Đừng chỉ lo cho thế hệ tương lai: Tiếp cận nhân h ọc về phát triển bền vững. (Vietnamese)

Do not worry about future generations only: An anthropological critique of the concept of "sustainable development". (English)

The aim of this article is to contribute an anthropological critique of the way the concept of 'sustainable development' has been widely understood and deployed by policy-makers and even some academics. According to those policy-makers and academics, unsustainable development occurs mostly when an action taken to meet the needs of the present actually compromises the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. However, in this article, I argue that in order to classify a certain development scheme as 'sustainable' or 'unsustainable,' we should first consider the impact of that particular scheme on the present instead of its effects on the future. I further argue that a development scheme considered 'sustainable' is not only a scheme that can protect the capacity of future generations to live their lives, but also a scheme that does no harm to the normal lives of others and one that truly respects differences. I therefore highlight the vital role of anthropology, a discipline particularly sensitive to differences and one that treats differences with respect and sympathy, in ensuring the sustainability of our ongoing and future development efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Vietnam Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities is the property of VNU-University of Social Sciences & Humanities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)