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Profiles of world problems, and
their relationships, as perceived by international
constituencies (intergovernmental organizations, international nongovernmental
associations (NGOs) and other bodies -- profiled in a complementary
source: Yearbook of International Organizations):
Source: The world problems and issues presented are those recognized
by over 20,000 international organizations (profiled in the Yearbook
of International Organizations) and other constituencies -- for which
the Union of International
Associations serves as an information clearing house. Some of the
problems may be recognized by many organizations, others may only be recognized
by loose networks, movements or isolated groups of experts.
Names: Problems do not have unique or official names. Many of
the problems profiled have two or more other associated names associated
to reflect different keywords and ways of describing them. Some have
up to ten names. The alphabetic
list, based on a single name per problem, is therefore an essentially
arbitrary ordering of the problems. As a random presentation of the
contents of the database, it has the advantage of drawing attention
to the variety of concerns faced by individuals and groups. Some problems
are decidedly controversial -- and may even be described by other constituencies
as strategies.
Disclaimer: This Encyclopedia necessarily
includes some problems which appear "positive" (at least
to some constituencies) and may indeed be treated separately as strategies
(in the strategies database).
Some "problems" which are of great concern to one group, may
be seen as a solution by another group. Similarly the strategies of
one group may be seen as problems for another group. Problems of today
may have been governmental policy in an earlier period, as in the case
of the drug and slave trades. "Abortion" is an example of
a highly controversial problem as defined by some that is also treated
and perceived as a strategy by others. "Thieving", and even
"blinding children" (to improve their income as beggars),
may be amongst the few strategies open to the impoverished. On the other
hand, many seemingly "positive" strategies (such as "the
Green Revolution") may be criticized for their "negative"
consequences by significant constituencies. This collection of problems
should NOT therefore be considered as a simple list of "negative"
problems identified by the organizations providing the information.
The data presented challenges the user to exercise discrimination in
determining under what circumstances a problem (such as "structural
adjustment") is defined and in what way it may be "positive"
or "negative" in its nature. This is often the dilemma faced
by leaders and policy makers. Some problem profiles have explanatory
texts, where available, to clarify conflicting claims as to the "positive"
or "negative" aspects of each problem from different perspectives.
Many problems are perceived to have both "positive" and "negative"
consequences in aggravating or alleviating other problems (indicated
by hyperlinks).
The data therefore represent one attempt to depict the "ecosystem"
of interrelated problems active in society, whether actually or potentially.
Inclusion of "problems" on this list should not be considered
to imply that they are advocated by the UIA.
Development: It is important to recognize that the
database is continually being expanded with user participation,
notably through the addition of more specific problems that are aspects
of those already included and the interaction between problems in vicious
cycle loops.
Reservations: The emphasis throughout this project has been
placed on providing descriptions of less well-known problems, particularly
when the extensive material available on the better known problems contained
neither succinct descriptions of them nor descriptive material which
could easily be reduced to succinct descriptions. The problem descriptions
here represent a compilation of views from published documents (usually
from international organizations). The text provided does not necessarily
constitute the best possible description of the problem, since a compromise
has had to be struck between availability of information, the resources
to process it, and the space available (in the case of the hardcopy
version).
"The emphasis throughout this project has been placed on providing descriptions of less well-known problems..."
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