Book Series

This is a selective listing of recent English language works relating to social diversity in the context of development and emergency relief work. It has been compiled and annotated by Deborah Eade and Caroline Knowles, Editor and Reviews Editor respectively of Development in Practice.

Building on several case-studies, this book shows that relief programmes are never neutral in their developmental impact, and presents a deceptively simple framework for understanding the dynamic relationship between different people's needs, vulnerabilities, and capacities. Critiquing most current relief practice, the authors show various practical ways in which it might be improved.

This paper examines the complex ways in which ethnicity and religion shape social identities, and how people mobilise in support of movements based on such cleavages. It also looks at the role of violence in social conflicts, at why certain types of violence are preferred by social movements, and how violence structures the identities of group actors and the dynamics of conflicts. Finally, it examines a range of policy issues relating to the resolution or management of ethnic and religious conflicts, and political violence.

This book reminds the reader that, for most countries, 'natural' disasters are a much more consistent threat than high-profile conflict or 'complex emergencies'. These disasters need not be massive - many occur on a local scale - but are just as disruptive to local populations and economies. The other important premise of the book is that the roots of vulnerability to disaster do not lie in the intensity of the hazard solely, but rather in prevailing social and economic conditions in combination with the intensity of the hazard. The book usefully models the complex economic and social arrangements and interactions that relate to vulnerability, identifying areas where action to reduce vulnerability can be taken, and presents principles and guidelines to steer this work.

The situation of disabled people provides a microcosm of the whole development debate and process. Disabled people are oppressed and marginalised in every country of the world, both North and South. Their lives are constrained by social attitudes which stem from fear and prejudice. By probing these prejudices and studying cases where they have been overcome, we gain an insight into the processes of liberation and empowerment that lie at the heart of any development process. This book provides both an overview of the subject and outlines the social, political and developmental aspects of disability in general terms, and illustrates these through concrete examples from selected countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

This book asks the question how human rights can make a difference in the lives of women, given that the very idea of human rights implies universal application to both men and women, across the world. The authors argue that any attempt to address the human rights of women must consider how they can be protected in the context of their own culture and traditions. The book looks at how international human rights law applies specifically to women in various cultures worldwide, and seeks to develop strategies to promote equitable application of human rights law at the international, regional and domestic levels.

This 3-volume reference book offers an authoritative and comprehensive guide to current thinking, policy and practice in all areas of development and relief work in which Oxfam works in over 80 countries around the world. A central principle is that people's social identities - and hence their perspectives, capacities, and needs - are influenced not only by their economic status, but also by the ways in which social roles are defined in relation to others; and by how society values the individuals comprising it. Chapter Two, 'Focusing on People', explores those aspects of human identity that should inform all development and relief work. These include gender, ethnic, racial and cultural identity, childhood and old age, and disability. The practical relevance of these issues is demonstrated in further Chapters on Principles of Development and Relief (including Human Rights), Capacity-building (encompassing education and training, as well as advocacy, and institutional development), Production, Health, and Emergencies. A 500-entry annotated Resources Directory comprises the third volume. The Handbook is aimed at development policy-makers, practitioners, and analysts.

This book examines the ways in which children's rights are protected or violated. The first part focuses on the Rights of the Child, featured in the 1989 UN Declaration, and the frequent disparities between policies and their implementation. Inequalities between children in rich and poor nations and in different groups within particular national settings are also considered. The second part of the book comprises a series of 12 case studies, drawing on a wide range of information, and considers the issues raised in the first part.

Possible bases for communal identity include shared historical experiences or myths, religious beliefs, language, ethnicity, region of residence, and, in castelike systems, customary occupations. Often referred to as ethnic groups or minorities, the key to identifying them is not the presence of a particular trait or set of traits, but the shared perception that these set the group apart. This book surveys over 200 politically active communal groups, with comparative case-studies from Eastern and Western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Japan. Examining their disadvantages and grievances, the author asks: what communal identities and interests are most at odds with the structures and policies of existing states, and why? Answers may include strategies to reduce ethnic conflict, such as autonomy, pluralism, and formal power-sharing.

