Deconstructing Human Development

This critical examination of the UNDP's human development framework explores its historical and political contexts, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of global challenges. Deconstructing Human Development offers a fresh perspective.

This book offers a thorough critique of the human development framework established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1990. By examining the Human Development Reports, it investigates the origins and political implications of this framework, particularly in the context of the post-Cold War era. The author argues that the UNDP's development discourse is rooted in essentialist philosophical, cultural, and political assumptions that can be traced back to the 19th century. These assumptions, which also appear in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hinder a comprehensive understanding of today's intricate global challenges.

In Deconstructing Human Development, traditional critiques that have relied on liberal, Marxist, or Foucauldian theories are re-evaluated. Instead, the author draws on the post-foundational and post-structuralist theories of thinkers like Ernesto Laclau and Jacques Derrida. This fresh perspective offers an ontological and relational interpretation of development discourses, enriching and expanding upon previous critiques. The book aims to provide a nuanced understanding of development that acknowledges its complexities and interconnections.

This work is essential for advanced students and researchers in Critical Development Studies, Political Science, and Sustainable Development. By challenging established norms and assumptions, Deconstructing Human Development invites readers to rethink the frameworks that shape our understanding of development in a rapidly changing world.