Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Annotated Source- WHO
Dr. Margaret Chan (Director- General of the WHO) | ||||
2008 Address at the WHO Congress on Traditional Medicine http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/2008/20081107/en/ | ||||
- What is the source’s stated purpose (the argument or thesis)?
Dr. Chen discusses the challenges that development faces in attempting to meld traditional medicine in mainstream health care in an appropriate, effective, and safe manner and argues in favor of utilizing it more fully.
- What evidence does the author provide to support his or her main argument? How is the author attempting to logically prove his or her thesis and how does this affect the organization of the document?
Dr. Chen discusses that for many who live in rural areas of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, traditional medicine is their main or only healthcare provider. She says that was this is the way things are at present, it is not ideal; modern drugs can greatly ease suffering and enhance chances for survival. In Afria, they estimate that 60% of children with high fever (some of which is caused by malaria) are treated with herbal remedies. Out of 136 million women giving birth, 58 million receive no assistance. There are still a high number of preventable maternal deaths. She points out that this is NOT a failure of traditional medicine, but the failure of health systems to effectively serve those in greatest need.
On the other hand however, in more developed societies there is a (sometimes) dangerous move towards traditional medical techniques that are unproven. She observes that many are purusing these methods in response to a “hard-hearted highly specialized “ system of medicine that feels impersonal. She advocates moving towards a melding of the two methods, specifically primary health care. She believes it to be a “people-centered, holistic approach to health that makes prevention as important as the cure”. Dr. Chen believes primary health care to be the cure to the 21st century ills of “globalization of unhealthy lifestyles, rapid unplanned urbanization, and demographic aging… seen in the rise of noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental disorders”. She does not advocate abandoning traditional medicine, but augmenting it and evaluating the appropriateness of its situational use.
- Who is the audience? What does the author assume the audience already knows about the topic?
Dr. Chen is addressing the WHO Conference in a speech. She assumes they have a shared purpose and goal. They are well informed about development and medicine.
- Describe the author’s methods (i.e. how does the author know what he or she knows)? In your opinion were they appropriate why or why not?
Dr. Chen is a high-ranking member of a well-established organization. Her points were well made and credible just by virtue of her position in WHO. She treats both sides of medicine with respect and seemed concerned for people as a whole.
- To what other sources (theorist, researchers, artists) does the author refer? Explain the specific ideas the author draws upon from these other sources to support his or her own argument (the theoretical framework).
Since Dr. Chen is giving a speech, many of her sources are not cited. Since the Wolrd Health Organization is a reputable group (albeit with an agenda) her facts are likely well researched, credible, and derived from the organization itself.
- What are the connections between this source and your project? How useful or applicable is this source’s approach to your own project? How is yours new and different?
I have not yet decided what field of development I will be studying, but modern medicine and traditional medicine deeply interest me. I am interested in the seemingly contradictory move away from traditional medicine in developing nations while affluent nations are often ignoring modern medical techniques for popular and unproven ancient medical practices.
Annotated Source- Amartya Sen
Sen, Amartya. 2000.Development as Freedom, Chapter Four: Poverty as Capabilities Deprivation. 87-110. | ||||
- What is the source’s stated purpose (the argument or thesis)?
While the source is not exclusively about India, it discusses the poverty problems that India faces in great detail. In Amartya Sen’s eyes, poverty ought to be viewed as more than a lowness of income. Poverty is the deprivation of opportunity and means, whether this is gender inequality and preferential treatment within families, social deprivation and isolation, physical disability, lack of medical care, the inability to become educated, or simply the psychological results from unemployment.
- What evidence does the author provide to support his or her main argument? How is the author attempting to logically prove his or her thesis and how does this affect the organization of the document? Sen offers instances where families sacrifice their means to send the boys to school while the women at home are malnourished. Sen offers that nearly half of India’s children are malnourished, while a more recent study finds similar results. In fact, 42% of India’s children under the age of five are malnourished. (I verified Sen’s facts since the book is ten years old). He combines these facts to expand upon and support his theories.
- Who is the audience? What does the author assume the audience already knows about the topic?
Describe the author’s methods (i.e. how does the author know what he or she knows)? In your opinion were they appropriate why or why not?
