Development beyond extractivisms? Contributing to just transitions

Our present context is marked by a world-wide shift in South/North responses to growing inequalities, geopolitical polycentric reconfigurations, humanitarian disasters and climate related insecurities which require socially and politically astute responses that come from a deep understanding of realities, particularly learning from people in marginalized contexts. 

The national awareness of these shifts and realities in Western countries, and the Netherlands in particular, is losing sight of the larger political and ethical issues. Countries are turning inwards to weigh the cost of universities' and research centres’ public value for local taxpayers and away from support to science and research as an intrinsic common good for global society.

Development studies - contributing to just transitions

This year’s ISS Dies Natalis will centre around the direction of development studies aiming to contribute directly to just transitions.  This relates to fundamental transitions that societies are navigating globally: 

1. Resources (and food security): from scarcity-oriented extractivist economies to green and sustainable ones.
2. Connectedness: from ethnocentric nationalist policies to a global vision on migration, disasters and humanitarian aid.
3. Knowledge: from mono-cultural disciplinary thinking to a truly global interconnected reflexivity, including empowerment of underprivileged communities.

Can we imagine forms of global solidarity with partners in the Global South and North that respond to pressing economic, ecological and social challenges and ongoing genocidal violence?

How can our research and teaching contributes to the enhancement of well-being, social and ecological justice and more equitable societies?

How can ISS make the most impact in these transitions?

Our panelists

• Professor Shuaib Lwasa - Professor of Urban Resilience and Global Development, ISS
• Dr Kaira Canete - Senior researcher, The Hague Humanitarian Studies Centre, ISS
• Jonathon Moniz - PhD researcher, ISS
• Watfa Najdi - PhD researcher, ISS

The event will be moderated by Professor Peter Knorringa

Our programme

• 16:00-16:00 - Introduction by rector Professor Ruard Ganzevoort
• 16:10-16:40 - Panel discussion moderated by Professor Rosalba Icaza 
• 16:40-17:00 - Q&A and closing with rector Professor Ruard Ganzevoort
• 17:00-18:00 - Reception in the Atrium