HHRI - Key Words and Case Studies

Question 1

What is Human Development? How is it often measured?

Answer 1

Human development refers to improvements in health, education, income, and overall wellbeing, not just economic growth.

It’s often measured by the Human Development Index (HDI) but can include other indices too

Question 2

GDP vs Human Development

Answer 2

GDP measures economic output but doesn’t reflect quality of life. Critics argue for broader indicators such as life expectancy, literacy, and environmental sustainability

Question 3

Happy Planet Index (HPI)

Answer 3

An index measuring sustainable wellbeing.

It includes life expectancy, wellbeing, inequality, and ecological footprint.

Challenges traditional GDP-based development models.

Question 4

Alternative development models (e.g. Bolivia, Sharia Law)

Answer 4

Bolivia (under Evo Morales) prioritised indigenous rights and environment over GDP growth.

Sharia-based systems may define development differently, showing contested nature of development.

Question 5

Hans Rosling’s view on development

Answer 5

Emphasised data-driven understanding of development trends — health, education and human rights often improve before GDP rises.

Highlighted non-linear progress

Question 6

Human Capital

Answer 6

The skills, knowledge, and health that people invest in and accumulate over time.

Education is central for economic and human development, though access varies globally

Question 7

Gender inequality in education

Answer 7

In many societies, girls face limited access to education due to cultural norms, religious views, or economic constraints — limiting human capital development

Question 8

Variations in health and life expectancy (developing world)
give example

Answer 8

Caused by lack of access to food, clean water, and sanitation. High infant/maternal mortality rates are common.

Example: Sub-Saharan Africa has highest maternal mortality rates.

Question 9

Variations in health and life expectancy (developed world)

Answer 9

More influenced by lifestyle choices, deprivation, and healthcare quality.

Example: US has higher obesity and lifestyle-related illnesses despite wealth.
Japan - good diets
Hong Kong - Walking culture

Question 10

Intra-country variations in health and life expectancy - examples

Answer 10

UK: North-South divide (deindustrialisation)

Brazil: Favela residents live up to 10 years less

Australia: Indigenous Australians have a life expectancy gap of up to 8 years

Question 11

Role of governments in development + example

Answer 11

Government priorities impact development — from welfare states with high social spending to totalitarian states that may underinvest in health/education.

Example: Cuba – high health outcomes despite low GDP due to strong state investment.

Question 12

Role of IGOs (e.g. World Bank, IMF, WTO) in development

Answer 12

Traditionally promote neo-liberal policies (free trade, privatisation, deregulation).

Recently shifted towards promoting human rights, health, education

Question 13

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Answer 13

UN goals adopted in 2015 to achieve by 2030. Broader than MDGs, they include climate action, peace, inequality. Progress varies across regions and targets

Question 14

Case Study: Lesotho

Answer 14

Lesotho has less than 5 doctors per 100,000 people, illustrating low access to healthcare.

This contributes to low life expectancy (~54 years) and high maternal mortality

Question 15

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Answer 15

Created in 1948 by the UN.

A non-binding framework for global human rights standards.

Used to justify foreign intervention.

Not all countries have signed or fully follow it.

Question 16

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

Answer 16

Adopted by the Council of Europe, enforced through the European Court of Human Rights.

Integrated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

Seen by some as a loss of sovereignty.

Question 17

Geneva Convention

Answer 17

Defines international legal standards for war and humanitarian treatment.

Signed by 196 countries.

Despite this, over 150 countries still use torture and few war crimes are prosecuted.

Question 18

State attitudes toward human rights

Answer 18

Some states use human rights in foreign policy (e.g. USA or EU), others focus on economic growth first (e.g. China) and justify human rights restrictions as necessary for development.

Question 19

Authoritarian vs democratic systems – human rights

Answer 19

Authoritarian states (e.g. China) restrict freedoms such as free speech and media.

Democratic states (e.g. UK, Sweden) have stronger legal protections.

Transitioning states show varied commitment.

Question 20

Index of Corruption

Answer 20

Published by Transparency International.

Measures perceived corruption levels.

High corruption = weak rule of law, poor protection of rights, and undermined institutions.

Question 21

Intra-country variation in human rights

Answer 21

Ethnic or gender-based inequalities persist in many countries.

Post-colonial states often have marginalised groups lacking access to rights and representation

Question 22

Human Rights variation intra country example - First Nations in Canada

Answer 22

Indigenous communities face lower education, health outcomes, and poorer access to services, despite Canada’s strong overall rights record. Reflects structural inequality

Question 23

Human rights differences - Afghanistan

Answer 23

Women’s rights declined under Taliban rule, including bans on education and employment.

