GLOBAL ISSUES

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Dr. Francis Adu-Febiri & Dr. Francis Yee, 2013Do you see borders?

Contents of Presentation Introduction (Slides 3-4) Concept #1: Global issues (Slides 5-14) Concept #2: Global Inequality & Poverty (Slides

15-26) Concept #3: Global Development (Slides 27-39) Concept #4: Global Sustainability (Slides 40-45) Conclusion (Slide 46) Reference (Slide 47)

Introduction: Conceptual Framework Defined

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: It focusses on the critical analysis of the contextual

meanings of key concepts that frame the focus and parameters of a discipline, a subject, a research study, a course, community, etc.

Research Methods literature portrays conceptual framework as the operational or contextual definitions of concepts.

According to Grinnell, Williams and Unrau (2009), concepts are ideas that need clarification or detailed explanation.

Introduction: Conceptual Framework of Global Issues

As a framework, global issues has three major hinges: Global Inequality and Poverty, Global Sustainability, and Global Development.

All other concepts, major themes and theories of Global issues revolve around this conceptual framework.

GLOBAL ISSUES

GLOBAL INEQUALITY & POVERTY

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

Source: Constructed from personal observation and intimate understanding of the globalization literature

CONCEPT #1

GLOBAL ISSUES

Defining the Concept of Global Issues

Globalization makes global issues evident but does not define the concept of Global Issues.

Books (e.g., Bhargava 2006, Seitz and Hite 2012, and Payne 2013) with the title of Global Issues hardly define and systematically conceptualize the global issues concept.

It is taken for granted that given the existing definitions of globalization, global public goods, global politics, global norms, the definition of concept of global issues is self-evident or implied.

Global Issues (Bhargava 2006) Vinay Bhargava (2006), the author of the World Bank book,

Global Issues for Global Citizens, correctly identifies global issues, globalization and global public goods as related but differing concepts (p. 34).

However, it defines the concepts of globalization and global public goods at the expense of the concept of global issues as is evident in the following quotation: The International Task Force on Global has defined

international public goods ( a term that includes both global and regional goods) as goods and services that “address issues that: (i) are deemed to be important to the international community, to both developed and developing countries, (ii) typically cannot, or will not, be adequately addressed by individual countries or entities acting alone; and in such cases (iii) are best addressed collectively on a multilateral basis. “ By this definition, most but not all the global issues addressed in this book involve the creation—or the failure to create—global public goods’ (p. 34).

Global Issues (Bhargava 2006)

It seems Bhargava (2006), assumes that the definition of global issues is implied in the definitions of globalization and global public goods.

Global Issues (Seitz & Hite 2012)

Like Bhargava (2006), John Seitz and Kristen Hite’s (2012. p. 2) Global Issues book “discusses some of the main current global issues of our time” without providing any definitions or systematic conceptualization of the global issues concept.

Global Issues (Seitz & Hite 2012)

Without first defining the concept of Global issues, John Seitz and Kristen Hite (2012, p. 256) laments in the appendix of their book that many students in American colleges and universities take International Studies courses But a close look at the international studies

course reveals that most of them still focus on only one country or one region (often Western Europe), and only a few focus on a problem or an issue that is found throughout the world.

Global Issues (Payne 2013)

Richard Payne (2013, p.4), after defining the concepts of Global Politics and Global Norms, does not specifically define global issues, but rather states that Global issues encompasses traditional international

relations and world-wide politics Stressing global issues indicates a recognition of how

globalization intertwines many aspects of human activities

Global Issues: Major ThemesVinay Bhargava (2006): Global Issues for Global Citizens: An Introduction to Key Development Challenges

John Seitz & Kristen Hite (2012): Global Issues: An Introduction

Richard Payne (2013): Global Issues: Politics, Economics, and Culture

THEMES THEMES THEMESGlobal Poverty & Inequality; Global Financial System; Global Migration; Global Development; Global Hunger & Malnutrition; Diseases Without Boarders; Global Climatic Change; Global Education; Global Resources; Global Energy; Global Governance

Global Population; Global Wealth and Poverty; Global Food Production; Global Energy; Global Environment; Global Technology; Global Sustainable Development

Global Society; Globalization and Human Rights; Global Governance and Democracy; Global terrorism; Global Financial Crisis; Global Trade; Global Inequality and Poverty; Globalization of Environmental Problems; Global Crime; Globalization of Disease; Global Cultural Clashes

Source: Constructed with information from the three books

Global Issues: Toward a Definition

Analyzing the stated ideas and main themes of the three major current books on Global Issues, it could be deduced that conceptually, “Global Issues” are cross-country cross-regional political, economic, health, technological, environmental, social and cultural problems or challenges facing humanity in a globalized world.

