Differences
The neoliberal approach has been in the frontline of advocating for a wide economic liberation and policies, which extend the abilities and rights of the private sector over the public sector, particularly the shutting down of the government and state power over the economy. The concept of neoliberalism is in support of the deregulation, privatization, reducing government spending, free trade, and fiscal austerity. On the other hand, Deneulin and Lila argue that the human development approach is pegged on the tenets that development is purposely geared to improve human lives not merely on the basis of enhancing one’s income but also creating an expansion of the things that an individual can be or do. For instance, a person should be well nourished and healthy, be knowledgeable and be among the participants in a community life initiative (369). The human development approach removes the obstacles to what an individual can do in life, illiteracy, lack of income, not being able to access resources, ill health, or even lack of political and civil freedoms. In contrary, the human rights approach ensures that it creates a platform for fundamental entitlements. The human rights approach highlights on the multidimensional nature of issues we face as human beings, ascribing to interrelated and exclusively mutually reinforcing deprivations, and focusing on discrimination, stigma, social exclusion, and insecurity associated with such life aspects.
Similarities
It is not coincidental that the human rights (HR), human development (HD), and neoliberal approaches have offered very critical and exclusive discourses to the way we deal with the day-to-day life activities and the manner we approach various challenges we experience in our economy (Elson 271). The language and practice of the human development approach, human rights approach, and the neoliberal approach have spread so fast in the global ladder. This is due to the fact that the three concepts have prompted a critical inquiry in our conscience towards the manner we do daily business or tackle the challenges of our economy from an appropriate and a more rational frontier.
Works cited
Deneulin, Severine, and Lila Shahani. An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach: Freedom and Agency. London: Earthscan, 2009. Print.
Elson, Diane. "Gender justice, human rights and neoliberal economic policies." Gendered Dimensions of Development (2012): 37.
