scholarly journals Alternativas de desarrollo: viejos desafíos y nuevas hibridaciones en China y América Latina

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (17) ◽  
pp. 57-86
Author(s):  
Paul Bowles ◽  
◽  
Henry Veltmeyer ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
Development Studies ◽  
Capitalist Development ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
America Latina ◽  
The Many ◽  
Economic Development Theory ◽  
International Development Studies

In the current, dominant conceptualisation of International Development Studies, «development» is based on the emancipation from poverty for the more than one-billion people who are unable to satisfy their basic human needs, in a world that has never been richer in material terms. Critical development studies attempts to understand why the many projects of development that have been implemented have not led to the stated emancipatory goal after five decades of multiple initiatives and resources, and propose alternatives to the conventional model. To that end, this article examines and theorizes the dynamic of capitalist system's development project; offers tools for the analysis of States, societies and communities which have attempted to create better living conditions and defy orthodox models; outline the resistance to capitalism and the search for alternatives in the peripheries; conceptualize peripheral capitalist subdevelopment or development and post-capitalism or post-development from a perspective of unequal development; reveal the failure of dominant economic development theory and policy that is unable to understand or ignores the underlying dynamic of capitalist development. Consequently, the article proposes going beyond capitalism with the forces of progressive change, oriented toward an alternative development. It analyzes case studies in China and Latin America, where a series of hybridizations are identified that could offer lessons for how to create alternatives to capitalism.

Educating the Heart: Fostering Hope Through Theatre in the AIDS Crisis in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Ward
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
International Development ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Development Theory ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Aids Crisis ◽  
Theatrical Representation ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
International Development Studies ◽  
Hiv Aids

With approximately 5.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS, South Africa has the highest HIV­ prevalence rate in the world. HIV tends to strike the most vulnerable people in society, and is often associated with high risk behaviours, which inevitably leads to stigmatization. Through an integration of theatre and development theory, I propose to investigate the potential of using theatre as a community event that raises awareness of collective issues and that offers new hope to people living with HIV. I suggest that theatre can educate the heart and put a human face on HIV/AIDS, thus catalyzing a healing process at the community level. By targeting township youth, those who are currently driving the virus, an interactive theatre style, such as participatory methodology, can effectively move beyond didactic education. In participatory theatre, the target group is incorporated into the theatrical representation of their circumstances through the performance of personal testimonies associated with HIV. Here, the power of theatre lies in its ability to produce individual reactions in the audience, which ultimately result in a collective experience and elevated consciousness through the discussion that ensues. The community is thus empowered to engage in a new ap proach to HIV/AIDS. Can such a performance prevent further infections by exposing the consequences and realities of living with AIDS? While a test­case would be ideal in the affirmation of these ideas, I hope to bring a new approach to community theatre through a combination of theories from both theatre and international development studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document