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HDCA International Conference

Human Development and Capabilities Association

Lima, Peru – 10-12 September 2009

Organised by Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, PUCP)

Conference Theme: Participation, Poverty and Power

The International Conference of the Human Development and Capability Association (HDCA) sets out to explore the relationships between participation, poverty and power from the perspective of their contribution to human development and capabilities.

The Conference has as a main purpose the analysis and deeper understanding of how power structures can be changed in order to advance the capabilities of the poor, particularly in contexts where there is ethnic, racial, regional, or religious diversity. There will be an emphasis on the role of political participation by the deprived.

It is hoped that papers presented will analyse power and participation in relation to the capability approach from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Papers may analyze and critically evaluate the diverse experience of social participation in Latin America and elsewhere in the world, ranging from participatory decision making to social mobilization, and aim to increase our understanding of the structure of power and the exercise of it in society from the family level to the local, the regional (sub national), the national and to the global, through political (state, democratic government, civil society) economic (economic policy and enterprise) and cultural (through media, art, intercultural interactions, etc.) institutions.

Continuing the established tradition of the HDCA conferences, papers are also welcomed which advance conceptual clarification of the capability approach (in relation, for example, to agency, rights, entitlements etc.); which include empirical work (including research methods to capture situations and social practices contributing to the wide range of valued capabilities (political, family, religion, education, etc.); and which are from a range of disciplines (including economics, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, political science, theology, law).

Some of the issues that can be addressed are the following:

• Participation and power of the poor in economic, social and political institutions
• Participation and power of individuals and groups of diverse cultural backgrounds
• Gender, race and other factors of discrimination
• Values, religion, culture and freedom
• Concepts of poverty, theoretical, measurement and empirical issues
• Growth, inequality and Human Development in Latin America
• Connections between diverse inequalities and different aspects of poverty
• Markets, State, civil society and poverty
• Economic and social policies and their impact on poverty
• Sharing with the poor, and influence of political power
• Quality of democracy, institutions and the capabilities approach
• Contrast between political and economic equalities and inequalities
• The meaning and legal, social and cultural scope of empowerment of the poor
• Legal empowerment of the poor
• Power of individuals and power of groups
• Crises in politics, institutions and citizenship
• Natural disasters, water, and human development
• Human rights and capabilities

Prospective paper writers can examine these issues from diverse perspectives – encompassing theoretical and conceptual perspectives including philosophical arguments, empirical analyses including econometric analyses, and policy considerations. Papers may contribute to debates on how and to what degree concrete experiences of participation imply by themselves poverty reduction and empowerment. In general, we would like to connect the three elements as much as possible.

Submission of Abstracts/Panel Proposals and Important Dates

Scholars and practitioners are invited to participate in and contribute papers for the Conference. To submit a paper proposal, please send:

1. A full paper (encouraged) or an abstract of 800-1000 words

2. Three to five keywords for the paper

3. Name, affiliation, contact information and a short biography of author for the programme.

4. Request for financial assistance (if relevant). In this case a full paper is required by 1 July.

5. If graduate students wish their paper to be considered for the Wiebke Kuklys prize, please indicate this.

Proposals for panels are also welcome. A panel consists of four papers that may be presented in one session. A panel proposal should contain:

1. Title and a description of the theme of the panel (300-500 words)

2. Titles, authors and abstracts of the papers (each of 200-400 words)

3. Names, affiliations and short biographies of the proposed speakers

4. Name and contact information of the panel organizer (who need not be one of the proposed speakers) to be used for communication with the Conference Organisers.

The keynote conferences will be in English with simultaneous translation. There will be a few panels in Spanish with no general translation. Some Latin Americans or Spaniards will translate individually to those that require it in the parallel sessions.

The deadline for submission of papers and panel proposals is 15 March 2009, and for full papers 31 July, 2009. Information on the acceptance of panel session/paper proposals will be communicated by late April/early May 2009.

There will be a limited number of fee reductions for students and scholars from developing countries. Scholars who wish to be considered for financial assistance must indicate so in the submission of their proposals. Submission of the full paper by 1 July is a requirement for any seeking financial assistance.

Proposals for papers/panels should be sent by email to hdcaconference2009@googlemail.com or by post to:

Javier Iguiñiz
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Avenida Universitaria 1801, San Miguel
Lima 32, Peru

Registration Fees

Registration fee includes HDCA membership fee (it also covers one year subscription to the Journal of Human Development), lunch, mid-morning and afternoon tea, a conference dinner, admission to sessions, a conference bag, a copy of the programme, a volume containing abstracts of papers and a CD containing all the papers.

Participants are requested to register by 30 June 2009 so that appropriate arrangements for their stay are made. The registration request after 30 June will be accepted only on the payment of a late registration fee. It will be difficult for the organisers to entertain any request for registration after 16 August 2009. Online registration for the conference will open in May 2009. Peruvian participants can register locally with PUCP.

Arrangements have been made by PUCP for accommodating delegates in various nearby hotels, lodges and guest houses/clubs. There are many other equivalent possibilities. The rates of the guest houses/ hotels arranged are as follows:

Number of rooms reserved for the Congress until 15 of March 2009

We will post as soon as possible Hotel address and type of room (single, double), and instructions for direct reservations.

For further information about the conference please send an e-mail message to: hdcaconference2009@googlemail.com

Presidential Address
Frances Stewart, University of Oxford

Plenary Speakers ( To be agreed and confirmed)

Conference Programme Committee

Coordinators

Javier M. Iguiniz Echeverria, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), Lima.
Efraín Gonzáles de Olarte, PUCP.

Associate Coordinator

Patricia Ruiz Bravo, PUCP, Lima.

Members

Frances Stewart, University of Oxford
S.R. Osmani, University of Ulster
Enrica Chiappero-Martinetti, University of Pavia.
>Pedro Flores Crespo, Universidad Iberoamericana, México
Gustavo Pereira, Universidad de la República, Montevideo
Andrea Vigorito, Universidad de la República, Montevideo
Juan Ansion, PUCP, Lima
Pablo Quintanilla, PUCP, Lima

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