Capability Approach, Poverty and Development

Abstract

Since the nineties, the capability approach by Amartya Sen has gained prominence in human development discourse. There has been a lot of literature on the approach, and research continues to improve its practical aspects. Its impact so far has been far reaching particularly in terms of its application as an evaluative framework for well-being. Equally significant is its foundational impact of current strategies of capacity building which underlie development cooperation in the international arena. Apart from its direct relevance in the Human Development Reports of the United Nations Development Programme, it can be shown that it has conceptual connections with behind instruments such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, the Millennium Development Goals and Direct Budget Support which are used in the discourse on poverty reduction and aid architecture. The thesis explores the extent to which the capability approach of Sen, as a conceptual framework for development work, is justifiable. The thesis identifies two particular problems with the approach, namely problem of circularity of social choice and problem of paternalism. This is a preliminary research with emphasis on exposing the capability approach, identifying its challenges and proposing a resolution specific to these two problems from a resourcist approach. The aim is to fill a gap that might allow the capability approach to be used as a justification for inaction.