Reconciling Development and Rights: The Global Ethics Summit 2026

The 2026 Global Ethics Summit held in New Delhi has brought to the forefront a perennial dilemma in governance: the conflict between utilitarianism and deontology. Utilitarianism, famously championed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, advocates for the 'greatest good for the greatest number.' In a developing economy like India, this philosophy often underpins large-scale infrastructure projects—such as dams, mines, and highways—that promise national growth but frequently necessitate the displacement of indigenous communities.

Opposing this is the deontological perspective, which asserts that certain rights, such as the land rights of indigenous peoples, are inherent and should not be violated regardless of the potential benefits to the majority. The summit highlighted that treating indigenous lands merely as 'resources' for the majority ignores the deep spiritual, cultural, and historical ties these communities have with their environment. To bridge this gap, philosophers at the summit proposed a 'Pluralistic Ethical Framework.'

A key component of this framework is the Gandhian concept of 'Trusteeship.' Gandhi argued that the state and wealthy individuals should not act as owners of resources but as trustees for the benefit of society, especially the marginalized. By viewing land through the lens of stewardship rather than exploitation, policymakers can move toward a more inclusive model of development. Furthermore, the discussion integrated modern distributive justice theories, such as John Rawls’ 'Difference Principle,' which suggests that social and economic inequalities are only justified if they result in compensatory benefits for the least advantaged members of society. In the context of land rights, this means that any project must ensure that the displaced communities are not just compensated financially but are made primary stakeholders and beneficiaries of the development.