40 • INCLUSION MATTERS
in principles of social justice, which are in turn enshrined in multiple international conventions, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).1 Its empirical applications are often rooted in studies of discrimination, poverty, inequality, or inequity. The urgency to better understand and address social inclusion is also prompted by the current global discourse toward the “post-2015” agenda. The year 2015 marks the endpoint for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Although tremendous advances have been made, many countries still remain far from many goals. Slow progress on attaining the MDGs has prompted some collective soul-searching among development practitioners and thought leaders to understand why some countries and groups have been left behind. In parallel, new issues are being thrown up even as the world moves toward greater progress. Issues of inequality, sustainability, and the quality of services are center stage for rich and poor countries alike. These new global imperatives underscore the centrality of social inclusion—a message that comes through very clearly in the report of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (UN 2013). In tandem with the new global imperatives, the World Bank Group is embarking upon an ambitious new strategy and has announced dual goals for itself: ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. Underlying the idea of shared prosperity is the notion of sustainability, an overarching theme that frames both goals. A sustainable path of development and poverty reduction is one that manages the resources of the planet for future generations, ensures social inclusion, and adopts fiscally responsible policies that limit future debt burden. As a recent World Bank Group publication notes: A sustainable path toward ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity would also involve creating an inclusive society, not only in terms of economic welfare but also in terms of the voice and empowerment of all groups. An inclusive society must have the institutions, structures, and processes that empower local communities, so they can hold their governments accountable. It also requires the participation of all groups in society, including traditionally marginalized groups, such as ethnic minorities and indigenous populations, in decision-making processes. (World Bank 2013, 33, emphasis added)
Today, the world is at a conjuncture where issues of exclusion and inclusion are assuming new significance for both “developed” and