Population, Reproduction and IVF in New Caledonia: Exploring Sociocultural and Caring Dimensions of Sustainable Development

Abstract

Abstract Both sustainability and sustainable development have multiple meanings that are underpinned by diverse normative visions. Nonetheless, sustainable development is currently centre-stage at the global level. The main goal of this paper is to critically examine these important concepts, in particular their social and cultural dimensions, and to make a conceptual offering: that of ‘caring sustainable development.’ This way of thinking about sustainable development aims to grapple in a situated way with the different normative underpinnings of sustainability in order to support the building of a common future. The paper briefly examines populations, reproduction (both biological and sociocultural) and human in vitro fertilization (IVF), as important sites for thinking about caring sustainable development. It draws on research in New Caledonia examining which populations and which sociocultural social practices are encouraged or sustained, or not. It finds that historically there are many examples of things and people being neglected and not cared for, or being encouraged to ‘develop’ in problematic ways. By contrast, recent practices associated with IVF suggest ways forward that would enable caring sustainable development. Resume La durabilite et le developpement durable ont des significations multiples, qui sont sous-tendues par diverses visions normatives. Neanmoins, le developpement durable occupe actuellement une place centrale sur le plan mondial. Le but principal de cet article est d’examiner de maniere critique ces concepts importants, en particulier leurs dimensions sociales et culturelles, et de faire une contribution conceptuelle qui est celle de la notion du ‘care dans le developpement durable.’ Cette facon de penser au developpement durable vise a aborder ces differents fondements normatifs, de facon localisee, pour soutenir la construction a long terme d’un futur commun. L’article examine ensuite brievement les populations, la reproduction (a la fois biologique et socio-culturelle) et la fecondation humaine in vitro (FIV), en tant que sites importants pour penser a l’idee du ‘care’ dans le developpement durable. Il s’appuie sur la recherche en Nouvelle Caledonie pour analyser quelles populations et quelle pratiques socio-culturelles sont encouragees voire soutenues ou pas. L’article trouve que du point de vue historique, il y a de nombreux exemples de choses et de personnes qui ont ete negligees et dont on ne se preoccupait pas, ou alors qui etaient encouragees a se ‘developper’ de maniere problematique. En revanche, les pratiques recentes associees a la FIV suggerent des moyens d’aller de l’avant qui permettraient de favoriser le ‘care’ dans developpement durable.