WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY IN AFRICA
Name of Student : Belinda Buya Mukemu
Intake : Second Year, First semester.
Course : Sociology
Student Number :
Module : Sociology of Development (SS212)
Assignment : ONE (1)
Question : Discuss the controversy that shrouds the
concept development.
Due Date : 3rd April, 2020.
Lecturer’s Feedback :
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Development concept is shrouded in controversy because of its complex nature and different
points of view from which it is classified. It can be approached from the angle of the three
Worlds approach, the World Bank classification of nations and Human Development Index.
This discourse will further, look at the four dimensions of development which are; economic,
political, social and sustainable development whilst narrowing its focus on Human
development and Economic growth so as to give holistic facets of development.
The Brandt Report, (1980), regards development as improvements in living conditions which
is anchored on economic growth and industrialisation. This entails that development revolves
around the quality of growth and social change. It therefore, depicts a profound
transformation of the entire economic and social structure in a country in which authentic and
essential needs of its population are satisfied by the nation through sustainable use of natural
resources and systems. Basic needs and services such as education, housing, nutrition, health
services including cultures and traditions are respected fully in a particular country of
operation that proclaims development.
Moreover, from the viewpoint of the Western industrialised nations, development is seen as
the process of modernising backward societies and total transformation of the traditional and
or pre modern societies into modern advanced technologies, democratic and politically stable
nations. In the three worlds approach, the above scenario falls under the first world nations
which are rich, industrialised with capitalistic ideological economic approach and
‘democratic’ political systems. Their industries and businesses thrive in a free market
economy motivated by maximum profit making turn overs. The second world nations are
countries with moderate levels of economic development and a moderate standard of living in
order to attain the middle income economic status. The third world countries are the poorest
countries mostly found in the African continent with little or no industrialisation whilst
having the lowest standards of living, shortest life expectancy and highest mortality.
Furthermore, World Bank classifies nations into three economic categories i.e. low- income
economies which are third world countries in the three worlds approach and most of these are
African and some Asian countries. The other classification for the World Bank is the middle-
income economies which are the second world nations under the three worlds approach. The
other World Bank classification is the high-income economies which fall under the first
worlds under the three worlds approach these being rich and industrialised countries.
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In addition, the United Nations Development Program measures development of the country
based on the Human Development Index criteria being; life expectancy, education and living
standards. According to the United Nations, Human Development is measured by life
expectancy, adult literacy (primary, secondary and tertiary). It equally, includes peoples’
average income, individuals’ wellbeing starting from their health status to their economic
and political freedom leading to the classification of countries as developed, developing and
less developed.
Development hinges mainly on four dimensions which are; economic development, political
development, social development and sustainable development. Economic development from
a policy perspective can be defined as efforts that seek to improve economic well-being and
quality of life for a country by creating and retaining jobs. Indeed, on economic front,
employment opportunities, basic needs, equal distribution and redistribution of national
wealth is prominent. This therefore implies sustainable increase in living standards with
better education and health care. Economic development brings about economic growth
which entails a nation’s total wealth in terms of the gross domestic product (GDP). It equally
reduces poverty although it sometimes turns out to be higher than economic benefits to the
majority of the population.
Political development is mainly concerned with capacity of the political system,
specialization of governmental organization and the quality thereof to respond to the
changing demands of people. It is therefore, the relationship between knowledge and power
which entails that government systems have legitimacy in terms of law and provision of
social benefits to the majority of the population. There must be protection against political
repression and torture whilst advancing democratic principles through opening up civic
space, freedom of association and assembly, free press, rule of law and constitutionalism .In
addition, under political development leaders are elected regularly through a free, fair and
credible election and are held accountable by their citizenry. Indeed, under political
development good governance, accountability, rule of law and transparency are a corner
stone of every democratic state whilst promoting checks and balance among the three wings
of government which are the executive, legislature and the judiciary.
James Midgley, (1995), conceives Social development as “a process of planned social change
designed to promote the wellbeing of the population as a whole in conjunction with a
dynamic process of economic development.” Social development entails putting people at
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the centre of development with keen focus on progressive improvements in the living
conditions of the people in terms of nutrition, access to quality health care and education,
affordable and decent housing, clean water and sanitation. Social development also focuses
on vulnerability, exclusion and on unaccountable institutions. Therefore, social development
in a nutshell, promotes social inclusion of the poor and vulnerable in society by empowering
them through the building of cohesive and resilient societies and making institutions
accessible and accountable to the citizens. Social development equally promotes economic
growth and leads to better interventions and higher quality of life.
According the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, (1987),
Sustainable Development is the meeting of the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of the future generations to meet their own future needs. It therefore, entails the
balancing use of natural resources interests of different groups of people within the same
generational and among generations. It revolves simultaneously in interrelated areas which
are; economic, social, political, environmental and or epistemological dimensions. Although
technology is the key in extracting benefits without compromising the benefits of the future
generations, the utilization of the local people to participate in sustainable development
including scientific knowledge is cardinal so as to preserve cultural features and traditions of
the population of a given country. Sustainable development is equally about equity and
equality for opportunities. Its economic objectives centres around growth, efficiency and
stability while tying its social objective to full employment, equity, security, education,
health, participation and cultural identity. Additionally, its environmental objectives include;
health environment for humans, prudent and or rational use of renewable natural resources
and conservation of non-renewable resources.
In conclusion, it has been fully explained in this discourse that development is the
improvement in the living conditions of the people or total social change transformation. It
therefore, puts attention to the quality of growth and social change whilst being centred on
people’s welfare and to large extent adhering to the values of social justice and social
structure. Indeed, I fully conquer with The United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
which sums up development in terms of human security as follows; Economic Security- one
must have basic secure income; Food Security- one must have access to food; Health
Security- there must be adequate nutrition, safe drinking water and sanitation; Environmental
Security- people should inhabit an environment which is protected thus, there should be
policies to protect the environment. Personal Security- one must be protected from communal
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ethnic attack. Political Security- there must be protection against political repression and
torture. It is indeed from these different lenses above which shrouds the development concept
controversy depending on which perspective one is viewing it from.
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REFERENCES
Addo, H. (1985), Development as Social Transformation. London. Hodder and Stoughton.
Coetzee, J.K(ed) (1989), Development is for people. Halfway House: Southern Book
Publishers.
Corbridge, S. (ed) (1995), Development Studies: A Reader. London: Edward Arnold.
Escobar, A. (1995), Encountering Development; The making and unmaking of the Third
World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Nedervee Pieters, J. (1997), ‘Growth and Equity Revisited: A supply- side Approach to
Social Development’, European Journal of Development Research 9(1): 128-49.
Trainer, T. (1989), Developed to Death: Rethinking Third World Development London,
Green Print.