This book reviews the progress achieved in making gender a central concern in the development process. It evaluates selected leading bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, including the World Bank, which have played a critical role in shaping the development agenda. It suggests an innovative conceptual framework for analysing WID objectives and strategies, and establishing indicators for assessing progress. Policies and measures to promote gender equality and women's advancement are reviewed in a variety of development contexts. The book argues, that in spite of significant advances, the fundamental objective of transforming social and gender relations and creating a more just and equitable works is very far from being achieved. Why then, has progress been so elusive, for women in particular? It is this question that becomes the central issue explored in this study.

The author traces the emergence of 'women' as a specific category in development thought and examines alternative frameworks for analysing gender hierarchies. The household is identified as a primary site for the construction of power relations and compares the extent to which gender inequalities are revealed in different approaches to the concept of the family unit. The inadequacies of the poverty line as a measuring tool are assessed, and an overview of the issue of population policies is given.

This book documents the human and environmental consequences of globalisation. The globalisation of economic activity has provided massive increases in the profits and power of multi-national corporations and financial institutions which have superseded old institutional structures based on the dominance of nation states. Rootless and largely unregulated, they are free to pursue their financial aims regardless of the consequences for society. The author also examines why, and how, people all over the world are acting to reclaim their political and economic power from these forces, and he presents a policy agenda for restoring democracy and rooting economic power in people and communities.

A resource book listing hundreds of indigenous peoples, listed by geographic region, together with articles on the critical issues facing different indigenous peoples, especially human rights and environmental concerns. Compiled by Survival International, a research group based in the US.

Identity politics refers to questions of religious, ethnic, and national identity. This book looks at political-cultural movements that are making a bid for state power, for fundamental judicial change, or for cultural hegemony. In particular, the contributors explore the relations of culture, identity, and women, providing vivid illustrations from around the world of the compelling nature of Woman as a cultural symbol and Woman as a political pawn in male-directed power struggles. The discussions also provide evidence of women as active participants and active opponents of such movements. The book offers theoretical, comparative, and historical approaches to the study of identity politics, together with 13 case-studies spanning Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim countries and communities.

A reader in 2 volumes containing hundreds of testimonies from indigenous peoples (mainly from North and South America, and Australasia), providing an overview of the issues which they face, such as invasion, genocide, militarisation, mining and multinationals, pollution, tourism,, racism, etc.

A monograph in which Sen poses philosophical and moral questions around the notion of equality and inequality. He suggests that the wish for equality is common to virtually all theories of social ethics, but considers that the central question is 'equality of what?'. The importance of this question derives from the diversity of human beings - our individual characteristics (such as age, gender, general abilities, particular talents) as well as our circumstances (social backgrounds, ownership of assets, environmental predicaments and so on). Diversity, he argues, is no secondary factor to be ignored, or introduced ('later on') - it is a fundamental aspect of our interest in equality. Contains an extensive and impressive bibliography.

A brief and accessible introduction to development economics, written from a Southern feminist perspective, which examines why strategies designed to achieve overall economic growth and increased industrial and agricultural productivity have proven to be harmful to women. The authors argue that many long-term economic processes have been indifferent (if not damaging) to the interests and needs of poor people in general, and women in particular. Women's contributions are central to the ability of households, communities, and nations to survive, and a much-needed reorientation of development analysis can be achieved by starting from the perspective of poor women. The authors also emphasise the diversity which exists among women, and argue that it is both necessary and legitimate to define feminism so that it includes the struggle against all forms of oppression.

This book presents a comprehensive picture of contemporary ethnic issues as manifested in most of the world's major regions. Following a discussion of ethnic issues in relation to the theories of nation, State, modernisation processes, class, and from the point of view of several social science approaches, the case of Latin America is presented as an example of the preceding theoretical considerations. The author also examines the extend of ethnic rights protection in the United Nations and other international systems: the special problems of indigenous and tribal peoples, rising racism in Western Europe, and, finally, the cultural and education policies of governments in relation to ethnic minorities.

Participation, like sustainable development, has become a catchword - widely advocated, seldom defined and rarely put into practice. After reviewing various conceptions of participation, this book pulls together the findings of original field studies. In addition to focusing on the organised efforts of the 'excluded', it analyses other relevant actors - NGOs, the state, and international agencies - as they encourage, co-opt, or undermine participatory struggles and initiatives.

