Assignment Question:

There are contending meanings given to the concept ‘development’. How should we understand this concept in theory and practice? Discuss using examples and case studies studied in this unit.

Assignment Solution

Introduction

It is hard to define the term development in accurate terms, as development can be seen in a wide range of meanings and can also be utilized in a range of ways by different individuals, people, group’s or organizations in different times as well. This can easily be explained with the use of examples like the geographers will define development in terms of human welfare, health, wealth accumulation other geographers may see this in terms of human development index of countries and so on, the economists may look at the term in economic development GDP and GNP improvement (Pieterse 2009). These are some examples in which the development can be defined, while the terms technology and justice are also some of the interrelated factors that needs to be considered while defining development.

The following paper includes the definition of development, and the several ways in which it can be defined. Different views surrounds the term development for its definition, different professionals from different field looks development from their own views. The following study has been conducted in order to find the several difficulties in defining the term development which takes place in the economies and also by the economists while measuring it with a specific index. The different theories applied to it have also been explained in the paper.

Development Meaning

In simpler terms development can be said to be as the progression from a lower or simple state to a more and more advanced, complex and mature state or stage. It can also be said to be as the gradual advancement or growth through a series of changes. This is also said to be as a process and not a level of growth. This can also be said to be as the path to attain a certain or predefined goal or action. At the international level the development means the change in the integral prospects of the community and society. This is the broader process of social and community change which shifts the powers relationships and shifts the social and economic justice along with the freedom and voice of the people who are marginalized or are poor. There are different definitions of development given by different authors and organizations. The basic process of development includes the improvement, change, vitality, a way to improve the participation, equity, improvement in the quality of life, creation of wealth and so on (Jaffee 1998).

Development is also said to be as the process which enables the human to realize and analyze their potential, live life with respect and dignity, build self confidence and so on. This is also said to be as the process which relives people with fear and exploitation and so on. Development can also be said to be as the process of building personal and organizational capabilities for effectively utilizing and mobilizing the organizational resources for the effective improvement in the quality of life and organizational effectiveness (Love and Guthrie 2011).

It has been widely seen that the meaning of the term development is highly informed by the ones traditional, cultural, philosophical belief, environmental epoch. Some people or individuals also look the term development in terms of place, time and circumstances. With shifts in the thinking of different individuals and organizations the concept of development has been redefined. In the paper the attempt to define the term development has been confined to the economic and social dimension of development at the international level (Munck and O’Hearn 1999).

Importance of understanding development

The knowledge and skill are important part of development process, as it is vital for the change agents for several important reasons. The importance of development includes the practices that expand the capacity and consciousness of the individuals who are affected and which sets the conditions for the change in the factors over time. The development is vital for the collaboration of the cross sections and project related learning’s and changes which are vital for the purpose of unveiling the contradictions, inefficiencies of the old community’s traditions and cultures which are vital for the purpose of change. The social change is vital and can take form of different strategies, time frame and strategies and so on. The activities and development related to the global warming Is different in different countries, as some are at the grass root level while some are proactive and advanced so it is vital to address the term development in every context of change (Munck and O’Hearn 1999).

It is also vital to understand the concept of development because the application of right development practices and theories can effectively redistribute the resources and power. The main aim of understanding the concept of development is because it is concerned with several vital issues like:

1. Global challenges and issues: The main reason for understanding the term development is to understand the community and social change and development skills for meeting the struggle faced b them i.e. the to solve the issues of food, shelter, financial, environmental and several other crisis (Medlin, Cave and Carpenter 1971).
2. Building social and human capital: Development initiatives provide a precondition for the social and human capital change which helps in improving the quality of lives and communities.
3. Structural change and collective actions: These issues include the change in the society and community in terms of education, empowerment, mobilizing resources and so on. This includes addressing the issues related to skill building for the human race in order to improve their living and capacities (Schumpeter 1934).
4. Transforming of policies into definite actions: development also provides specific opportunities to people and individuals to engage themselves in power institutions and structures for changing the policies that affects their well being (Munck and O’Hearn 1999).

Different theories of development

There are several theories of development which are related to different aspects like, society, economic development, global and local development and so on.

