Robeyns (2017). Wellbeing, Freedom and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-examined. Open Book Publishers. Available online.
I decided to read Robeyns' book while working on a paper for the HDCA 2020 and IAMCR 2020 conferences, which in turn is to serve as a starter for a manuscript intended for the Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC).
I have long associated the technology stewardship training with Kleine's Choice Framework and Gigler's information capabilities, both of which are connected with Sen's Capabilities Approach. Robeyn's work has served as a resource for understanding the general normative and specific conceptual elements of CA, but I had not spent much time reading her work in greater depth, let alone spending time trying to understand the wider context of CA scholarship more generally.
The HDCA and IAMCR conference papers are the first time I have foregrounded CA as it relates to technology steward, and for both, I relied on a brief description of the approach to set up Kleine and Gigler. In so doing, I began to notice more references to CA in various ICT4D articles, and I have drawn upon Haenssgen & Ariana (2018) to create a Technology-augmented Capability Approach (TaCA) model for the HDCA poster and the IAMCR paper.
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As a result of this latest phase of writing, I decided to set aside time to consider CA in greater depth and chose Robeyns' book as a starting point. Robeyns' book is an extensive review of CA scholarship, provides a modular framework for CA-based theories and analysis, and addresses a number of critiques levelled at CA generally. It will also be useful to consider a number of responses to the book from CA scholars, which can be found in the Human Development and Capabilities Approach journal 20(3) published in 2019. (See my note below for specific links.)
Robeyns' book has prompted me to consider some fundamental questions which can serve as a basis for a more extensive theoretical reflection on technology stewardship and the JETI project overall:
- What is technology stewardship?
- Where did this term originate, how is it defined, and what does it mean in practice?
- Can we apply the term to observable existing practices or concepts within the ICT4D literature?
- Where do we locate technology stewardship training program within the field of ICT4D?
- How does it relate to wider objectives and principles of human development more generally?
In addition, there are several questions that I have jotted down while reading the book that relate to other theoretical interests that prompt further consideration:
- To what extent and in what ways can CA offer a conceptual and theoretical elaboration of technology stewardship?
- How might this contribute to the design of a curriculum for technology stewardship training?
- What type of research questions does it raise concerning the evaluation of technology stewardship as a strategy for ICT4D?
- How do we conceptualize "social learning theory" and communities of practice within CA and a TaCA model?
- In what ways and to what extent can "social practice theory" inform functionings and capabilities within CA and, more specifically the TaCA model?
- In what ways and to what extent does CA guide and/or inform a wider reflection on the concept of effective use and the normative goals and principles of ICT4D?
Other relevant literature to bring to bear on these questions will need to include technology stewardship, communities of practice, and social learning theory: Wenger, White and Smith (2009); Wenger, et al (2002), and Wenger (1998). Social practice theory (Shove, Pantzar & Watson, 2012). Heeks' extensive work on ICT4D, but in particular any work he has done with reference to CA.
Note: Reviews and engagement with Robeyn's book in the Human Development and Capabilities Approach 20(3), 2019 journal here:
Haenssgen, M. J., & Ariana, P. (2018). The place of technology in the Capability Approach. Oxford Development Studies, 46(1), 98-112. doi:10.1080/13600818.2017.1325456 https://doi.org/10.1080/13600818.2017.1325456
Robyens, I. (2017). Wellbeing, Freedom and Social Justice: The Capability Approach Re-Examined. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers.
Shove, E., Pantzar, M., & Watson, M. (2012). The dynamics of social practice: Everyday life and how it changes. London: Sage.
Wenger, E., White, N., & Smith, J. D. (2009). Digital Habitats: Stewarding Technology for Communities. Portland: CPSquare.
Wenger, E., McDermott, R., & Snyder, W. (2002). Cultivating Communities of Practice. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning, Identity. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
