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Issue 2 is Released February 2009

Issue 2 of Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development was released in late February 2009.

“What do you think the current role of academics—namely, yourselves—is within the larger development community? How do you think new media has changed development discourse, and what do you think are the benefits and disadvantages of the major media today?   How do you think this role will change in the future? ” These provocative questions, among many others, were posed to star professors Yaw Nyarko of NYU, Sanjay Reddy of Barnard College and acclaimed author of Beasts of No Nation Uzo Dinma Iweal at the release event for Issue II of Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable Development.

On March 10th, students attended a release event for Issue II which featured a panel on “Examining the Effects of the Economic Recession on Development.” The dynamic panel was moderated by Consilience founding Editor Jeff Shrader, Columbia ‘’08, and the well-attended event was co-hosted by IDAYA Magazine, an African Culture Journal on campus.

Event Program: Consilience/IDAYA Joint Release Event

About: Consilience, the first undergraduate journal of sustainable development, is releasing the second issue of their publication. Consilience is a multidisciplinary academic journal that seeks to cover a broad range of topics pertaining to the field of sustainable development, including climate change, global health, energy, natural resources, and much more. IDAYA Magazine is an online African themed publication at Columbia University.

Theme: Examining the Effects of the Economic Recession on Development
in African Nations

Date: March 10, 2009

Time: 8:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Location: Satow Room (5th Floor of Lerner Hall)

Speakers:

Professor Yaw Nyarko of NYU
Professor Sanjay Reddy of Barnard College
Mr. P. Massaer Cisse, Manager in the International Tax Services Group of Deloitte & Touche in New York

Format: Presentation, Refreshments and Discussion

Program for Event:
8:30-8:45pm – Introduction from editors in chief of both publications
8:45-8:55pm – Video/Powerpoint presentation
9:00-9:20pm – Panel of Faculty moderated by Jeff Shrader, founding Editorial Board member of Consilience
9:20-10:00pm – Questions/answer session

Transcript of Interviews to Panel, moderated by Jeff Shrader:

Topic Area 1: The Role of Academics/Students

1. I wanted to start off with a few questions that are not specifically related to Africa and the current economic climate, but which I have been thinking about for some time and which should be of import for student publications. I want to discuss the role of academics and students in the larger world of development study and action.

That naturally leads us to our first question: what do you think the current role of academics-namely, yourselves-is within the larger development community? How do you think this role will change in the future?

1.i. Speaking with practitioners and academics, particularly as part of some of my previous jobs, I have heard many times that there is some amount of disconnect between the people working on the ground and the researchers. Do you think there is a best practice for accommodating both of these groups and priorities?

2. Tonight we are releasing new issues of two student publications with strong online focuses, and Professors Reddy and Nyarko, you are both published academics with papers in a variety of journals and other media. How do you think new media has changed development discourse, and what do you think are the benefits and disadvantages of the major media today?

Topic Area 2: Current Downturn and Decoupling

Turning specifically to the current crisis and Africa:
1. As recently as last year, economists were publishing on the great moderation and global decoupling, or the idea that growth patterns in various countries had become independent of each other. Yet, in light of the recent global downturn, economists are seemingly beating a full retreat from this view. Do you think decoupling has ended, particularly with respect to African countries?

2. (Based on decoupling answer) In recent years, many African countries have begun to show signs of rapid economic growth, though Professor Reddy, you have written extensively on the unreliability of many of these figures. What do you think the prospects are for medium and long-term growth in Africa?

3. Prior to the credit crisis, one of the major news stories was rising Chinese investment in African countries. How do you think Western versus non-Western investment in African countries will evolve in the current economic climate?

4. The popular press and quite a few politicians have used the current crisis to motivate protectionist and anti-globalization arguments. Do you see this sentiment as problematic for developing countries, African nations in particular?

Topic Area 3: Aid and the effectiveness of development programs

1. There has long been a debate about the actual efficacy of international aid — i.e. whether aid helps or hurts the people living in the country receiving funds. Dambisa Moyo has recently been quoted as saying that the global financial crisis has been good for Africa because it will decrease aid and force African nations to become more self-sufficient. What is your take on this view?

2. For many years, people have been excited about the prospects for microfinance and micro-finance like models to revolutionize development. How successful have these programs been, in your opinion, and how would you like to see them change in the future?

Topic Area 4: Technology and Environment

1. Shifting gears a bit, Scientific American recently came out with a special edition where they argue that America and the world should not lose the environmental momentum that was building during the last couple of years of high commodity prices. Paul Krugman also wrote an Op-Ed in today’s NY Times on a similar issue. As economists, what policies or mechanisms should be put into place to speed and smooth global transition to a greener economy?

2. Related specifically to African and developing countries, do you think that there are some standout policies or programs that could help these countries move toward greener economies faster than developing countries historically have?

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Issue 2 is Released February 2009

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