FYI.
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As you well know, the defining aspect of Colombia’s contemporary history is its internal armed conflict. As answers to the many questions posed by the conflict are sought, an ever increasing emphasis has shifted to the wider context of development; not only to examine its causes and possible solutions, but also to understand the continuation of a distorted normality that dominates Colombian life away from the conflict. It is indeed to this evolving political, social and economic life, that co-exists and interacts with a crude reality, that we want to give our full attention.
Colombia, as most developing nations in the world, faces tough challenges in its road out of poverty and into prosperity. It also presents an extraordinary set of conditions and circumstances that make it an ideal case study for testing develpment's leading theoretical concepts and ideas. We strongly feel that there are many lessons that can be learnt from the Colombian case, both for the enrichment of the wider theoretical debate as for a critical assesemtn of particular obstacles that lie ahead. These lie at the crux of the cruel reality of Colombia's conflict and at the front of its path to development.
In order to contribute to the awareness and understanding of this momentous period in Colombia’s history the Colombian Society at the LSE is organizing a one-day seminar entitled “THE UNFULFILLED PROMISES OF DEVELOPMENT?: COLOMBIA’S TROUBLED TIMES”, which will take place at the LSE on March 10th, 2004. The panellists will include respected academics and public servants from Colombia and Europe. You will find a detailed programme of the seminar below. The event is open to the public and admission is free.
We would greatly appreciate if you could help us promote this event within your organization and pass this message along to any colleagues, staff or students with a particular interest in Colombian and Latin American affairs, or in Development in general. You can find more information on our website (http://societies.lse.ac.uk/colombia/index.html) and please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any further information ([log in to unmask])
Best regards,
LSE Colombian Society
The Unfullfiled Promises of Development?- Colombia's Troubled Times
9:30-10:00 Presentation (Old Theatre, Main Building)
Howard Davies. Director, London School of Economics and Political Science
Malcolm Deas. Fellow of St Anthony’s College, University of Oxford (Chair)
Alfonso López Caballero. Colombian Ambassador to the U.K.
Viviana Muñoz. President, Colombian Society LSE
10:30-12:00 Institutions for development or development of institutions? (E171, East Building)
“The good governance debate: institutional change and development”. Dr. Olivier Lafourcade, Former World Bank chief for Colombia. Mexico and Venezuela
“ Colombia’s institutional setting: what is to be done?” for Dr. Eduardo Posada Carbo, Latin American Centre, Oxford University
Discussant: Dr. Ken Shadlen, Lecturer in Development Studies, DESTIN, LSE
LUNCH BREAK
2:00-3:30 Displacement and development: what came first? (Old Theatre, Main Building)
“Displacement and development: a theoretical approach”. Dr. Finn Stepputat, senior researcher, Institute for International Studies
“Understanding and dealing with Colombia’s displaced people: lessons to be learnt” Constantino Casasbuenas, OXFAM.
COFFEE BREAK
4:00-5:30 The International Dimensions of Development (Old Theatre, Main Building)
“Multi-Lateral agreements as a development strategy in Colombia”. Gabriel Duque, Chief Negotiatior, Colombian Foreign Trade Ministry.
“The other side of development: the failures and shortcomings of multi-lateral agreements”. Professor Robert Wade, Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies, DESTIN, LSE
Discussant: Alexander Kennedy, President, British Colombian Chamber of Commerce
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