Responsible Wellbeing and its Implications for Development Policy

Chloe Blackmore

Robert Chambers' concept of 'responsible wellbeing' remains under-explored. This paper examines the relationships between 'wellbeing' and 'responsibility' and explores the implications of the concept for development policy. It argues that the concept can complement the development agenda by highlighting political and power relationships between the rich and the poor. By turning the development spotlight towards the powerful and wealthy, responsible wellbeing brings personal agency to centre stage and offers a holistic approach for dealing with issues of environmental and social justice. Despite inevitable challenges in encouraging people to confront their wealth and power, the paper recommends a two-fold policy approach: 1) a focus on education and critical pedagogy, and 2) appropriate measures to support people to make more responsible choices.

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