Synopsis
Politics matter for human development. Reducing poverty depends as much on whether poor people have political power as on their opportunities for economic progress. Democracy has proven to be the system of governance most capable of mediating and preventing conflict and of securing and sustaining well-being. By expanding people's choices about how and by whom they are governed, democracy brings principles of participation and accountability to the process of human development.
Human Development Report 2002: Deepening Democracy in a Fragmented World examines political participation as a dimension of human development. Far from being a luxury for developing countries, democracy's strategic importance to security and stability puts political participation high on the human development agenda. But the links between democratic governance and social and economic development are not automatic. Too many democratic countries have failed to deliver for large segments of their populations. Deepening democracy can make governance truly responsive and accountable to the demands of ordinary people. This process requires the spread not only of democratic institutions but also of democratic politics. And in the interdependent world of the 21st century, democratic principles and practices must extend to international institutions and governance systems to address transnational issues--most notably, terrorism, globalization, and environmental decay.
Human Development Report 2002: · Examines the challenges for democracies young and old of broadening participation and strengthening accountability--or risking democratic reversals · Calls for more democratic principles in global institutions and negotiating to prevent further fragmentation in the world · Argues that democratic governance of security forces is the way to build capacity for peace · Transcends the conventional wisdom of good governance to propose a framework that is not only efficient but also just, equitable, and conducive to human development · Surveys the main tools for measuring political and civil freedoms and their relationship to the Report's human development index (HDI) · Presents the first-ever country-by-country ratings on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals
In addition, Human Development Report 2002 features contributions by Kofi Annan, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mohammad Khatami, Abdoulaye Wade, Jody Williams, and Bono.
Review
"Following a decade during which economics seemed to have taken the primacy in policy making, it is clear that such a one-dimensional approach has failed to address the most pressing needs of the poor. In several areas, the global disparities have actually widened, and for many countries the
Millennium goals appear unreachable unless we all redouble our efforts to improve the living standards of the "bottom billion". As the Human Development Report shows, building democratic and accountable institutions represents the central challenge. No stakeholder alone will be able to address that
challenge. Rather, as the Report argues forcefully a multi-stakeholder approach is needed where politics, business, and civil society work together. This Report comes at a critical juncture--it is not just recommended reading, it is a must for everyone interested in bridging the global
divides."--Professor Klaus Schwab, President, World Economic Forum, Davos
"Human development is about expanding peoples' choices to lead lives they value. Where in the world are we toward this goal, and how does democracy relate to it? Read this challenging and provocative report to find out." --Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Dean of the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard
University
"The growing gap between rich people and poor people is having a serious impact on our political systems. While economic and political freedoms are spreading, human security is becoming more imperiled. Today's democracies must change this course by working more closely with each other, and
this year's Human Development Report takes us closer to understanding how this can be done." --Jimmy Carter, former president of the United States of America
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