John Loxley: Radical Academic Activist

In 2014, John Loxley was called as an expert witness for the plaintiffs in a legal case filed 2007 by First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (Caring Society) Assembly of (AFN) against Government Canada. The alleged that Canadian government's choice to underfund child welfare other children's services on reserves Yukon amounted racial discrimination. Loxley's expertise, context, derived from 2005 report (Blackstock et al., 2005) he had co-authored which found that, despite their higher needs, children were being funded at rate 30 per cent lower than proposed detailed, needs-based funding approach developed with experts informed survey all family service agencies. Importantly, reflected best practices included data collection better calibrate over time. attempt discredit work, Canada hired accounting firm KPMG perform forensic audit costing only find KPMG's calculations came within 0.025 his calculations. KMPG evidence plaintiffs. testimony report, coupled experts, resulted landmark 2016 decision Human Rights Tribunal ordering immediately cease its discriminatory treatment.1 This anecdote, recounted Cindy Blackstock (herself tireless advocate children), neatly encapsulates what about. outstanding academic, but also brilliant committed activist ‘who devoted life teaching research directed changing lives wherever was’ (Lawrence, 2020: 469). His life's work extraordinary combination world-class scholarship consistent engagement progressive movements campaigns. He just likely be working community classroom. Ever pragmatist, studied taught how design real-life policies improve those who are left behind status quo. As heterodox economist, deeply understood capitalism's many deficiencies contradictions and, whenever possible, placed expertise marginalized groups individuals help them challenge, sometimes overcome, aspects system powerless unheard. contributions research, policy community-based initiatives, include unique enduring economic development (CED), pivotal initiation ‘Alternative Budgeting’ movement Canada, study (and critique) public‒private partnerships (PPPs) social impact bonds (SIBs) throughout academic career, leadership role vigorous measured critique (from left) international financial institutions (IFIs) (the World Bank International Monetary Fund) particular, Africa. But went well beyond these endeavours. values aligned fighting justice streets picket lines, did not shy away corporate boardrooms. At same time board grassroots, non-profit group Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin (OPK), Indigenous organization supporting young adults families, sat large, multi-billion-dollar Manitoba Hydro crown corporation. gift bring together vision society, rooted left-wing perspectives sought advance agendas workers, poor marginalized, pragmatism enabled him necessarily share ideology. grew up class Sheffield, England, son mother raised 12 father worked local steel mill died relatively work-related lung disease. From early years council estate, moved grammar school then University Leeds — first do so. individual ability defy odds one very small minority growing estate graduate university. However, accomplishments made possible post-World War II Labour Government's implementation state ambitious platform address five giants: ignorance through universal secondary post-secondary education; want insurance income security; disease healthcare based need wealth; squalor housing urban renewal; idleness full employment. subsequent scholarship, terms self-identification Marxist preference more radical approaches problems, strongly influenced understanding stratification, belief obligation create society. If circumstances birth upbringing Sheffield shaped perspective world approaches, own admission (Loxley, 2010a), experience Africa, especially Nyerere's Tanzania, central shaping could do, both activist, cause disadvantaged, disempowered dispossessed, encountered them. commitment CED advancement convergence theory regard) can traced back Tanzania. promotion alternative budget process abiding concern Bretton Woods Institutions outcomes developing countries impetus set experiences deriving Tanzanian connection. 1965, arrived Africa complete doctoral East African monetary system, under Walter Newyln (who Director Economic Research Institute Social Uganda). received doctorate 1966 Leeds), remained another eight years. two Uganda's Makerere University. 