Seventh International Lecture with Leo de Haan (09.05.2011)
Seventh International Lecture with Leo de Haan, 9 May 2011
Prof. Dr. Leo de Haan, Den Haag
Livelihood Research: A critical Exploration
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Background of the Lecture
In livelihood research, the presentation of pro-active actors at the micro-level organizing their livelihoods introduced an unproblematic presentation with the emphasis on the creative way in which actors were up and doing with their assets and resources and capitals. Power relations as mechanisms that bring about inequality and social exclusion were neglected. In addition, livelihood analysis had a strong local focus. But in the era of globalisation people are not only organised in co-resident groups concentrated in space, but also in multi-local - and sometimes even global - networks of livelihood. Nowadays, power relations are receiving ample attention in livelihood analysis. But there should not only be a focus on local power relations but also on the relationship between local impeding structures and supra-local structures. Moreover, livelihoods analysis now takes notice of (international) migration. But this also requires attention for power relations in various parts and levels of the livelihood network.
The Lecture
In his lecture Leo de Haan gave a comprehensive overview over key issues in livelihood research, which he defined as the analysis of the way how poor people organize their livelihoods in the era of globalization. He brought forward four major arguments. First, he made a strong plea for an extension of the research focus beyond the local as in the era of globalization people organise their livelihoods in multi-local - and sometimes even global - networks. Second, he argued that local power relations as mechanisms that bring about inequality and social exclusion were largely neglected in livelihood research and need more careful and indeed critical analysis. Third, he emphasised the importance of looking at the structural relations between the local and the supra-local level, for instance by analysing the political arenas in which the contestations between local stakeholders and the developmental state are played out. And fourth, he argued in favour of comparisons and meta-analysis in livelihood research in order to increase the understanding of poor peoples’ livelihoods beyond many individual in-depth case studies. Leo concluded his lecture with a call for a critical livelihood research that not only digs deeper into social injustices, but also contributes to improving vulnerable actors livelihoods in practice.
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About Prof. Dr. Leo de Haan
Leo de Haan is Rector of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague (Netherlands). Professor de Haan’s main research interests are the conceptualization of rural and urban livelihoods, international and national migration patterns resulting in the multi-locality of livelihoods, and the multi-dimensionality of poverty, in particular in Africa.
For more information see http://www.leodehaan.nl/
