|
We posit the following
questions:
- What values should
be kept in mind when drafting development strategies and public policy?
- How should we
confront ethically charged problems such as poverty, social exclusion, sharp inequalities,
discrimination and others?
- What codes of
ethical conduct should be adopted by policy-makers and other key leaders?
- How can a sense
of community and social responsibility be promoted in today's diverse world?
The Latin American
community is also beginning to awaken to the massive latent potential of social
capital. International experience suggests that nations with more social capital
enjoy stronger economies and greater democratic maturity. This fact is evidence
of the imperative necessity to create conditions that foster the basic components
of social capital, such as a cooperative community, interpersonal trust and a
broad social conscience.
Initiative's
Aim:
The Inter-American
Initiative of Social Capital, Ethics and Development is intended to strengthen
ethical values and social capital in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Initiative's
Team:
The Inter-American
Initiative on Social Capital, Ethics and Development
was conceived by Dr. Enrique V. Iglesias, President
of the Inter-American Development Bank and is
under the Bank's Secretary, Dr. Carlos Ferdinand.
Technical
Team
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mariana
Pargana |
Melanie
Schneider |
| Agustina
Fraquelli |
Research
Team
|
Stefanie
Coyle
(Penn State University)
|
María
José Cornejo
(University of the Ozarks)
|
|
Joseph
Erlich
(University
of Virginia)
|
Nélida
Lara-Garduño
(Texas A&M University)
|
|
Andrew
Holm
(Harvard University)
|
Ariel
Fernando Ivanier
(Johns Hopkins University)
|
|
Maha
Armush
(University of Maryland)
|
Yael
Marciano
(University of New York)
|
|
Mikael
Larsson
(Georgetown University)
|
Patricio
Jascura
(Weston Theology Jesuits)
|
| |
1.
|
|
Promote
the analysis and discussion of ethical challenges and dilemmas and ensure that
chief decision-makers take them into account. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
2.
|
|
Cooperate
to promote volunteerism, greater social accountability by private enterprises,
and the adoption of ethical codes for the development of social capital in the
region by key social players. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
3.
|
|
Promote
the inclusion of goals and criteria that include the discussion of ethics and
the promotion of social capital in development projects prepared and implemented
by international organizations and government agencies. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
4.
|
|
Promote
the integration of programs specifically designed to teach ethical development
practices in educational curricula, and among other groups that promote the growth
of social capital. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
5.
|
|
Establish
a network of academic and research centers to carry out systematic long-term advances
in areas such as training research, publications, and contributions to public
debate. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
6.
|
|
Use
mass media to promote awareness of the ethical challenges surrounding development
and the growth of social capital. |
Mission
The initiative
aspires to be a catalyst in awakening interest in ethics, development and social
capital in governments, businesses, labor unions, universities, religious communities,
nongovernmental organizations and organizations of all kinds that work for the
collective well-being of societies everywhere. Mobilization of joint efforts in
these crucial fields will raise the quality of the debate on development, enrich
policy frameworks, increase the likelihood of broad consensus on actions, and
contribute to the adoption of codes of conduct based on desirable ethical criteria.
The Initiative
will be collectively contributing to the strengthening and entrenchment of democracy
and economic and social development, and to the forging of a vigorous, participative
and just Latin America that its citizens desire.
TODAY'S
DEBATE ABOUT ETHICS AND DEVELOPMENT:
The Inter-American
Initiative on Social Capital, Ethics and Development has gathered many Latin American
and otherwise international personalities in order to discuss and debate regional
and contemporary ethical challenges at several events and seminars. Nobel Prize
laureates, former presidents, leaders of major religions, government ministers,
leading scientists in diverse fields, business executives, presidents of universities
and other social leaders.
Several
hundreds of relevant documents have been developed
within this framework. Together, they constitute an
up-to-date, multidisciplinary, and thorough library
that catalogs and illustrates today's debate about
ethics and development. We introduce these documents,
organized by topics, for people with interested in
the ethical challenges that Latin America and the
entire world are facing. You are invited to visit
them in our Digital Library.
|