Sen is targeting the book to a fairly well educated audience that is interested in the field of international development. Sen, as an economist focuses primarily on the data rather than the human aspect of development. His clear writing style and logical approach afforded him an apparent impartial shield under which he was able to reach a wider audience. Sen’s economic background as well as his international renown (Nobel Prize winner) lent him credence. Many authors who write on similar material can put readers off with their sentimentality and personal stories. While a balance between the numbers and the people behind them is certainly necessary, Sen’s concise and logical approach felt less like an attack and more like a mutual revelation.
- To what other sources (theorist, researchers, artists) does the author refer? Explain the specific ideas the author draws upon from these other sources to support his or her own argument (the theoretical framework).
Sen mainly references facts in his book. His ideas are his own and the facts are there to support his argument. He draws from credible sources like the UN, WHO, etc. He uses his own economic knowledge as well to augment his evidence. This also widens his audience.
- What are the connections between this source and your project? How useful or applicable is this source’s approach to your own project? How is yours new and different?
Having a holistic view of development is vital for a field study. Sen uses facts, philosophy… Sen’s article expanded my definition of poverty. I am a international relations major, which means I study both political science and economics. I loved how Sen was able to pull information from so many fields and not just economics. I would like to be able to support my findings from several fields of study. I was intrigued by his writing style, something I would like to emulate. He wrote clearly and concisely, but still maintained the reader’s interest.
Annotated Source- Poverty and Hope
- What is the source’s stated purpose (the argument or thesis)?
Jim Yardley analyzes the simultaneous presence of “misery, work, politics and hope” in a city-slum, Dharavi, in order to highlight India’s similar incongruities as a whole. India has a large economy, yet is riddled with pockets of some of the worst poverty in the world. Yardley illustrates the “parallel economies” of India: the formal and informal sector. To illustrate the lack of opportunity in the formal economy Yardley focuses on a particular slum, Dharavi.
- What evidence does the author provide to support his or her main argument? How is the author attempting to logically prove his or her thesis and how does this affect the organization of the document?
Yardley uses the latest statistics such as “42% of children under the ago of 5 are malnourished” gathered from other sources in order to support his more philosophical and culture based approach to the incongruities in India. He uses a mixture of quotes, vivid imagery, and photography to bolster his thesis. He begins with a broad overview that lends him validity using mostly statistics. He then transitions into separate focuses of misery, work, politics, and hope. This progression allows him to begin with misery, an altogether depressing and draining subject, and move towards the
- Who is the audience? What does the author assume the audience already knows about the topic?
This article was intended for a fairly well educated audience that may not have extensive knowledge about India. Generally speaking, the audience of the New York Times is more educated and focused on international issues than the average newsprint audience.
- Describe the author’s methods (i.e. how does the author know what he or she knows)? In your opinion were they appropriate why or why not?
I appreciated the mix between the abstract and concrete. However, the origin of some of the numbers, especially those that painted the picture of the city were unclear. Yardley’s overview of the city’s history was very solid. As a reader, I felt like he had spent a significant amount of time both in the city and researching his topic. The quotations he used were a tool to state his own opinion through the words of others. As a researcher and observer, this is really the best way to present ideas. The citizens of a country have lived there longer than you and have greater insight. One can learn from them and then draw conclusions.
- To what other sources (theorist, researchers, artists) does the author refer? Explain the specific ideas the author draws upon from these other sources to support his or her own argument (the theoretical framework).
The author has compiled the statistical research of others and peppered it throughout his piece to support his arguments. He utilizes highly respected sources like the World Bank to quotes from Indian leaders. This strategic use of these sources lends validity to his points and gives the reader the illusion that they reached this conclusion on their own rather than being led to it.
- What are the connections between this source and your project? How useful or applicable is this source’s approach to your own project? How is yours new and different? As I narrow down my focus for my research it is important that I evaluate its pertinence to my current interests. This article fits into both my interests of development and medical research. Additionally, I really liked the way the author was able to use statistics and facts to bolster his more abstract thesis. I will be doing something very similar. Like Yardley, I need to remember that my audience will not be people as interested in India as I; my final result needs to include enough background to allow others to understan
Annotated Source- Education
Chanana, K. 1993. Accessing Higher-Education - the Dilemma of Schooling Women,
Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Contemporary India. Springer 26 no. 1 (July): 69-92
This article explores the problems and inequalities that result from schooling in culture riddled with preferential gender treatment and systematic discrimination based on the caste system. It reviews the government’s school curriculum that attempts to promote equality. Implementing these ideas is difficult and has had little success in combatting the attitudes about caste and women. The idea that proper education would lead to social change has not proven effective.
