Boosting capabilities: reflections on well-being in a post conflict society.

Susan Hodgett, School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies,Ulster University and Peter Doran, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast.1

Four parts to this talk The rationale behind measuring well-being in Northern

Ireland and how inspiration was taken from the work of

Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum.

Following Sen, the development of the Carnegie-School of

Law Roundtable as part of a necessary process of public

reasoning and deliberative democracy.

Local engagement sponsored by the Carnegie Trust UK and

Queen’s University over 2014.

The role the Capability Approach may play in assisting

processes of informed discussion in a post conflict context. 

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Work on Capabilities Approach and Policy Hodgett, Susan L. (2008) 

Sen, Culture and Expanding Participatory Capabilities in Northern Ireland. Journal of Human Development , 9 (2). pp. 165- 183.

Hodgett, Susan and Clark , David (2011) Capabilities, Well-Being and Multiculturalism: A New Framework for Guiding Policy. International Journal of Canadian Studies , 44 (2). pp. 163-184.

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Sen’s View of Development Development conceptualised as

“freedom to lead the kind of lives we have reason to value.”

Adds capabilities to econometrics. Development as Freedom

Unfreedoms arise from poor processes and lack of opportunities.

Capabilities can be enhanced (reduced) by public policy. Sen, A . 1999. Development as Freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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The Capability Approach

Capability approach (CA) to human well-being and development is concerned with ensuring that different people, cultures and societies can enjoy the capability (or freedom) to lead the kind of life that they have reason to value.

While income and material things might be necessary to facilitate a good form of life, the CA recognises that it does not automatically follow that there will be a strong link between income and access to resources and the ability to achieve valuable capabilities.

While utility in terms of happiness or desire fulfilment is a valuable achievement, the CA approach recognises the importance of other aspects of well-being which cannot be reduced to mental states. So matters of justice and gender are important.

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The Capability Approach Focus on what people are effectively

able to do and to be, that is, on their capabilities.

A person’s actual achievements (functionings)

A person’s potential achievements (capability)

Obstacles to achievement of that potential. Ingrid Robeyns (2003). Valuing Freedoms: Sen's Capability Approach and Poverty

Reduction, see http://philpapers.org/s/Ingrid%20Robeyns

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Capabilities- wide and deep Nussbaum (2000) Women and Human Development:

the capabilities approach Life (normal length) Bodily Health (good health, reproduction, nourishment) Bodily Integrity (free movement) Senses, imagination, thought (imagine, think, reason, music,

religion, art, meaning of life) Emotions (love, grief, anger, human association) Practical reason (conception of the good, to plan one’s life) Affiliation (concern for others, social interaction, compassion,

justice, friendship, self-respect) Other species (concern for animals, plants and nature) Play (laugh, play and recreation) Control over one’s environment (political choice, participation,

free speech, to hold property, employment on equal basis to others, freedom from unwarranted search and seizure)

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A short film

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The High-Level Roundtable – Measuring Wellbeing An exercise in co-production Roundtable Process Consultation, Stakeholder Input, Focus

Groups ‘Triangulation’: The role of CUKT and the

Scottish Government Parallel Tracks: Transforming

Governance, Transforming Citizens

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Wellbeing and Post-Conflict Transformation Wellbeing as capabilities responds to the

fundamental challenges of a post-conflict society

Meaningful democracy is intrinsically valuable as a means and as an end in the pursuit of wellbeing

Capabilities as wellbeing: a means and an end

Building a wellbeing movement: emergent narratives are taking hold

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Public Policy is a Two Way Relationship- Government policy can enhance the

capabilities of the public and Allow the public to influence policy through

effective use of their capabilities A person’s overall freedom influences

valuable outcomes to their life Including priorities of local people and

communities Inglis (2005) suggests not just choice, but

freedom to be… Independent, self-reliant, self-directed, self-confident, self-critical, self-controlled, unafraid and unselfish.

Culture and Sentiment in Development. (ACOA)

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Conclusion:

“The psychological mind set most predictive of wellbeing is a sense of control” (Harry Burns, CEA, Scotland)

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“We must rekindle our conviction that people and communities have a deep and instinctive desire to work for social and political participation and transformation…Indeed, these democratic capabilities are – in themselves – valuable for human life and wellbeing.” (CUKT, 2015, p.6)

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