From poverty to power - Oxfam-Québec
Share Embed Flag
Download ePaper

From poverty to power - Oxfam-Québec

From poverty to power - Oxfam-Québec From poverty to power - Oxfam-Québec

oxfam.qc.ca
12.07.2015 Views

ANNEX HOW CHANGE HAPPENSinstitutions and agents have some limited (especially in developingcountries) control over these contextual factors, while the solid arrowsshow that such factors have an immediate and important impact oninstitutions and agents. Understanding these wider components helpsus understand the constraints and possibilities for building activecitizenship and an effective, accountable state.FIGURE 7.1: HOW CHANGE HAPPENSCONTEXTDEMOGRAPHICTECHNOLOGICALCHANGEINSTITUTIONSincludingeffective statesENVIRONMENTGLOBALISATIONAGENTSincludingactive citizensCULTURALWARECONOMICCRISESELECTIONSNATURALDISASTERSEVENTS437

FROM POVERTY TO POWERTHE DYNAMICS OF CHANGEThe components of change combine and interact, creating a complexpathway that involves peaks and troughs of activity and differentcombinations of context, institutions, agents, and events. Changeprocesses are highly complex and unpredictable, but some of thefollowing dynamics may well be involved:Cumulative and sequential progress: Much change is slow and, fromclose up, may appear inconsequential. Over the longer term, however,changes such as the evolving notion of human rights, or attitudes toviolence against women, have profound consequences. Moreover,change processes are sequences: one event or shift leads to another,creating a unique ‘pathway of change’ that is usually very hard topredict, but which can be analysed in hindsight. Often, citizens’organisationsinteract with states in an iterative fashion, pressing for andresponding to reforms.Chaotic change: Just as in the physics of ‘catastrophes’, some socialand political change is discontinuous, as a series of factors move mattersto a sudden ‘tipping point’. 4 The process resembles an earthquake –the devastating outcome of an imperceptible build-up in pressurebetween tectonic plates far below the Earth’s surface. The question forwould-be ‘change agents’ is how they can get better at identifying (andinfluencing) such ‘edge of chaos’ situations.More predictable change moments: On the spectrum between longterm,gradual evolution and catastrophic revolution lie foreseeablechange moments. These include elections and the deaths of entrenchedleaders, as well as processes such as post-conflict reconstruction,which typically offer a much greater likelihood of reform, but also agreater probability that reforms will be reversed and the country willslide back into conflict. 5Change often coalesces around inspirational ideas and individuals:Oxfam’s programme experience in numerous countries attests to theimportance of leadership at all levels. Leaders can give words anddirection to broad discontent or to desire for change. Ideas and wordscan play a similar catalytic role, which is why campaigners and politiciansdevote such attention to what are often decried as soundbitesand slogans.438

ANNEX HOW CHANGE HAPPENSinstitutions and agents have some limited (especially in developingcountries) control over these contextual fac<strong>to</strong>rs, while the solid arrowsshow that such fac<strong>to</strong>rs have an immediate and important impact oninstitutions and agents. Understanding these wider components helpsus understand the constraints and possibilities for building activecitizenship and an effective, accountable state.FIGURE 7.1: HOW CHANGE HAPPENSCONTEXTDEMOGRAPHICTECHNOLOGICALCHANGEINSTITUTIONSincludingeffective statesENVIRONMENTGLOBALISATIONAGENTSincludingactive citizensCULTURALWARECONOMICCRISESELECTIONSNATURALDISASTERSEVENTS437

logo

products

Resources

Company

Terms of service
Privacy policy
Cookie policy
Cookie settings
Imprint
Change language
Made with love in Switzerland
© 2024 Yumpu.com all rights reserved

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!