This collection of essays introduces the field of women in development and offers an overview of debates that have challenged many earlier assumptions about development and the reality of women's work and lives within and outside the household. In addition, the book shows both the connection with the global women's movement, and the impact that these advocates and new scholarship have had on the policies and management of development policies. The authors come from both developed and developing countries; among them are practitioners, development economists, and feminist scholars - and each one has in a different way addressed the question that runs throughout: why do inequalities persist?

This book aims to set out the available facts about forecast increases in longevity and to present a positive view, based on a number of pilot programmes, of the ways in which potential problems associated with ageing can be met. It therefore proposes a new approach to the problems of older people in developing countries: the intention is to build structures for the future, which means stimulating awareness of this incipient but rapidly developing problem, and providing local communities with the resources to take their own actions. The author also stresses the importance of mobilising and maximising the many talents and the wealth of experience of the elderly people themselves into productive programmes.

At a time when the population of almost every country is ageing rapidly, new approaches are called for to meet the problems of caring for the elderly. Many older people can no longer depend on extended family support. This is a problem of current concern in industrialised countries and the same trend is now evident in developing countries. The essays in this book gives examples of ageing programmes from all over the world, with studies from nearly 40 countries, covering a wide range of subjects including care at home, community support, elders' empowerment, elder participation, income generation, environment, and women's ageing.

Available free of charge in English and French, on application to the Centre for Human Rights, UN Office at Geneva

Deals with selected questions of human rights that are under active consideration or are of particular interest. The series (with over 20 titles) offers an informed account of basic human rights, what the UN is doing to promote and protect them, and the international machinery available to help realise those rights. Titles include: The Rights of Indigenous Peoples, The Rights of the Child, The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Minority Rights, Discrimination Against Women: The Convention and the Committee, and Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children.

Established in 1990, the Human Development Report is an annual publication focusing on a critical area of human development, such as the concept and measurement of human development, people's participation, and human security. The 1995 Report addresses gender disparities (in education, health, employment), the nature and extent of male violence against women, and the inadequate representation of women in public life. Building on its Human Development Index (HDI) (the average achievement of a country in basic human capabilities), the 1995 Report introduces the Gender-related Development Index (GDI) and the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), in order to disaggregate the HDI by sex. These dramatically demonstrate the extent to which women systematically fall below average achievement in terms of human development, throughout the industrialised and developing world. The findings of the Report also demonstrate that gender equity is not dependent on wealth, but on political commitment. The 1995 Report is unequivocal in placing gender equity at the heart of development: 'human development must be engendered. If development is meant to widen opportunities for all people, then continuing exclusion of women from many opportunities of life warps the process of development'.

This book explores what UNESCO considers to be the 'one important imponderable' in the development process, which has yet to gain general recognition. This has to do with collective motivation of a community, which is, to a large extent culturally determined, and which has to be mobilised if a development programme is to achieve more than mere economic growth and modernisation. The book represents a significant step towards developing some basic knowledge about the cultural factors that determine development. It is an attempt at a state of the art presentation based on experience gained both inside and outside the UN system, as well as a first outline of a possible methodology for integrating the cultural dimension into development programmes and projects.

Fully revised to reflect the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, and UNHCR's 1993 Policy on Refugee Children, the Guidelines outline the principles and practice for the protection and assistance of refugee children. Emphasis is given to children's developmental needs, their gender and cultural context, the special requirements of unaccompanied minors, and issues arising from repatriation and reintegration.

An annual report on development through its impact on children. Backed up with charts and statistical information, the report is not only a valuable source of information, but also offers critical analysis of development practice and policy from the perspective of children and their needs. Recent issues have focused on the need to eradicate 'the apartheid of gender', and on the devastating effect of 'pain now, gain later' macro-economic policies on the health and well-being of children and their families.

Includes case-studies of 14 countries in many of which ethnic diversity has been a component of violence. It examines the various forces that shape ethnicity, including economic factors; and shows the ways in which ethnicities are 'constructed', 'invented', and 'imagined' under specific circumstances.

An examination of critical social problems such as poverty, unemployment, inequality, crime and drugs; as well as the themes of identity crisis, violent conflict, weakening of social solidarity, and the declining responsibility of public institutions. Part I discusses globalisation, in terms of its impact on impoverishment, inequalities, work insecurity, weakening of institutions and social support systems, and the erosion of established identities and values. Part II explores these developments in relation to crime, drugs, ethnic conflicts, and reconstruction of war-torn societies. Part III looks at the policy environment and the impact of the principal forces shaping contemporary societies on a variety of institutions, stressing the links between misery and insecurity, and social conflicts, including the rise of extremist movements.

