DEVELOPMENT THEORY - CDS 6101

INTRODUCTION

Paul Kamau/Sam Ngigi

IDS, University of Nairobi

18th & 23rd September 2024

 Basic Questions
1. What is Development? – can we define it?

2. Why should we be concerned development as a discourse?

3. What are the tenets of Development?

4. Who should define development? Who matters?

5. Developed vs Underdeveloped countries – paradigm

6. Development studies as a discourse

 Development as a Concept
There are many definitions (Time, Space and People) :-
• Development relates to positive change, quality of life, social
relations, political, economics and culture.
• Better quality of life – Todaro 1996 – economic, social, &
political
• Development is about improvement in the standard of living
in the context of GDP growth

• Continuous process – progress upon progress

• Every nation strives for development - developed or

underdeveloped
 Development as a Concept
• Progressive change – improvement upon improvement

• Involves positive social, economic and political changes that bring

transformation

• Process of enlarging people’s choices, enhancing participatory in

democratic process, and increasing the ability of people to have a
say in decisions that shape their lives (Schumpeter 1961; Todaro
1996)

• Process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy

(Amartya Sen 1999)

• Core Values – Life sustenance, Self Esteem & Freedom from

servitude
 Development as a Concept
• Every nation strives for development - Developed or
underdeveloped – Continuous

• Involves positive social, political and economic change that

precludes wellbeing and transformation

• Multi-dimensional process involving the reorganization and

reorientation of entire economic, social and political systems
to improve human well- being (Todaro 1982:87)
 Development
A multifaceted complex phenomenon which presupposes revision of
attitudes, conduct and institutions adverse to progress.

1. Involves changes in structures, altitudes and institutions

2. Involves acceleration of economic growth, reduction of inequality
and poverty eradication

3. Diversification of economic structures

4. Accompanied by discovery of additional resources, technology and
capital accumulation.

5. Improved skills, income growth and distribution

6. Technological advancement and sectoral diversification
 Development
• Development is a process of social and economic transformation and
evolution.

• Although societies are constantly going through changes of one kind or

another, not all countries or regions can be said to be developing - unless
there change in wellbeing of the people

• Development involves positive social change that leads to improvement in

livelihoods.

• Schumpeter (1961) argues that development means transformation that

leads introduction of new goods, new methods of production, new
markets, new source of raw materials, mind shifts with an aim of
improving human well being
• Remedies for shortcomings and maladies of progress
 Development
Development
o Intentional – deliberate effort to change
o Immanent – natural change process
o Intentional process
o Presupposes an agent (power of agency) – these are the
actors in development
o Takes the form of ‘trusteeship’ (Cowen and Shenton, 1996)
o Taking the role/responsibility to facilitate change in the
interest of others
o Development is not ‘value free’.
o It has multiple interests and dynamics – many agencies/actors
 Intentional vs Immanent
• Intentional processes – trustees undertake interventions to
influence the process. Direct

• Immanent – changes in development which are out of direct

intervention – Indirect (externalities)
 What is Development?
• The systematic use of scientific and technical knowledge to meet specific
objectives and requirements
• An extension of the theoretical or practical aspects of a concept, design,
discovery, or invention
• The process of economic and social transformation that is based on
complex cultural and environmental factors and their interactions.
• The process of adding improvements to the existing method and practice
of production and consumption in a country.
• Improvement in wellbeing of the people – economically, socially and
politically.

• Dynamic and Static Development

• Dynamic – gradual unfolding and fuller working out of a principle or activity. To develop is
unroll, disclose, and bring out more advanced or highly organized state
• Static – A description of a well grown state or a stage of development
 What is Development?
• Development is a process of political, social and economic change
of transformation and evolution

• While all societies are constantly going through changes of one kind
or another, not all countries or region can be said to be developing.

• Development involves positive social change that precludes

negative social and economic transformation.

