New Frontiers of the Capability Approach

The capability approach, developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum, has had a significant impact on development theories and approaches by focusing on the normative aspects of development and engaging with the philosophical foundations of the approach. This book explores the new frontiers of the capability approach and its links to human development in three main areas: philosophical foundations, operational frontier, and applications. It includes a wide range of interdisciplinary areas such as human and sustainable development, inequalities, labor markets, education, special needs, cities, urban planning, housing, social capital, and happiness studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 670 pages
Publication date: 03 June 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

For over three decades, the capability approach proposed and developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum has had a profound impact on development theories and approaches, as it goes beyond an economic conception of development and engages with the normative aspects of development. This comprehensive book explores the new frontiers of the capability approach and its connections to human development in three key areas.

Firstly, it delves into the philosophical foundations of the approach, re-examining its links to concepts of common good, collective agency, and epistemic diversity. Secondly, it addresses its operational frontier, aiming to provide inclusive explanations of some of the most advanced methods available for capability researchers. Thirdly, it offers a wide range of applications of this approach, as carried out by a mix of renowned capability scholars and researchers from different disciplines. This broad interdisciplinary range includes areas such as human and sustainable development, inequalities, labor markets, education, special needs, cities, urban planning, housing, social capital, and happiness studies, among others.

By examining these three dimensions, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the capability approach and its potential to address pressing development challenges. It sheds light on the ways in which this approach can contribute to promoting human well-being, equity, and social justice, and it offers valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars alike.

Weight: 924g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108448185