Manfred Max-Neef
Encyclopedia
Artur Manfred Max Neef (b. October 26, 1932, Valparaíso, Chile) is a Chilean economist and environmentalist
mainly known for his human development
model based on Fundamental human needs
. He is of German descent. Max-Neef started his career as a Professor of economics
at the University of California, Berkeley
in the early 1960s.
In 1981
, Max Neef wrote From the Outside Looking In: Experiences in Barefoot Economics, a narrative of his travels among the poor in South America. In the same year, he founded CEPAUR (Centre for Development Alternatives).
In 1982, Max Neef won the Right Livelihood Award
, known as the Alternative Nobel Prize, for his work in poverty-stricken areas of developing countries. Max-Neef ran for President of Chile
as an independent in the 1993 election
. He achieved 4th place, with 5.55% of the vote.
In 1993, Max Neef was appointed rector
of the Universidad Austral de Chile
in Valdivia
. He served in that position for eight years.
He is a council member of the World Future Council
.
(Loretto, Pennsylvania).
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
mainly known for his human development
Human development (humanity)
Human development in the scope of humanity, specifically international development, is an international and economic development paradigm that is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. People are the real wealth of nations...
model based on Fundamental human needs
Fundamental human needs
Fundamental human needs, according to the school of "" developed by Manfred Max-Neef and others , are seen as ontological , are few, finite and classifiable...
. He is of German descent. Max-Neef started his career as a Professor of economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in the early 1960s.
Career
Max Neef traveled through Latin America and the United States, as a visiting Professor in various universities, as well as living with and researching the poor. He worked with the problem of development in the Third World, describing the inappropriateness of conventional models of development that have contributed to poverty, debt and ecological disasters for Third World communities.In 1981
1981 in literature
The year 1981 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction given for the first time...
, Max Neef wrote From the Outside Looking In: Experiences in Barefoot Economics, a narrative of his travels among the poor in South America. In the same year, he founded CEPAUR (Centre for Development Alternatives).
In 1982, Max Neef won the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
, known as the Alternative Nobel Prize, for his work in poverty-stricken areas of developing countries. Max-Neef ran for President of Chile
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
as an independent in the 1993 election
Chilean presidential election, 1993
A presidential election was held in Chile on December 11, 1993. Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, son of former president Eduardo Frei Montalva, won the election by absolute majority.-Results:Source: ....
. He achieved 4th place, with 5.55% of the vote.
In 1993, Max Neef was appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Universidad Austral de Chile
Universidad Austral de Chile
Southern University of Chile is a research university in Chile based in Valdivia although it has some institutions and careers in Puerto Montt. Founded by decree on 7 September 1954 it is one of the eight original Chilean Traditional Universities...
in Valdivia
Valdivia, Chile
Valdivia is a city and commune in southern Chile administered by the Municipality of Valdivia. The city is named after its founder Pedro de Valdivia and is located at the confluence of the Calle-Calle, Valdivia and Cau-Cau Rivers, approximately east of the coastal towns of Corral and Niebla...
. He served in that position for eight years.
He is a council member of the World Future Council
World Future Council
The World Future Council is an independent body formally founded in Hamburg, Germany on 10 May 2007. "Formed to speak on behalf of policy solutions that serve the interests of future generations", it includes members active in governmental bodies, civil society, business, science and the arts...
.
Affiliations
- European Academy of Sciences and ArtsEuropean Academy of Sciences and ArtsThe European Academy of Sciences and Arts was created in 1990 in Salzburg, Austria by heart surgeon Felix Unger of Salzburg; the cardinal archbishop of Vienna, Franz König; and the political scientist and philosopher Nikolaus Lobkowicz....
- Club of RomeClub of RomeThe Club of Rome is a global think tank that deals with a variety of international political issues. Founded in 1968 at Accademia dei Lincei in Rome, Italy, the CoR describes itself as "a group of world citizens, sharing a common concern for the future of humanity." It consists of current and...
- New York Academy of SciencesNew York Academy of SciencesThe New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
, - Leopold Kohr Academy of SalzburgLeopold KohrLeopold Kohr was an economist, jurist and political scientist known both for his opposition to the "cult of bigness" in social organization and as one of those who inspired the small is beautiful movement...
Awards/Honours
- University Award of Highest Honour, Soka University, Japan
- Doctor Honoris Causa, University of JordanUniversity of JordanThe University of Jordan , is a government-supported University located in Amman, Jordan...
- National Prize for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, Chile
- Kenneth Boulding Award (maximum recognition by the International Society for Ecological EconomicsInternational Society for Ecological EconomicsThe International Society for Ecological Economics was founded in 1989 to promote Ecological Economics and assist ecological economists and related societes...
(ISEE), August 2008)
Commencement speaker
On May 10, 2009, Dr Manfred Max-Neef received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters and was Commencement Speaker to the 158th Graduating Class of Saint Francis UniversitySaint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...
(Loretto, Pennsylvania).
External links
- WorldCat Identities
- Right Lifelihood Award's website
- World Future Council
- Max-Neef on Human Needs and Human-scale Development
- Big Picture TV Free video clips of Manfred Max-Neef
- El desarrollo a la medida humana from Desarrollo y Cooperación (March/April 2002)
- Economic Investigation by Hermann Max, Manfred Max-Neef's father
- May 6, 2009 News Release from Saint Francis University
- Max-Neef: U.S. Is Becoming an "Underdeveloping Nation" - video interview by Democracy Now!Democracy Now!Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...