1. Theories associated with the overall process of the societal change and development: The development theory focuses on the alternative theories, as issues make the societal change to be best utilized. There are four major school of thoughts that are associated with these development theories these are:

a)     The modernization theory: this theory suggests that the economic changes and technological advancement will help in trigging the change sin the cultural and moral values of people. The changes in the technology and modernization of the over all working of the people changes the social values at large. As per this theory the development can only be attained by the adoption of the processes and activities that the developed economies used (Medlin, Cave and Carpenter 1971).

b)     Dependency and structuralism theory: as pr this theory the underdevelopment is the by product of development, and the development of the nations ate related to the changing relationships in between the nations. As per this theory the developed nation are much more developing and leaving behind the underdeveloped nations. This theory is of the belief that the poor nations are the place of repository of obsolete technology, and also the industrialized developed nations are responsible for the underdevelopment of the poor nations.

c)     World system theory: this theory has its origin by the criticism of the dependency theory, as this theory is an approach towards the social; analysis and the change. As per this theory a system is one of the unit divisions of the labour and the other cultural systems. As per this theory the world is the system of policies which has been integrated as a single economy and the states has been looked as the group of elites (Medlin, Cave and Carpenter 1971).

d)     State theory: as per this theory the world is intertwined with the political issues. This shows that the development is unique to each economy, and the government can play a vital role in determination of how and whether the development will take place in the country or not (Schumpeter 1934).

2. Economic development theories:

Economic development theories are said to be as the process through which people and groups by their individual and group efforts helps in boosting the level of production for direct consumption and also to produce the surplus for selling it for cash. This is associated with people in order to identify set of priorities and identification of causes for acquiring the knowledge. The economic development also includes the organization of themselves in order to coordinate and assemble the application of factors of production effectively and their disposal as well. The traditional economic development policies operate on the philosophy of infusion of the capital from outside the community that can result into the development of the community (Schumpeter 1934).

 Alternative community development theories

                             Community development: Community development can be said to be as the process of helping individuals and peoples in the communities in order to help hem and identify and attain common goals. This process not only includes the development of individuals or one r tow groups but it includes the development of entire community at large, as this shows that the entire community looses and gains from the actions of the members of the community. Community development includes the range of activities which are dedicated towards increasing the effectiveness and strengths of the community people and their life; this also includes the improvement of local people conditions. This is done mainly for the people who are in the disadvantaged situation, and enabling them to participate in community decision making and attain long term goals and bring control over the circumstances.  The main issues related to the success of the community development includes the local participation of people, identification of their needs and responses, their ongoing support and social interactions and building of the group relationships (Medlin, Cave and Carpenter 1971).

b)     Community economic development: The alternative community development also includes the economic community development. The community economic development are focussed towards the areas in which there is a large amount of unemployment prevails, low wages, industrials and agricultural failure etc. it also applies on the areas where the conventional economic can social development has been failed. The community economic development is seen like the development of economic issues by the promotion of community. The community economic development is the strategy initiated by people who seeks to develop the economic community country and religion for benefiting the residents (Schumpeter 1934).

c)     Sustainable community development: Sustainable community development can be said to be as the development that meets the present needs without compromising the future generation abilities for meeting their needs. Sustainable development is also multifaceted and mainly it includes four components i.e. political, economic, environmental and social. Economic development includes the enhancing of the quality of assets. Political sustainability depends on the support from local community in order to remain effective for long term. Environmental sustainability includes the impact of projects and proposals on the environment, and the social sustainability is associated with the integration of community particularly the social structure.

d)     Local development: The local economic development includes the development of local governments, non profit sectors, private sectors for the opportunity to work together for the improvement of he local community and society. This focuses on the development of sustainable growth and also on the enhancement of competitiveness. The local economic development includes a range of activities like the economic planning development, physical planning and marketing of the development activities (Medlin, Cave and Carpenter 1971).

Conclusion

            From the above analysis it can be concluded that it is very difficult to define the term development from the point of view of a single individual because different individual have different meaning of development in term of their field and area of study. The development can be defined in terms of the economic, social, international and local development. Each area has a different scope and expertise required for explaining the term development. The development is highly explained in economic terms as the people and community is interested in the overall development of the economy and world. Development is the means of change which has the factor to improve some activities and develop the activities towards greater efficiencies.

References

Pieterse, J.N. 2009. Development Theory: Deconstructions/Reconstructions. (2^nd Ed.). SAGE Publications Ltd.

Jaffee, D. 1998. Levels of Socio-Economic Development Theory. (2^nd Ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group.

Love, P.G. and Guthrie, V.L. 2011. Understanding and Applying Cognitive Development Theory: New Directions for Student Services. John Wiley and Sons.

Munck, R. and O’Hearn, D. 1999. Critical Development Theory: Contributions to a New Paradigm. Zed Books.

Schumpeter, J.A. 1934. The Theory of Economic Development: An Inquiry Into Profits, Capital, Credit, Interest, and the Business Cycle. Transaction Publishers.

Medlin, W.K.,  Cave, W.M. and Carpenter, F. 1971. Education and Development in Central Asia: A Case Study of Social Change in Uzbekistan. Brill Archive.

M004

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