Saleha Erdmann :: Development Studies

What is Development?

The concept of development began to be articulated in Western nations following the end of World War II. However, development scholars identify its roots in the Enlightenment and colonialism, as well as post-world war rhetoric.

Early development, which was mostly dictated by modernization theory, focused on economics and the spread of democracy—especially economic growth and industrialization. –Development was a linear (economic) path that “developing nations” should follow to mimic the growth of already “developed” nations.

So what is development? There is no one definition that most people agree on. One could claim that development is about bettering society economically and/or socially, but lots of development project have been extremely harmful (ie the Green Revolution). Development is often referred to as international development, somehow implying non-Western countries. However, everyone everywhere is connected to development, and even Western countries have some of the development problems that the "Third World" faces.

Of all the explanations I’ve read, I believe my advisor, Professor Chris Chiappari of the sociology anthropology department at St. Olaf, said it best when he described development as “society maintenance.” I would qualify that with attempts at society maintenance. I like this definition because it is simple and does not make a value judgement.

Here are some other people's thoughts on what development means:

The 1987 Bruntland Report, Our Common Future, introduced the concept of sustainable development, which "meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs ability of future generations to compromise their own needs."

Phillip McMichael writes in his book, Development and Social Change, that development is associated with technological progress and seen as positive, “because it brings material and psychological improvements as humans learn to manipulate the natural world.” (p. 3)

Frances Seymour, of the World Resources Institute (WRI), defined development as “giving people more choices” at the Globalization and Social Change conference at St. Olaf in 2006.

N.J. Udombana writes that, "Development is a many-sided process. At the level of the indivdual, it implies increased skill and capcacity. It implies greater freedom, creativity, self-discipline, responsibilty and material well-being. The achievment of these aspects of personal development is very much tied to the state and the society as a whole. At the level of the social groups, development implies an increasing capcacity to regulate both internal and external relations. More often than not, development is used in a purely economic sense." Later Udombana sums development up as the "fulfillment of human potential." (citation)

Kofi Annan, head of the United Nations, said, "The Millennium Development Goals were adopted five years ago by all the world's Governments as a blueprint for building a better world in the 21st century." Implying that development is used to better the world.

An interesting webpage by the World Bank discusses how economic growth ties into human development, they define development as "improvement in a country's economic and social conditions": http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/beyond/global/chapter1.html

Development Studies: Socio-economic Development from an Interdisciplinary Perspective Saleha Erdmann
home my major basics of development life experience papers annotated bibliography development web web links senior project helpful people	Development Web: sociology/anthropology \| economics \| environmental \| politics \| justice
	What is Development? The concept of development began to be articulated in Western nations following the end of World War II. However, development scholars identify its roots in the Enlightenment and colonialism, as well as post-world war rhetoric. Early development, which was mostly dictated by modernization theory, focused on economics and the spread of democracy—especially economic growth and industrialization. –Development was a linear (economic) path that “developing nations” should follow to mimic the growth of already “developed” nations. So what is development? There is no one definition that most people agree on. One could claim that development is about bettering society economically and/or socially, but lots of development project have been extremely harmful (ie the Green Revolution). Development is often referred to as international development, somehow implying non-Western countries. However, everyone everywhere is connected to development, and even Western countries have some of the development problems that the "Third World" faces. Of all the explanations I’ve read, I believe my advisor, Professor Chris Chiappari of the sociology anthropology department at St. Olaf, said it best when he described development as “society maintenance.” I would qualify that with attempts at society maintenance. I like this definition because it is simple and does not make a value judgement. Here are some other people's thoughts on what development means: The 1987 Bruntland Report, Our Common Future, introduced the concept of sustainable development, which "meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs ability of future generations to compromise their own needs." Phillip McMichael writes in his book, Development and Social Change, that development is associated with technological progress and seen as positive, “because it brings material and psychological improvements as humans learn to manipulate the natural world.” (p. 3) Frances Seymour, of the World Resources Institute (WRI), defined development as “giving people more choices” at the Globalization and Social Change conference at St. Olaf in 2006. N.J. Udombana writes that, "Development is a many-sided process. At the level of the indivdual, it implies increased skill and capcacity. It implies greater freedom, creativity, self-discipline, responsibilty and material well-being. The achievment of these aspects of personal development is very much tied to the state and the society as a whole. At the level of the social groups, development implies an increasing capcacity to regulate both internal and external relations. More often than not, development is used in a purely economic sense." Later Udombana sums development up as the "fulfillment of human potential." (citation) Kofi Annan, head of the United Nations, said, "The Millennium Development Goals were adopted five years ago by all the world's Governments as a blueprint for building a better world in the 21st century." Implying that development is used to better the world. An interesting webpage by the World Bank discusses how economic growth ties into human development, they define development as "improvement in a country's economic and social conditions": http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/beyond/global/chapter1.html
	Home \| Center For Integrative Studies \| St. Olaf College