Poverty Alleviation: An Opportunity for Universities

Abstract

How can universities promote a preferential “option of the poor”? In my chapter I will articulate three dimensions and show how they are connected with issues of identity: education, positioning, transformation.

• (i) Education is the central idea of a university. Education can strengthen the abilities to deal with difficult situations, like poverty. In fact, the university has the opportunity and the responsibility to cultivate such resources. According to Martha Nussbaum a university should promote the ability to lead an “examined life”. It should promote the ability to think in terms of common humanity and the ability to narrative imagination, such as the use of myths, symbols, narratives and poetry. In this way education helps to cultivate a sense of belonging that is not contingent of social groups (humanity), a sense of detachment from external circumstances (“examined life”) and a sense of interiority and orientation beyond material values (narrative imagination).

• (ii) Universities can contribute to an “option for the poor” by taking up positions. There are at least four important dimensions: First, the university recognizes academic freedom. Universities are free to address the situation of people experiencing poverty and poverty alleviation, e.g. in lectures. Second, the university knows freedom of research. Hence also research can contribute to a deeper understanding of poverty and the development of social innovation and poverty reduction efforts. Third, universities build communities of teachers and students, networks within the scientific community. Granting access to such networks for socially disadvantaged students or teachers or collaboration between the University and poverty stricken persons can express an “option for the poor”. Fourth, the University has political weight and can take up positions in the sense of Ignacio Ellacurías considerations on the political role of universities.

• (iii) Finally, such a positioning and consequent involvement offers opportunities for transformation. Transformation is in fact the basic idea behind the Christian understanding of an “option for the poor”. It is about to be touched by the mystery of poverty. It is about to develop real friendships with people experiencing poverty. Such encounter opens the scope for a transformation that converts people’s interiority. This may just be possible within a university.