Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
1/21/16, 12:17 AM
Pacific Standard
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1/21/16, 12:17 AM
http://www.psmag.com/politics-and-law/international-development-students-beware
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1/21/16, 12:17 AM
To be honest, though, the constant interruptions were a much-needed break from the incredibly soulcrushing content of the lectures. Professors, it seemed, werent content simply to describe the flaws of
traditional development theories; they insisted on reinforcing their arguments by integrating devastating
case studies into their lectures. I cant count the number of times I heard a story about a nation that was
finally on the path to recovery when, without warning, a rebel group decided to overthrow the
government and begin ethnically cleansing part of the population. As far as impediments to development
go, this is arguably the most powerful. Imagine a scenario whereagainst all oddsa local non-profit
organization is able to help a homeless man get back on his feet by finding him a job and an address.
Then, just as this man is about to save up enough money to make his first rent payment, an arsonist burns
his workplace to the ground without provocation. In the first world, this is really the only comparable
scenario.
As you can imagine, routine exposure to such horror stories culminated in desensitization. It simply
wasnt sustainable to allow myself to be affected emotionally each time I heard a new, harrowing tale. If I
had an international development lecture at 10 a.m., I couldnt exactly write the rest of the day off just
because I was feeling sad; I had other schoolwork to complete. I can only imagine how this excuse would
have gone over with my professors:
Me: Professor, can I get an extension on my paper?
Professor: Its unfair to the other students to grant you an extension unless there were some extenuating
circumstances that prevented you from getting it done on time.
Me: There were! I sat down to try and write it but I was too debilitated by my awareness of global
destitution!
Professor: I dont think that qualifies as an extenuating circumstance. Maybe if you can convince a doctor
to give you a note...?
Doctor: So, what seems to be the problem?
Me: I came in here today because I was unable to turn in an assignment on time and I need a note.
Doctor: Did you have an urgent medical issue?
Me: Yeah, I sat down to write my paper, but I couldnt do it because I was too debilitated by my awareness
of global destitution.
Doctor: Are you serious? I have a Leukemia patient in the next room
http://www.psmag.com/politics-and-law/international-development-students-beware
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1/21/16, 12:17 AM
http://www.psmag.com/politics-and-law/international-development-students-beware
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1/21/16, 12:17 AM
The people who are effecting change in the world arent sitting in a classroom debating whether or not
Chiles economic miracle was indeed a miracle; they arent entertaining misguided notions about a onesize-fits-all policy prescription to address systemic poverty; they are on the ground in developing nations,
working on small-scale projectsunderstanding that change occurs incrementally, rather than in broad
sweeps. As someone who presently spends most of his time writing Web jokes about popular culture, Im
skeptical of my current suitability as a grassroots activist. I hope one day I can regain the resolve to jump
back into it.
http://www.psmag.com/politics-and-law/international-development-students-beware
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