A research programme focusing on two critical themes: inequality in women's access to and participation in the definition of economic structures and policies and the productive process itself; and insufficient institutional mechanisms to promote the advancement of women. A series of ten papers by leading scholars assesses the efforts of major donor agencies (such as the World Bank, the ILO, and UNDP) and governments to integrate gender issues into their activities; including case-studies of Bangladesh, Jamaica, Morocco, Uganda, and Viet Nam.

Adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly of the UN on 10 December 1948, this is the clearest and most authoritative statement of the principle upon which most development and humanitarian relief work rests: that all human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms. The Declaration is legally binding on member states of the United Nations. Subsequent Conventions, such as the Indigenous and Tribal People's Convention or the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, have to be ratified individually by each member state.

This is a book of ideas and information for all who are concerned about the well-being of disabled children, especially those who live in rural areas or are involved with community-based programmes. It gives a wealth of clear, simple, but detailed information covering the most common disabilities of children. It also gives suggestions for simplified rehabilitation, low-cost aids, and ways to help disabled children find a role and be accepted in the community. Above all, it stresses that most answers for meeting these children's needs can be found within the community, the family, and in the children themselves.

This comprehensive resource book for gender and development trainers draws on the work of gender trainers all over the world. If offers tried and tested activities and handouts gathered from a wide range of sources in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and shaped into a coherent training programme. The manual includes activities which explore: gender-awareness and self-awareness; gender roles and needs; gender-sensitive appraisal and planning; gender and major global issues, strategies for change.

Prepared under the direction of the UN NGO Liaison Service, a series consisting of 10 volumes which focus on women and: human rights; empowerment; refugees; employment; literacy; the family; health; disability; world economic crisis; the environment. Provides a detailed overview of women's exclusion from the benefits of development, and of ways in which women's organisations and NGOs around the world, as well as the UN system, have attempted to 'mainstream' women's rights.

An international journal devoted to publishing contributions to the understanding of human ageing, particularly from the social and behavioural sciences and humanities. Its interpretation of ageing is wide and includes all aspects of the human condition whether they relate to individuals, groups, societies, or institutions.

A quarterly news pack produced by HelpAge International covering the organisation's work around the world, and issues relating to ageing and development. Editor: Alison Tarrant.

Each issues focuses on a specific theme relevant to gender and development issues internationally to explore the links between gender and development initiatives, and to make links between theoretical and practical work in this field.

An international and inter-disciplinary journal providing a forum for scholarly discussions of the ageing process and the problems of the aged throughout the world. The journal emphasises discussions of research findings, theoretical issues and applied approaches dealing with non-Western populations, but also invites articles that provide comparative orientation to the study of the ageing process in its social, economic, historical, and biological perspectives.

A quarterly publication of Defence for Children International, an independent NGO which seeks to ensure on-going, systematic, and concerted international action to promote and protect the rights of the child. The International Children's Rights Monitor is DCI's major tool for making known problems and responses in the children's rights field, and is produced in 3 language editions. Editor: Paulo David. ISSN: 0259 3696.

A quarterly bulletin containing information and resources from the worldwide network IRED (Innovations et réseaux pour le développement). Published in English, French, and Spanish. Editors: Laurence Dumay and Fernand Vincent.

An international non-governmental women's organisation, founded in 1974 to promote the empowerment of women through information-sharing, communication, and networking. Isis International in Asia publishes the quarterly magazine Women in Action. ISIS International in Latin America coordinates a health network for Latin America and the Caribbean for which is publishes the Women's Health Journal. ISIS in Africa publishes Women's World and coordinates the Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange. All three offices run an information and documentation centre.

Publishes well-researched and authoritative reports on particular minority groups all over the world, and on key issues, for example: Minorities and Human Rights Law; International Action against Genocide; the Social Psychology of Minorities.

A journal for Black and Third World liberation published quarterly by the Institute of Race Relations, UK. Editor: A Sivanandan. ISSN: 0306-3968

Publishes a number of reports, documents, and regular reviews on the situation of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities around the world.