Empowerment: Sustainable Human Development Strategy for Poverty Alleviation

Book Details

• Author: John Joseph Puthenkalam

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2004

• ISBN: 8170338581

• Pages: 395

• Cover: Hardcover

• Sale Territory: India

About the Book

Empowerment: A Sustainable Human Development Strategy for Poverty Alleviation offers a compelling redefinition of development through the lens of empowerment. In the 21st century, traditional approaches to poverty alleviation have often proven ineffective, leaving the problem of poverty entrenched. The book argues that the key to alleviating poverty lies in empowering the people themselves—shifting the power dynamics from the elite to the marginalized.

The book is divided into three sections, each containing two chapters:

• Section I focuses on the collision of old ideas and the evolution of new concepts, offering an analysis of culture, development, globalization, and sustainable human development. It presents a fresh perspective on these issues, advocating for a new vision of the world that emphasizes human-centric growth.

• Section II delves into the concept of power in the global context, highlighting how the current world order benefits only a few, leaving the majority powerless. It examines the inevitable powerlessness faced by the poor, emphasizing the need to understand the subjugation of the poor by poverty itself.

• Section III presents a vision for empowerment, illustrating this concept through a case study of a group of poor and powerless individuals who struggle to assert their power in their families and society.

This book is highly readable and offers an insightful exploration of the connection between poverty and power. It presents a blueprint for sustainable human development, emphasizing that true change can only occur when the power dynamics are reshaped to empower the marginalized.

About the Author

John Joseph Puthenkalam, S.J. is an Associate Professor at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. Born in Kerala, India, in 1956, he joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1976. After completing his degrees in Economics and Philosophy, he moved to Japan in 1986, where he completed his Theology Studies at Sophia University. He obtained his Doctoral Degree in Economics from the University of Glasgow, U.K., in 1996.

His award-winning books include Comprehension of Freedom (1995) and The Collision of Cultures: Dialogue Between Globalization and Culture (2001). His research focuses on integrating economics, culture, and philosophy for human development, humane empowerment, and inclusive globalization.