In effect, global issues can be defined as development challenges without borders; problems that are common to nations around the world.

Global Issues: Toward a Definition

Sociologically, global issues are the problems, challenges, and opportunities most societies, if not all, encounter despite the local, national and regional differences in their social relationships, stratification patterns, culture, interaction, and social institutions.

CONCEPT #2

GLOBAL INEQUALITY & POVERTY

Inequality & Poverty as Global Issues

Inequality and poverty are now global issues because they transcend local, national and regional boundaries.

Global Inequality & Poverty Poverty and inequality and their associated

outcomes can no longer be contained within national boundaries. This makes them a global issue/problem of huge proportions, and it means that alleviating poverty and reducing inequality are critical to maintaining and strengthening regional and global stability. That is why the UN has made reducing world poverty a top priority—it is a target under the first of the Millennium Development Goals (Bhargava 2006, p. 37)

Global Inequality & Poverty North and south are no longer geographic

coordinates. Now they are power relations between the global rich and the global poor. The north-south divide has grown and, so too, have new transnational inequalities and social hierarchies. Social polarization cuts across national lines as well. New elites, middle classes, and high-consumptions sectors are uplifted from their national contexts as they become incorporated into the global cornucopia [horn of plenty] (Robinson 2014, p. 286).

Inequality & Inequity Inequality is the gap between the rich and the poor: The gap

between the rich/wealthy and the poor are correlated with the gap between males and females, adults and children, dominant racial/ethnic groups and minority racial/ethnic groups, etc. (World Development Report 2006, cited in Bhargava 2005, p. 65):

Inequality: Unequal distribution of outcomes such as income, wealth, consumption or other dimensions of well-being. It is different from inequity

Inequity: Unequal distribution of opportunities—economic, political and social.

Global Inequality is a reflection of Global Inequity (Adu-Febiri 2008)

Poverty There is no single definition of poverty

capable of serving all purposes (Wilson, 1996, p. 21)

Typology of Definitions: 1. Poverty as lack of basic needs 2. Poverty as income below the poverty line 3. Poverty as recipients of welfare/charity 4. Poverty as peoples’ subjective perceptions of

what they need to live according to the expected standards of their society. See Korayem (1996)

Poverty Comprehensive Definition: The Poverty concept goes beyond the

conventional focus on income and wealth/things; it also has non-material dimensions: Education Health Equality Voice Power Security

Poverty In effect, the global poor are poor not only

because they have no or little access to income and wealth, but also they 1. lack the capability to function in their

local communities: Key capabilities include not only adequate

resources for essential needs—food, shelter, clothing—but also access to education, good health, security from violence and other risks, and political participation and voice (Amartya Sen 2000 cited in Bhargava 2006, p. 64).

Poverty

2. they usually live in neighbourhoods where there is far higher incidence of infectious diseases and malnutrition, combined with an acute lack of access to safe water, sanitation, healthcare, adequate housing , education and work (Kofi Annan 2001, pp. 52-56).

The Global Poor

Who are the global poor? Who are below the International Poverty Line?

Mostly Women Children Racialized groups Ethnic Minorities

The Global Poor

Where are the global poor?

In every country, but the extreme poor are concentrated in: Sub-Saharan Africa East Asia South Asia

The Global Poor and Global Development

Development has not been something that the rich bestowed on the poor but rather something the poor achieved for themselves (Nancy Birdsall and Francis Fukuyama 2011)

CONCEPT #3

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

Development as a Global Issue

Developmentalism is now a global issue because it transcends local, national and regional boundaries.