Shows how political change can rapidly erode human rights

Question 24

Human rights differences - Bolivia – Indigenous rights

Answer 24

Under Evo Morales, Bolivia saw increased inclusion of indigenous people in politics and legal protection, but gaps still exist in education, land rights, and healthcare

Question 25

Australia – Aboriginal rights

Answer 25

Aboriginal Australians face inequality in health, education, and justice. Campaigns like “Closing the Gap” aim to address these disparities

Question 26

Forms of geopolitical intervention

Answer 26

Includes development aid, trade embargoes, military aid, indirect/direct military action. All are used to address human rights abuses, though effectiveness and motives are debated.

Question 27

Who promotes human rights interventions?

Answer 27

IGOs (UN, NATO), National governments (e.g. USA, UK), NGOs (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch) However, there’s often no global consensus on interventions.

Question 28

Human rights vs national sovereignty

Answer 28

Interventions often challenge national sovereignty, especially when foreign aid, sanctions, or military action are used to impose human rights standards

Question 29

Types of development aid

Answer 29

Can be charitable, government-led, or via IGOs. Includes emergency aid (e.g. after disasters like Haiti 2010) or long-term aid (e.g. health or education programmes by Oxfam or Christian Aid).

Question 30

Successes of development aid

Answer 30

Malaria reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa Gender equality programmes However, impact varies by region and governance

Question 31

Criticisms of development aid

Answer 31

May foster dependency, empower corrupt elites, or ignore minority rights. Sometimes used to promote donor countries' strategic or economic interests more than human rights.

Question 32

Example: Environmental harm to minority groups

Answer 32

Niger Delta (Nigeria) – oil spills by Shell/TNCs displaced communities and polluted land Ethiopia – land grabs by TNCs evicted pastoralist communities without consent

Question 33

Military aid

Answer 33

Includes training personnel, weapon sales, and intelligence support. Sometimes given to states with poor human rights records, e.g. Saudi Arabia, raising ethical concerns

Question 34

Military aid example: War on Terror and human rights

Answer 34

Justified by USA and allies as protecting global security and human rights. However, involved rendition, torture (e.g. Guantanamo Bay), undermining the UDHR

Question 35

Strategic vs ethical motivations in intervention

Answer 35

Interventions (e.g. Iraq 2003, Syria) often justified by human rights, but critics argue strategic interests (oil, influence) are primary. True motives are frequently debated.

Question 36

How is the success of geopolitical interventions measured (7 metrics) ?

Answer 36

Metrics include: Health Life expectancy Education Gender equality Freedom of speech Refugee management GDP per capita. Success is multi-faceted

Question 37

Democratic institutions as success indicators

Answer 37

For many Western governments and IGOs, progress = establishment of democracy, free speech, and capitalist institutions (e.g. elections, press freedom)

Question 38

Alternative views on intervention success

Answer 38

Some states (e.g. China) prioritise economic growth over democratic development or human rights. Their metric of success = GDP rise, not holistic wellbeing

Question 39

Development aid – success stories

Answer 39

Botswana – Effective health systems and HIV/AIDS management Ebola in West Africa – Rapid response reduced spread, thanks to coordinated international aid

Question 40

Development aid – failures

Answer 40

Haiti – Little long-term benefit post-2010 earthquake; dependency and corruption Iraq – Aid accompanied by instability, poor infrastructure, and inequality

Question 41

Aid and its relationship with inequality

Answer 41

Aid can reduce or increase inequality depending on governance: Success = inclusive development Failure = aid benefits elites, worsens gaps (often linked to corruption)

Question 42

Superpowers and strategic aid

Answer 42

Aid may serve foreign policy goals (e.g. US aid to allies), aiming for: Access to resources Political influence in IGOs Formation of military alliances

Question 43

Direct military intervention – costs

Answer 43

Can lead to loss of sovereignty, civilian casualties, displacement Short-term regime change ≠ long-term development Example: Iraq War – initial overthrow, long-term instability

Question 44

Indirect military intervention

Answer 44

Examples include military training, support for rebel groups, or airstrikes without ground troops. Outcomes are mixed and often fuel regional instability

Question 45

Non-military interventions with stronger records

Answer 45

UNICEF – improves child education, health UN Women – promotes gender equality, rights Tend to produce sustainable, long-term improvements without violence.

Question 46

Consequences of inaction + example

Answer 46

Failure to intervene can lead to: Human rights abuses continuing Environmental degradation Instability spilling across borders Example: Rwanda 1994 – global inaction during genocide