1967 1974 various capacities public sector Chief Economist (newly established publicly owned) National Commerce (1967–69), Senior Lecturer Economics Dar es Salaam (1969–72), later Director, Head Department Economics, Finance Management (1972–74). These remarkably consequential positions man late 20s 30s. With jobs membership some newly nationalized ‘parastatals’ (resulting proclamation Arusha Declaration 1967) given training planning, participation attempts socialist planning context. process, intimately several foreign advisors, whom would become lifelong friends prominent academics thinkers right. That includes: Reginald Green, Gerald Helleiner, Lars Osberg, Cranford Pratt, Saul Ann Seidman. capacities, ground-floor view of, active involvement in, independent country's tackling tripartite challenges overcoming legacies colonialism, engendering growth development, constructing essential elements economy. Even when 1975 remained, former students associates, connected political activities Tanzania fervour, successes (however transient) painful failures attendant experience, stayed almost every facet thereafter. broad range first-hand ‘development action’ writing 1960s 1970s. writes about money banking, course, describes nationalization further development) increased efficiency new redirect surplus, previously been transferred London colonial banking use 1972, 1973, 1978). describes, broadly, resources successfully effect plans limitations human resources, difficulty incorporating parastatal into such framework 1973; Saul, 1975). our view, it success initiatives expansion possibilities portended (which, reinforced British played earlier life) informed, on, distrust PPPs SIBs ideologically motivated devices sought, different ways, provide profit opportunities private dilute vital potentially transformative sector. While expressed admiration Tanzania's formal socialism self-reliance, 1967, healthy suspicion imperialism, pointed out failure governing party (TANU) articulate ‘a imperialism’ involved clear exposition nature causes underdevelopment well-defined national strategy achieving said self-reliance (Loxley 1975: 62). ‘Monetary Class Struggle Tanzania’ 1978), while ownership allowed function efficiently inherited framework, reduced relationship dependence between capitalism but, instead, it. words: ‘There has therefore little change structure since far external ties concerned. Neither industrialization contributed towards “auto-centered” (Amin) or “convergence” (Thomas) type around strategic basic industries catering consumption needs people’ (ibid.: 81).2 observation tenacity absence direct confrontation inform CED. ultimately chose C.Y. Thomas's ‘convergence’ Samir Amin's ‘auto-centred’ prescribing path greater level. most poignant relating occur after relocation 1981, asked join fellow economists (consisting advisors) preparing structural adjustment programme demanded Fund (IMF), wholly unpalatable government. Unfortunately, dire situation, accepted ensuing impasse hardship, (as forced adjust without support), before IMF offered felt palatable. suffering destroyed domestic support government ultimately, marked beginning end project. revealing distressing Loxley. Revealing sense alerted power ubiquity delimiting countries, or, often, worse. Distressing because recognized institutions, imposing conditionalities choosing level assistance, take adequate cognizance differing features across distributive impacts programmes, rights choose paths preserve condition dependence. attest acceptance Kenneth Galbraith Prize 2010 2010a),3 economics, time, address, form, IFIs development. Additionally, (which generalized specific challenges) inspired Alternative Budgets (ibid.). reputation outside largely rested economist. known pre-eminent areas CED, federal particularly last decade, SIBs. We will cover (drawing recollections colleagues co-researchers) this section economics. Winnipeg (capital province Canada), lured prospect democratic elected province. 1975, primary responsibilities lead Resources Development (RED) Committee Manitoba's New Democratic Party (NDP) cabinet, where quickly identified parallels conditions poorer, remote, Northern rife peripheral On hand, abundant natural (minerals, forestry hydroelectric power) generated considerable wealth. surplus extractive region. Nickel, copper, zinc lumber exported processing elsewhere. High-voltage lines served mines larger towns Manitoba, Southern Ontario, Saskatchewan United States, bypassing communities entirely. Most filled whites, mainly recent migrants places. result, remote sparsely populated region suffered high rates poverty, unemployment deprivation. Successive governments industry Manitoba. They painted drag wealth Predictably, ‘blaming victim’ posture racist premises 1981: 154). northern ambitiously named ‘The Great Plan’ 1981). plan itself, though never implemented, represents important juncture economist activist. It substantive foray laid foundation generation praxis. Moreover, plan, deliberate actualize argued missing planning. Plan leads off effort theorize ‘on underdevelopment’ north goes ‘select analysis’ 2010b: 109). trying unearth underdevelopment, rejected explanations proffered orthodox theories dualism, vicious cycles ‘subtraction approach’.4 Opting, analysis, resonance Mel Watkins's interpretation staple theory, explains dispossession providing industrial capital considered modern resource-extracting (Watkins, 1977). institutional apparatus (treaties, Indian Act etc.) restricted freedom people engage activities. To modified version Thomas (1974) apposite. is premised viewed transformation, dependent population's supply available resources. note ‘needs’ go ‘demands’, encompassing education, health services, sustainable