasises the inter-relationship among the various issues, and makes it easier to arrive at solutions to the multifaceted problems of underdevelopment in our various countries and regions. Perhaps we shall get closer to a better future. A future that sees the Third World employing more sustainable approaches to socio-economic growth and easing its way out of the conundrum of underdevelopment.
There was a tremendous response to the call-for-papers, with more than 100 abstracts and papers submitted, covering a wide range of themes. Naturally, the task of selecting which papers to publish became an arduous one. We have finally selected 40 papers which cover a range of topics and reflect cutting edge research in the social and hard sciences.
The key eight parts included in the book are as listed:
PART I: Accounting, economics and business management
PART II: Diasporic tourism, migration and brain circulation
PART III: Social capital and sustainable development
PART IV: Changing demography of the world and the implications for policy making
PART V: ICTS, learning and development
PART VI: The environment and sustainable development
PART VII: Transport studies
PART VIII: Public health
We are confident that the ideas presented here will trigger a rich debate amongst scholars, researchers and policymakers, and will stimulate further thinking in the various areas. We are cognizant of the fact that socio-economic and technical analyses, on their own, will not provide a satisfactory solution to the multifarious problem of underdevelopment. We often forget the cultural backdrop against which development needs to take place and the critical need for a psyche of development as a precursor to achieving significant socioeconomic growth. Therefore, we hope that this book will help to provide an overview of the latest perspectives on the ways in which we in the Third World can rethink our reality, embrace who we are as a people and leverage our intrinsic strengths upon which the foundation of any development rests.
Finally, we would like to congratulate the authors for their valuable contribution and we are grateful to all reviewers for graciously offering their critical and insightful comments that have enriched the quality of the chapters in this volume. Our most sincere thanks go to all of the keynote speakers and presenters who shared with us their expertise and knowledge. We would also like to thank all those who gave generously their time and talent in making the WASD 2010 conference a success.
