Development themes
Introduction
1. How do Otsuki, van Westen and Zoomers describe the role of mobility
(of people, goods, ideas) in development? Why can mobility both reduce
and increase inequality?
- They argue that mobility, of people, goods and capital is a defining
feature of contemporary development because it connects local
communities to global processes. Mobility can reduce inequality by
creating new opportunities (such as remittances). At the same time
mobility can increase inequality because not everyone has the same
access to resources. This means that global linkages may exclude
certain groups and concentrate benefits among elites.
Development is shaped by global-local linkages (people, goods, money).
Mobility is central. Policies need to look at structural global forces (trade
and migration regimes). Rethinking development theory itself, older
models ignored transnational flows. Co-production of development (what
happens locally is shaped by global actors but also reshapes global
systems). Importance of friction: global flows never land smoothly. They
meet local contexts and produce uneven outcomes.
2. Why do the authors say development cannot be studied within national
borders only? What does this mean for research and policy?
- The authors emphasize that development is shaped by global flows that
cross national borders (such as climate change and migration). Analyzing
development only at national scale is insufficient. For research this
requires adopting a multi-scalar approach that links local realities with
transnational processes. For policy it means that governments and
international actors must coordinate across levels to address structural
global drivers rather than treating development as a purely domestic
issue.
Food security and sovereignty
3. What are the three narratives about food systems described by Bene et
al, 2019 and how do they lead to different policy choices?
- Bene identify three dominant narratives.
Efficiency: focuses on producing more through technology and market-
based solutions
Demand-restraint aims to change consumer behavior by reducing waste
and promoting diets
Transformation: calls for deep changes in government and power
relations within the food system
Each narrative points to different policies, ranging from subsidies for
innovation to campaigns and taxes to influence behavior.
, It is also about political values, and how narratives guide very different
policy paths. Narratives are not competing, but they co-exist
(policymakers often pick and mix).
4. How can behavioral insights help food system change (Onwezen et al.)?
- Onwezen argue that behavioral insights can increase sustainable food
transitions by shaping the way individuals make choices. Supermarkets
can use product placement or vegetarian options to encourage healthier
diets. These tools are powerful because they complement structural
changes in the food system, but they cannot replace systemic reforms that
address deeper issues of inequality and governance.
Behavioral interventions often succeed where traditional info campaigns
fail, because people act on habits and biases, not rational cost-benefit.
Nudges risk being paternalistic if not transparent. Behavioral works on
micro-level, transformation works on macro-level.
5. What are territorial markets according to IPES-food? How can they
improve food security and what are their limits?
- IPES-food defines territorial markets as markets rooted in local
contexts. Production and consumption are closely linked to
communities. These markets can improve food security by making supply
chains more resilient to global shocks (supporting smallholder farmers,
cultural diversity in diets etc.). Their limits include their relatively small
scale which makes it difficult to feed large urban populations. Risk:
ignoring efficiency and global interdependence.
Promotes territorial markets, locally embedded, enhance food security.
Suggests hybrid models, local and global systems.
Climate Security
6. The UN Security Mechanism says climate change is not usually the root
cause of conflict. How can climate act as a risk multiplier?
- Climate change acts as a risk multiplier by intensifying existing
social, economic and political vulnerabilities. Droughts or floods do
not automatically cause conflict, but they can exacerbate tensions over
land or livelihoods in already fragile regions such as the Sahel. This makes
climate an indirect but important factor in security, because it adds stress
to societies that are already unstable.
Advocates integrated climate-security risks assessments (humanitarian
development). Warns of danger of over securitization. Need for
anticipatory action (early warning + integrated assessments). Climate is
not a stand-alone driver but intersects with governance.
Introduction
1. How do Otsuki, van Westen and Zoomers describe the role of mobility
(of people, goods, ideas) in development? Why can mobility both reduce
and increase inequality?
- They argue that mobility, of people, goods and capital is a defining
feature of contemporary development because it connects local
communities to global processes. Mobility can reduce inequality by
creating new opportunities (such as remittances). At the same time
mobility can increase inequality because not everyone has the same
access to resources. This means that global linkages may exclude
certain groups and concentrate benefits among elites.
Development is shaped by global-local linkages (people, goods, money).
Mobility is central. Policies need to look at structural global forces (trade
and migration regimes). Rethinking development theory itself, older
models ignored transnational flows. Co-production of development (what
happens locally is shaped by global actors but also reshapes global
systems). Importance of friction: global flows never land smoothly. They
meet local contexts and produce uneven outcomes.
2. Why do the authors say development cannot be studied within national
borders only? What does this mean for research and policy?
- The authors emphasize that development is shaped by global flows that
cross national borders (such as climate change and migration). Analyzing
development only at national scale is insufficient. For research this
requires adopting a multi-scalar approach that links local realities with
transnational processes. For policy it means that governments and
international actors must coordinate across levels to address structural
global drivers rather than treating development as a purely domestic
issue.
Food security and sovereignty
3. What are the three narratives about food systems described by Bene et
al, 2019 and how do they lead to different policy choices?
- Bene identify three dominant narratives.
Efficiency: focuses on producing more through technology and market-
based solutions
Demand-restraint aims to change consumer behavior by reducing waste
and promoting diets
Transformation: calls for deep changes in government and power
relations within the food system
Each narrative points to different policies, ranging from subsidies for
innovation to campaigns and taxes to influence behavior.
, It is also about political values, and how narratives guide very different
policy paths. Narratives are not competing, but they co-exist
(policymakers often pick and mix).
4. How can behavioral insights help food system change (Onwezen et al.)?
- Onwezen argue that behavioral insights can increase sustainable food
transitions by shaping the way individuals make choices. Supermarkets
can use product placement or vegetarian options to encourage healthier
diets. These tools are powerful because they complement structural
changes in the food system, but they cannot replace systemic reforms that
address deeper issues of inequality and governance.
Behavioral interventions often succeed where traditional info campaigns
fail, because people act on habits and biases, not rational cost-benefit.
Nudges risk being paternalistic if not transparent. Behavioral works on
micro-level, transformation works on macro-level.
5. What are territorial markets according to IPES-food? How can they
improve food security and what are their limits?
- IPES-food defines territorial markets as markets rooted in local
contexts. Production and consumption are closely linked to
communities. These markets can improve food security by making supply
chains more resilient to global shocks (supporting smallholder farmers,
cultural diversity in diets etc.). Their limits include their relatively small
scale which makes it difficult to feed large urban populations. Risk:
ignoring efficiency and global interdependence.
Promotes territorial markets, locally embedded, enhance food security.
Suggests hybrid models, local and global systems.
Climate Security
6. The UN Security Mechanism says climate change is not usually the root
cause of conflict. How can climate act as a risk multiplier?
- Climate change acts as a risk multiplier by intensifying existing
social, economic and political vulnerabilities. Droughts or floods do
not automatically cause conflict, but they can exacerbate tensions over
land or livelihoods in already fragile regions such as the Sahel. This makes
climate an indirect but important factor in security, because it adds stress
to societies that are already unstable.
Advocates integrated climate-security risks assessments (humanitarian
development). Warns of danger of over securitization. Need for
anticipatory action (early warning + integrated assessments). Climate is
not a stand-alone driver but intersects with governance.