This article is extremely useful for my research question. The failure of the education system for low caste children (especially women) is integral. The attitudes caused by the culture of caste perpetuate economic hardship and systematic discrimination that make significant participation in a political system nearly impossible. This lack of meaningful participation further creates a cycle of poverty that has lasted generations.
Annotated Source- Amnesty International
Amnesty International report 2011: The state of the world’s human rights. Amnesty
International.http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/POL10/001/2011/en/519da037-1492-4620-9ed5-cac8f1cfd591/pol100012011en.pdf (accessed February 10-
Februrary 15, 2012).
Amnesty International wrote a scathing review on India human rights violations in 2011. Despite Indian pride in their free media and judicial system, Indian authorities managed to illegally hold dozens of protestors prisoner. Corporate accountability is almost nonexistent. Police forces have been known to use excessive force. They were significantly more critical than Freedom House. However, Amnesty International has different purposes. While Freedom House attempts to be impartial, Amnesty International evaluates and condemns each country. They highlight the failings of governments and promote human rights. This would likely be an inappropriate source for my research question. They mentioned specific events rather than causal problems as a whole. They did not look for the root of the problem, but focused mainly on large events rather than insidious forces like the cultural marginalization of populations and attitudes towards women.
Annotated Source- Freedom House
India. Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2011/india
(accessed February 10- Februrary 15, 2012).
Freedom House rated India’s level of democracy as free. The article then gave a basic history of democracy in India and analyzed its political rights and civil liberties. Indian independence is less than a century old. While it may be the largest democracy, India is still fraught with inequality and human rights violations. Gender discrimination is the cause of preferential treatment. Dowries and domestic abuse are often the cause of female suicide. The caste system has been outlawed for years, but still remains a part of society and a cause of inequality. Judicial corruption is widespread, but the media is fairly free and an important part of Indian democracy.
Freedom House is a well-regarded source for political scientists. While it is certainly biased towards democracies in general, it considers more than just the political processes instead analyzing the liberties that are actually afforded. It is based in the United States, but I do not consider it tainted by American ideas of democracy. It does not compare India to the United States, but instead to every other country in the world. While this source is not specific enough for extensive use in my research question, the article gives a concise overview of what freedoms India is lacking. This also has the advantage of being a well-known and easily understood source.
Annotated Source- Property Rights
Brule, Rachel. 2010. Changes in India's Property Rights Regime and the Implications for
Improved Gender Parity: Evidence from Regression Discontinuity Analysis of Panel Data for 17 Indian States. APSA 2010 Annual Meeting Paper, Washington D.C. July 19.
Social tradition in India has prevented equality for women. Legislation has met little success. This paper uses mathematics to estimate the effects of several laws. These laws attempted to protect female inheritance. The findings suggest that while the law was not very effective, the households it affected spent more income on women.
This source is very relevant to my research question. Current laws that protect women are scarce. What is it about these laws that cause families to spend more on their female daughters? If they inherit the property, parents may want to invest in females more, despite their gender. Understanding their impact can reveal forces that overcome tradition.
Annotated Source
Richards, Rebecca S. 2011. The council of women world leaders, iron ladies, and
daughters of destiny: A transnational study of women’s rhetorical performances of power. PhD diss., The University of Arizona. In PROQUESTMS ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT), http://search.proquest.com/docview/865848577? accountid=4488 (accessed February 15, 2012).
This dissertation explores the effects of powerful women leaders, specifically the rhetoric of these women. The author argues that these rhetorical performances affect the possibility for female leadership. These ideas are explored through specific examples including Indira Gandhi, the first female Prime Minister who held office in the sixties.
This is an excellent source for my research question. Indira Gandhi was an inspiring leader. Despite having one of their earlier woman prime ministers, India lags behind in gender equality. Understanding this paradox could help explain the difficulty in promoting equal rights or demonstrate the tenacity of the caste system.
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