Jérôme Ballet – författare

The capability approach has developed significantly since Amartya Sen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998. It is now recognised as being highly beneficial in the analysis of poverty and inequality, but also in the redefinition of policies aimed at improving the well-being of individuals.

The approach has been applied within numerous sectors, from health and education to sustainable development, but beyond the obvious interest that it represents for the classical economics tradition, it has also encountered certain limitations. While acknowledging the undeniable progress that the approach has made in renewing the thinking on the development and well-being of a population, this book takes a critical stance. It focuses particularly on the approach’s inadequacy vis-à-vis the continental phenomenological tradition and draws conclusions about the economic analysis of development. In a more specific sense, it highlights the fact that the approach is too bound by standard economic logic, which has prevented it from taking account of a key ‘person’ dimension — namely, the ability of an individual to assume responsibility. As a result, this book advocates the notion that if the approach is used carelessly in relation to development policies, it can cause a number of pernicious effects, some of which may lead to disastrous consequences.

Due to its multidisciplinary nature, this book will be of interest to those working in the fields of economics, philosophy, development studies and sociology.

The capability approach has developed significantly since Amartya Sen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1998. It is now recognised as being highly beneficial in the analysis of poverty and inequality, but also in the redefinition of policies aimed at improving the well-being of individuals.

The approach has been applied within numerous sectors, from health and education to sustainable development, but beyond the obvious interest that it represents for the classical economics tradition, it has also encountered certain limitations. While acknowledging the undeniable progress that the approach has made in renewing the thinking on the development and well-being of a population, this book takes a critical stance. It focuses particularly on the approach’s inadequacy vis-à-vis the continental phenomenological tradition and draws conclusions about the economic analysis of development. In a more specific sense, it highlights the fact that the approach is too bound by standard economic logic, which has prevented it from taking account of a key ‘person’ dimension — namely, the ability of an individual to assume responsibility. As a result, this book advocates the notion that if the approach is used carelessly in relation to development policies, it can cause a number of pernicious effects, some of which may lead to disastrous consequences.

Due to its multidisciplinary nature, this book will be of interest to those working in the fields of economics, philosophy, development studies and sociology.

La gestion participative des ressources naturelles a été imposée aux pays en développement par les bailleurs de fonds internationaux dans les années 1990. Cette nouvelle modalité de gestion des ressources se construit en théorie avec l’appui des populations locales pour leur propre bénéfice. Dans la réalité, elle tend plutôt à s’imposer à elles. Elle les détourne de l’accès à des ressources sanctuarisées. Elle favorise globalement la captation de rente par l’État et certaines ONG de conservation. Les projets de gestion participative des ressources naturelles se révèlent alors souvent inadaptés pour les populations. Ils renforcent les inégalités sociales au niveau local et ne parviennent pas à réduire de manière substantielle la dégradation des ressources naturelles. Un tel constat plaide donc pour une reconfiguration de cette gestion sur la base d’une véritable démocratie participative et pour le développement de processus longs permettant un véritable apprentissage collectif.

La gestion participative des ressources naturelles a été imposée aux pays en développement par les bailleurs de fonds internationaux dans les années 1990. Cette nouvelle modalité de gestion des ressources se construit en théorie avec l’appui des populations locales pour leur propre bénéfice. Dans la réalité, elle tend plutôt à s’imposer à elles. Elle les détourne de l’accès à des ressources sanctuarisées. Elle favorise globalement la captation de rente par l’État et certaines ONG de conservation. Les projets de gestion participative des ressources naturelles se révèlent alors souvent inadaptés pour les populations. Ils renforcent les inégalités sociales au niveau local et ne parviennent pas à réduire de manière substantielle la dégradation des ressources naturelles. Un tel constat plaide donc pour une reconfiguration de cette gestion sur la base d’une véritable démocratie participative et pour le développement de processus longs permettant un véritable apprentissage collectif.