Is Small Beautiful?
A one-day conference on the 30th Anniversary of Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher
3rd September 2003, Regent?s College Conference Centre, London
Thirty years ago saw the publication of Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. For a book that concerned itself with development economics, technology, ecology and philosophy the global reaction to it was nothing short of sensational.
The central message of the book was that conventional economics and inappropriate technologies were failing both the planet and the developing world. What was needed was a more ?small-scale? approach to development using appropriate and affordable technology.
The world has radically transformed since 1973, both technologically and organisationally.
'Small-scale technology' is now associated with silicon chips, genetic engineering and nano-technology - not the 'intermediate technologies' Schumacher envisaged. And his vision of self-sufficient local ?economics as if people mattered? has been overtaken by globalisation and wholesale economic liberalisation.
So much change. But one nagging constant. More than one billion people still live in abject poverty.
Thirty years on, in an increasingly divided and fragile world, the questions remain with us:
How can science and technology be directed to reducing poverty without costing the Earth?
Do new technologies represent a threat or an opportunity to bridge the divide between the haves and have-nots?
What kind of economic order is needed to eradicate poverty and sustain the planet?
Can globalisation deliver the goods? Or do we need to think 'smaller' and more 'local' if economics is to have a human face?
This 30th anniversary conference explored these challenges and attempted to answer the question: ?Is Small Beautiful??
Download a colour brochure to print
Programme and speakers
The speeches and presentations highlighted are available online.
Opening address: Cowan Coventry, Chief Executive, ITDGPractical Action
The shock of the new technologies
- They feed the hungry: what small farmers really want
Tewolde Egziabher, Environment Protection Agency, Ethiopia - Feeding the hungry: biotechnology's role
Professor Michael Lipton, Nuffield Council on Bioethics and Poverty Research Unit, University of Sussex - Technology at the limit
Professor Mark Welland, FRS FREng, University of Cambridge - Small is dangerous: the threat of nano-technology
Pat Mooney, Executive Director, ETC Group
Economics as if people mattered
- Corporate power and people power
Craig Bennett, Friends of the Earth - The business of business is development
Björn Stigson, World Business Council for Sustainable Development - Going local, taking control
Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England - Can globalisation be good for you?
Michael Gidney, Traidcraft
- Is Small Still Beautiful? Questions of Scale - a paper introducing the themes of the conference
Further information
Small is Working: Technology for Poverty Reduction A video and book produced by ITDGPractical Action with UNESCO and TVE to mark the 30th anniversary of Small is Beautiful, examining Schumacher's legacy and demonstrating human-scale technologies. Extracts from the video can be downloaded.
SciDev.Net, 27 August 2003?The need to democratise global priorities for science Cowan Coventry of ITDGPractical Action looks at the public's deep-seated anxiety over the changes that science could make to the world, and calls for a new social contract to re-assert society's control over corporate-driven scientific and technological development
The Guardian, 27 August 2003 ? Big, bad world Schumacher's 'Buddhist economy' inspired environmentalists 30 years ago, but how valid is his concept today, asks Martin Hodgson
Open Democracy, 4 September 2003 ? Small is dangerous? Schumacher, science, and social development The vision of E.F. Schumacher still holds lessons for how a better social application of science can serve the interests of the world?s poor and the planet?s sustainability
SciDev.Net, 4 August 2003 ? Developing nations 'must wise up to nanotechnology' Decision makers in developing countries need more information about the potential impact of nanotechnology on their economies and livelihoods, says Katie Mantell
For more information on ITDGPractical Action's founder, read a short profile of Schumacher or the history of ITDGPractical Action.
More information on Schumacher's work and philosophy can be found at Schumacher UK. The Schumacher Circle links together various organisations that have all been inspired by EF Schumacher's vision or involvement.
Download the invitation as a colour brochure to print (PDF, 166K)
More about the Regent's College Conference Centre.
Conference speaker biographies and full timetable
Location
Is Small Beautiful? was held at the Regent's College Conference Centre in London.
Regent's College is based in Regent's Park. Baker Street is the nearest Underground station. This is on the District and Circle, Jubilee, Bakerloo and Metropolitan lines, and is about five minutes walk from the college.
