Deliberating Justice

Master's Thesis from the year 2007 in the subject Politics - Topic: Development Politics grade: 16 The Australian National University language: English abstract: This thesis aims to reflect upon some of the bigger questions ofinternational development. It investigates a general relationship betweenthe World Bank vis a vis demands made by indigenous peoples namelyquestioning of how to advance development goals in ways that uphold thejustice needs of minorities such as indigenous peoples further how toachieve a just balance between national prosperity and minority survivaland more broadly how to further balance the complexities of global localand national interests. This thesis seeks a stronger middle groundbetween the Bank and indigenous peoples and focuses on theimportance of deliberation in general and the principle of free priorinformed consent in particular.The argument put forward here is normative and envisages emancipatingfrom the singularity of the modern development paradigm in opening adeliberative space that provides for diversity and difference to flourishinstead. Here specifically acknowledging indigenous peoples values andinterests as equally important in development this thesis supports adeliberate and affirmative approach to justice. This of course does notmark the prevailing top-down state-centric and neo-liberal developmentparadigm as malign rather it envisages exchanging its power base forbottom-up participatory deliberation.