• Schumpeter (1961) argues that development is a process of

enlarging people’s choices, enhancing participatory in democratic
process, and increasing the ability of people to have a say in
decisions that shape their lives.
Development -Involves changes in structures, altitudes and
institutions
A multifaceted complex
-Involves acceleration of economic growth,
phenomenon which
reduction of inequality and poverty eradication.
presupposes revision of
attitudes, conduct and
-accompanied by discovery of additional resources,
institutions adverse to
technology and capital accumulation.
progress.
-Improved skills income distribution and population
growth control measures.

-Institutions must be transparent democratic and

exercise freedom of speech.
Development is dynamic/changing

Evolution of Development
 Indicators of Development

1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

2. Gross National Product (GNP)
3. GNP per capita
4. Equity (inequality)
5. The Human Development Index (HDI)
6. National Happiness Index
7. Life expectancy
8. Literacy rate
9. Birth and death rates
10. Infant mortality rate
 Measurement/Indicators of Development
1. GDP Growth (most widely used – GDP/GNP/GDP per capita)

2. Equity or Inequality
3. Human Development Index

4. Women Labour Force Participation

5. Global Competiveness Index

6. Global Findex – Access to Bank Account

7. Global Happiness Index

8. Financial Secrecy Index

• Schumpeter (1961) argues that development means carrying out new combinations, which
presupposes introduction of new goods, new methods of production, new markets, new source of
raw materials with an aim of improving human well being.
• Core values of development

• Life sustenance
Self Esteem
Freedom from servitude

Economic issues
Demographics
Cultural issues
Technology
 World Classifications
1. Developed Countries – First world countries.
2. Newly Industrialized Countries – Asian tigers – Korea,
Singapore, Malaysia etc
3. Emerging Economies - BRICS
4. Developing countries – Kenya
5. Least Developed countries

• What are the indicators of these classifications?

• Does this condemn some and uplift others?
• Kenya Vision 2030 – broad objectives and pillars
 Characteristics of these Countries
1. Developed Countries – Get key characteristics

2. NICs:

3. Emerging Economies

4. Developing countries – Identify Key characteristics

5. LDCs : Identify key characteristics

 Characteristics in Broad Terms
1. Economics
2. Demographic
3. Industrialization
4. Education & Literacy
5. Life Expectancy
6. Child Mortality
7. Strength of Institution
8. Social Cohesion
9. Political
10. Gender equity
11. Sector contribution to GDP
12. Poverty levels
Tondaro P. 1996. Chapter 5 – Common Characteristic of DS.
 Development Studies
• Development is for people and triggered by people
• Quality of life - education, employment, health, water, security –
Jeffrey Haynes 2006
• Close links between human and economic development
• There has been a lot of effort to promote development in the world
– more so sustainable development
• MDGs (8 Goals) and Sustainable Development Goals (17 Goals)-

• Development Studies- Multidisciplinary of social science which addresses

issues of concern to developing countries - political, social and economic
development

• Development studies is about African countries and developing world not the
developed world
 Millennium Development Goals 2000-2015
1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & Other Diseases
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development
 Sustainable Development Goals – 2015 -2030
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote
sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong
learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern
energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,
full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation
 Sustainable Development Goals – 2015 -2030
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification,
and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global
partnership for sustainable development
Industrial Revolution as Development

London Olympics 2012 – Opening Ceremony

https://youtu.be/7QL_uG2GSZo
 Development at Country Level
1. Development Goals

2. Vision – Long Term Plan or Vision – Kenya Vision 2030

3. Development Objectives

4. Development Programmes

5. Development Projects – Prioritization & Resource Use

 Summary
1. Development is a broad term whose meaning and interpretation
varies across time, space, discipline and people
2. Positive change, progress upon progress – well being of the people

3. Intentional vs immanent development – trusteeship and

actors/agents
4. Understanding of development 1940’s – current

5. Classification of countries – DCs to LDCs

6. Characteristics of these countries

7. Long term development goals – SDGs and National plans

8. How to pursue development agenda for Africa?