Panel: The Technologies of Change – How Middle Classes Influence and Shape Development Policies
Type
conference contribution
Date Issued
2014-06-23
Author(s)
Abstract (De)
This panel discusses the role of technology (in a broad understanding) n the ongoing positional struggles of the middle class to advance development and political participation in their country. A technological account of the case studies enables to highlight the particular motivation of the emerging political influence and the different ways development is conceptualized and ultimately pursued.
The global financial crisis has considerably impacted daily lives around the world and exemplified the ongoing geographic shift of the economic growth engines. While the Global North experiences zero to negative growth periods, developing countries with China, India, and Brazil at its forefront, show considerably decelerated nevertheless highly elevated growth trajectories. In such fast developing countries the wealth accumulation over the last decades is impressive. The unequal nature of its distribution while seemingly disconnected from social and human development calls for a closer look at the political economy of context-specific development. In such perspective the most recent EADI call for “Responsible Development in a Polycentric World” with special reference to the contribution of the middle class is a well-timed attempt to cast light into ongoing struggles in the world that escapes simplistic oppositions of the Global North or South, but also what can be considered as national or international development.
The envisioned panel positions itself in the debate of the politics of a polycentric development. The aim of the contributors is to deliver in-depth analysis of current power struggles in selected fast developing countries. A sharper light on strategies of the middle class to influence policy outcomes is casted with the help of different theoretical frameworks. The different case studies illustrate that it is the emerging middle class who supports the majority of dynamic socio-political changes. While the middle class possesses the extra motivation to pursue social changes, off-setting them from the interests for structural consolidation of the rich and powerful, they also have access to means for achieving them in contrast to the poor – but also runs the risk of being caught in the network of reproduction of an unequal society.
The global financial crisis has considerably impacted daily lives around the world and exemplified the ongoing geographic shift of the economic growth engines. While the Global North experiences zero to negative growth periods, developing countries with China, India, and Brazil at its forefront, show considerably decelerated nevertheless highly elevated growth trajectories. In such fast developing countries the wealth accumulation over the last decades is impressive. The unequal nature of its distribution while seemingly disconnected from social and human development calls for a closer look at the political economy of context-specific development. In such perspective the most recent EADI call for “Responsible Development in a Polycentric World” with special reference to the contribution of the middle class is a well-timed attempt to cast light into ongoing struggles in the world that escapes simplistic oppositions of the Global North or South, but also what can be considered as national or international development.
The envisioned panel positions itself in the debate of the politics of a polycentric development. The aim of the contributors is to deliver in-depth analysis of current power struggles in selected fast developing countries. A sharper light on strategies of the middle class to influence policy outcomes is casted with the help of different theoretical frameworks. The different case studies illustrate that it is the emerging middle class who supports the majority of dynamic socio-political changes. While the middle class possesses the extra motivation to pursue social changes, off-setting them from the interests for structural consolidation of the rich and powerful, they also have access to means for achieving them in contrast to the poor – but also runs the risk of being caught in the network of reproduction of an unequal society.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Event Title
EADI Conference
Event Location
Bonn
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
254415