Apply now! International Summer School on Pluralism and Development

As part of the Pluralism Knowledge Programme, Hivos supports  this Summer School for young academics and civil society activists from India, Indonesia and Uganda. Are you interested in learning more about human development theories? Did you always lack the time to reflect on your own work in development? Are you curious how you can contribute to the Pluralism Knowledge Programme? Apply now for participation  in the Kosmopolis Summer School!

Limitations of a 'purist' approach to human rights

Rebecca Adamson’s critique in the June issue of Alliance of the traditional philanthropic paradigm (‘one gives, the other receives’) and the concomitant lack of agency on the part of the recipient may be relevant beyond the field of support to indigenous peoples. Cultural values and traditional mechanisms for decision-making play a role in matters of conflict and justice in many local communities, whether indigenous or not.

LGBT activists oppose cutting of aid to enforce sexual rights

The British government’s threat to withhold aid from countries with  homophobic policies has received critical responses from LGBT activists themselves. In a public statement, more than 150 African social justice activists argue that aid conditionality does not result – in and of  itself – in improved protection of the rights of LGBT people.

Weak State Helps Extremism in Indonesia

What can the Indonesian state do to counter radicalization? The government does not have to  return to the past authoritarianism by banning radical organizations.  What matters more for a strong state is consistent law enforcement  against extreme activities. These include both physical activities such  as violence against minorities and non-physical activities such as  speeches or publications that fuel sectarian hatred.

Pluralism, Civil Society and Subaltern Counterpublics

This new Pluralism Working Paper reflects on the concerns of pluralism in India, from the vantage point of the ‘new’ subaltern counterpublics. It presents a case for civil society organizations (CSOs) that might facilitate a reconsideration of their conceptual frames and strategies for intervention in the light of recent developments.

Individualism not necessary point of departure for pluralism

`Pluralism is based on the principle of individualism, while the African concept of family is premised on the collective, on convergence rather than divergence` quotes a recent Pluralism Working Paper ´The Family: At the heart of managing cultural diversity’. How are differences managed then, in the ‘ typical’  African family? Some pointers for engagement, learned through conversations with urban and rural families.

Changing Categories, Shifting Substance

'What do you see when you see me? A black person, a woman, a tenant, a teacher?' Participants of the 8th Pluralism Summer School not only studied human rights, citizenship and development but also confronted each other with their own perceptions and value frames. How to understand identity? Is it the label we receive through others or how we assert ourselves? Arshad Amanullah reflects.

Stretching a Human Rights Approach in Search of Social Justice

Rights based strategies for obtaining social justice tend to focus on claiming legal rights at the level of the nation state. Drawing on findings from the Hivos knowledge programme in India, South Africa and Uganda, we argue that such a ‘purist’ rights based approach may overlook the potential of ´culture´ as a complementary source of inspiration for civic action.

Rise of religion in public space not a problem

The Indonesian team of the Pluralism Knowledge Programme recently discussed its concept of civic pluralism with experts from academia, civil society, government and media. The Jakarta Post published the following article.

Faith and social change in India – as seen by a Muslim research-activist collective

The existing mindset of civil society organizations in India is insufficiently aware of new sites of social transformation springing up in India. According to Shahrukh Alam and Khalid Anis Ansari of the Patna Collective, lower caste Muslims and Muslim women for instance are instigating change independently from civil society organizations.