Development experts, journalists and activists attended a panel discussion at the RSA last night to coincide with the launch of a new report by CAFOD, Tearfund and Theos.
Wholly Living: A new perspective on international development is the product of a year-long research project on human flourishing.
Chairing the discussion was Sarah Montague, presenter of Radio 4's flagship Today programme. On the panel were Elaine Storkey (theologian and sociologist), Matthew Taylor (Chief Executive of the RSA and former Chief Adviser on Political Strategy to the Prime Minister),
The Wholly Living report argues that too many people around the world are prevented from contributing all they might to the common good and that we need to rediscover what it means to flourish as human beings if we are to put that right. The report claims that that contemporary political and economic discourse, particularly as it relates to international development, is often founded on an inadequate and ultimately harmful vision of what it means to flourish. Wholly Living suggests that we desperately need to regain a fuller, more realistic vision of human flourishing – of humans as creative, productive, responsible, generous beings – if the problems of poverty, inequality and environmental degradation that threaten the world are ever to be addressed.
The panellists discussed what constitutes human flourishing, the role of GDP and the extent to which free trade leads to genuine development. They also considered how development ideas relate to the concept of the ‘Big Society.’
Commenting on the evening, Director of Theos Paul Woolley said:
‘Wholly Living works from the premise that politics is about more than economics and that life is about more than quarterly growth figures. We hope last night's discussion represents just the start of an ongoing debate. It's important to reject the idea that human beings are atomistic or simply economistic creatures. The challenge is to create a framework which promotes true human flourishing.'
To listen to the discussion, click here.
To read the full report, click here. To read the associated briefing papers, click here.
