Human Dignity & International Development: Reflections from a Catholic Perspective

As the saying goes, money doesn’t buy happiness, and similarly, most people agree that “development” is more than just aggregate economic growth. Instead, many people use the concept of well-being which is convenient as a multi-faceted target, integrating health, education, security, etc. Yet many organizations go further and articulate their mission with an appeal to human dignity. The banner of human dignity can be seen as a slogan, obscuring the variations of meaning and implications in practice. The deep reflections on human dignity and broad experience in the practice of human development from the Catholic tradition are an invaluable resource for this dialogue across sectors, public and private, secular and faith-based.

The Kellogg Institute at Notre Dame University, under the leadership of Paolo Carozza, has recently embarked on a multi-year, inter-disciplinary initiative to explore these topics and to seek out examples of genuine experience of human dignity and human development. Through short presentations and moderated Q&A, this event will engage a diverse audience to consider the contribution of the Catholic tradition to this field and to reflect on practical examples from the work of the AVSI foundation globally.

Paolo Carozza, Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame

Paolo Carozza is the director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and professor of law and concurrent professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. With expertise in comparative constitutional law, human rights, law and development, and international law, he focuses his research on Latin America, Western Europe, and international themes more broadly.

His current work revolves around the relationships between law, human rights, and integral human development, in addition to the book project “Constitutional Justice in Italy in Global Context.” Formerly the director of Notre Dame’s Center for Civil and Human Rights, he continues to direct its JSD in International Human Rights Law.

Widely published, Carozza’s most recent works include “Human Rights, Human Dignity, and Human Experience,” in Christopher McCrudden, ed., Understanding Human Dignity (Oxford University Press, 2013) and Regional Protection of Human Rights (with Dinah Shelton) (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 2012).

A member of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (2006–10), Carozza served as its president in 2008–09. In 2012, he received the Order of Merit of Bernardo O’Higgins, Chile’s highest state honor awarded to foreign citizens, in recognition of his service to the Inter-American system.

Carozza holds an AB from Harvard University and a JD from Harvard Law School. He pursued graduate studies at Cambridge University and at Harvard Law School as a Ford Foundation Fellow in Public International Law.

Andreas Widmer, Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of America School of Business and Economics

Andreas Widmer is Director of Entrepreneurship Programs at The Catholic University of America and President of The Carpenter’s Fund. He was previously the co-founder of SEVEN Fund, a philanthropic organization run by entrepreneurs who invested in original research, books, and films to further enterprise solutions to poverty.

He is the author of The Pope & The CEO: Pope John Paul II’s Lessons to a Young Swiss Guard, a book exploring leadership lessons that Widmer learned serving as a Swiss Guard protecting Pope John Paul II and refined during his career as a successful business executive.

He is a frequent speaker around the world on issues related to business ethics, entrepreneurship, business leadership, productivity, and the challenges of executive management.

Andreas works closely with top entrepreneurs, investors, and faith leaders around the world to foster enterprise solutions to poverty and promote virtuous business practices. He has developed entrepreneurial initiatives at the intersection of business and faith such as the Catholic Mental Models Project, a research effort through his social science research firm GSPEL LLC.

Andreas is the Chairman of the board of advisors of WQOM, Bostons’ Catholic Radio station, a Research Fellow in Entrepreneurship at the Acton Institute and an advisor to the Zermatt Summit, an annual business leadership event that strives to humanize globalization. He also serves as an advisor to Transforming Business, a research and development project at the University of Cambridge. He currently serves on the advisory boards of the Templeton Foundation, Global Adaptation Institute, Spring Hill Equity Partners, Karisimbi Business Partners, and Catholics Come Home. He is on the board of directors at the New Paradigm Research Fund, Virtual Research Associates and the World Youth Alliance.