Welcome to my blog! My name is Mikaela and I’m a second year GRS student here at UBC. My main area of interest is international development, specifically in South Asia. Development is very important to me, as I feel it is a powerful mechanism for positive change in the world. It is a rather vague concept though, and unfortunately is often associated with connotations of colonialism, paternalism, and rent-seeking. As such, I’ve come up with my own definition of (good) development:
Development is the process of increasing welfare and improving quality of life. It is inherently empowering, inclusive and participatory. Development is an action state; it is dynamic and ongoing. In order for development to occur, it must be built upon a foundation of respect, equity and justice.
This blog is a way of documenting my journey through the GRS program. Through my blog, I plan on exploring new and controversial ideas, digging deeper into current issues, and sharing my experiences in and out of the classroom. Although I don’t entirely agree with Mark Twain’s famous adage to make sure your schooling does not interfere with your education, I see enormous value in extra-curricular learning. I think travel is one of the best ways to learn more about the world and about yourself, and hope for it to play a large role in my university experience.
I’m new to blogging so please bear with me. I look forward to sharing my reflections and experiences with you, and welcome your feedback, comments, and questions!
Ahh, finally stumbled upon your blog! Much of the history of development is rich in imposed Western values. I think any and all good development must be cooperative, respectful and comprehensive, so I wholeheartedly feel the way you’ve defined development.