environment, well-paying decent incomes. thus mapped comprehensive project part aimed transforming living poorest sections society’ 151). expressly designed meet small, underdeveloped economy transition (ibid.; Thomas, 1974). Use north's should redirected primarily benefit northerners. Local sawmills construction manufacturing, thereby reducing costly imports. Self-sufficiency foodstuffs achieved decade. make possible. fundamental strategy. fully due opposition lack will. administration NDP, notion appropriating resource rents privately owned corporations mining sectors, even provincially hydro electric utility, investment non-starter. Accordingly, entirely provincial government, subject increasing fiscal constraints any case, too keen get socio-economic regarded Ironically, past practice leaving created situation place. Unlike so prefer blame third parties, team underestimated forces they faced 120‒21). Nonetheless, ever optimist northern, inner-city Rather permanently retreat safe confines academia, await great revolution sweep capitalist structures facilitated exploitation, roll sleeves gifts least victories, immediate term, dispossessed disenfranchised. application makers 2007). driven people's well-being strengthen entire communities. Inclusive Economy’, defined ‘community mobilizing base wellbeing members possible’ (MRA, 2018). acknowledged deliver results: ‘gap-filling’ unable thrive system; means shares protecting environment dignity. visions goals big tent, attracting advocates ideological spectrum, mean often talking things using term. A crucial component ‘democratization’ economy, having drive decision-making much egalitarian manner ‘the dollar, vote’ consumer choice. For Loxley, theorists downplayed divisions, accompanying relationships, resulting analysis ‘community’ interest might genuinely exist interests groups. divergent systemic difficult, intervention running, promoting 245‒51). gap filling intermediate step incremental improvements sowed seeds ever-broader change. Unsurprisingly, views continuation Plan, intellectual debt (1977) reprisal Harold Innis (Lamb, advocated stop leakage profits locally. produce goods order develop Innis's backward, forward final-demand linkages display elasticities thrives 1985: 51). An example strong operationalized Neechi Principles (see Figure 1), articulated Winnipeg-based Foods Co-op Ltd. Community Source: Wray Enns (2018: 5) When NDP returned 1999 2016, integrated incorporated process. ‘buy in’ culmination factors, including long tradition, going 1950s, CED; bent day; high-level bureaucrats (some students) practical application; community, regional office Network. Recognizing importance organizations aligning Province provided core Neighbourhood Renewal Corporations (NRCs), which, guided Principles, low-income (Fernandez, 2015). By 2015, there 13 NRCs cities receiving leverage enterprise build capacity residents variety ways prescient identifying vulnerability state. requires interventionist support, makes vulnerable priorities 2010b). NDP's survive electoral defeat free market-oriented Conservative (Fernandez MacKinnon, 2019). Core doing either eliminated completely. during tenure, continue policies, complementary legislation helped establishment province's 2001 until passing, instrumental home Principal Investigator Alliance (MRA), partnership members, four successive Sciences Humanities Council awards. MRA demonstrated praxis, merely studying enacting well. flows Centre Policy Alternatives (CCPA), institute ‘concerned issues social, environmental justice’ (CCPA, 2021), allowing capacity. Equally importantly, insists must by, partnering organizations. Many have collaborations Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Fisher River Chiefs Indigenous-led analysing city Thompson. Of particular played, develop, ensure operated used train employ (Deane Szabo, 2020). There no doubt thread practice, respect garnered academy, community. budgets began 1990s key member CHO!CES, civic coalition took causes. contribution initiative actual creation processes crystallized recession austerity 1980s the1990s 2010a; Stanford, 2005). started Winnipeg, taken coalitions campaigns culminating Budget presentations Nations. input credibility brought respected economist) project, important. play helping circumstances. challenge dominant narrative cutbacks name probity. fierce participatory, budgets, adamant listening voices impacted politics austerity. After all, if goal empower communities’ decisions, dominated (even ones), fulfil goal. insistence humility constructed. balance technical confidence broader movement. summed introduction wrote ‘how-to’ manual budgeting CHO!CES: ‘Opening [budgeting] enables see put together, trade-offs made, appreciate real versus imagined budgetary within’ 1998: 7). mobilize grassroots restraint, show viable alternatives existed, CHO!CES organized advocacy own, budgets. resisting to, instead proposing city's finances. successful showing credible harsh demonstrating organizations, ordinary citizens contribute credibly processes. Soon replicated (with Manitoba) whole. Loxl