Development as a Global Issue The three most common uses of the concept of

development entails globality (see Mark Frezzo 2008, p. 41): 1. Development as a linear unfolding of human

history from barbarism (antiquity) to civilization (modernity).

2. Development as the extensive and intensive growth of capitalism in the permanent quest for new sources of raw materials, fresh supplies of labor, and untapped markets.

3. Development as a post-WW2 project to create the conditions for economic growth in the global south

Development and Inequality

Development and inequality/inequity are connected: Inequality in opportunities has a negative

impact on economic development and growth (World Bank 2006, cited in Bhargava 2006, p. 65).

Development Classical Definitions:

It is production-based notion of “development” The classical use of the term “development” in

the developed nations, and now in the developing countries, defined progress by the increased growth of material goods by any means possible (Seitz & Hite 2012, p. 72).

Increase in per capita national income of a country or an increase in its gross national product (GNP), the total amount of goods and services produced (Seitz & Hite 2012, p. xvi).

Development and Economic Development are used interchangeably.

Development Alternative Definitions: 1. Direct attention to consequence of

the growth of material goods and services (Seitz & Hite 2012, p. xv). Economic growth leading to social

changes such as:Higher standards of livingHappier human beingsEnlarged of human capabilities and choicesCreation of an environment in which people can

lead long, healthy, and creative lives

Development Alternative Definitions: 2. Integration of Economic and Social

Factors: Economic development that results in happier

human beings because the process leads to creation of adequate number of satisfying and challenging jobs, adequate housing, health care, and educational opportunities, healthy and pleasant living and working environments, enough nutritious food to eat, etc. (Seitz & Hite 2012, p. xvi).

Development

Alternative Definitions: 3. Transcends Economic and Social

Factors: Sociologically development refers to a

process in which masses of people experience an improvement in their living standards, opportunities for cultural and spiritual growth, and the ability to exercise a modicum of control over their own lives (Robinson 2014, p. 286).

Development

Comprehensive Definitions: Integration of economic development,

social development, and human development.

Development

Economic Development: Material growth; increased production

Social Development: Improving social, cultural, and political

relationships in society or community Human Development:

Enhancing peoples’ well-being through the enlarging of human capabilities and choices

Development: The Spectrum

UNDEVELOPMENT

UNDERDEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT

Source: Francis Adu-Febiri 2013

Global Development

Economic, social, and human development on a global scale.

Global Development

Millennium Development Goals A framework of 8 goals, 18 targets and 48

indicators to measure progress towards the MDGs (Francis Yee 2011)

Critique of the MDGs: “…elite reform proposals, ranging from Millennium

Development Goals to multilateral restructuring and other forms of ‘global governance’, will not reverse the outflow of African wealth or serve the deeper agenda of African development, which is to meet the reasonable needs of all its citizens (Bond 2008, p. 26)

CONCEPT #4

GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY

Global Sustainability

Sustainability is now a global issue because it transcends local, national, and regional boundaries.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is a powerful concept because it is hard to argue against it. A sustainable world would not mean the absence of growth, but the growth that would be emphasized would go beyond unrelenting desire for more material objects (Seitz and Hite 2012, p. 242).

Alternative Development is possible.

Sustainable Development

Fantasy? Continuous economic growth plus

continuous reduction of poverty plus continuous narrowing of the gap between the rich and the poor plus continuous improvement in well-being of all societal or community members—all attained through environmentally friendly processes.

Sustainable Development

Realistic? Sociologically, sustainable

development involves processes of improving social, cultural, political, and economic relationships in society or community without compromising the freedom and spirit of individuals and groups, the quality of the natural environment, and the well-being of future generations.

Sustainability Sustainability is a process of improving the

quality of life for not just the present but for the future generations too (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987).

Meeting the needs of the current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987)

The ability of society to live within its natural limits by eliminating destructive values and making choices not to overconsume its resources (Jared Diamond 2005)

CONCLUSION

If we fail to take a global view in our approach to eliminating global inequality and poverty, global underdevelopment, and global unsustainability, “future generations will likely suffer an existence that is nastier, more brutish, and shorter than that which we now enjoy” (Brym 2014, p. 283).

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