Social Change and Development

Perspectives
LUMANTA, KHENT BRIAN OMEGA | BSSW 1101
and transformation theories, and good practices in
CONTENTS : development work with emphasis on their relevance and
1. Course Description and Course Objectives impact on developing countries.
2. Course Learning Outcomes (CLOS) This subject is under the Curriculum Area of Human
3. Physical and Social Reality Behavior and Social Environment.
4. Social Change Definition, Types and
Characteristics COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
5. Theory, Ideology and Paradigm
6. Macro-Theories Origins Knowledge:
7. Development Perspectives 1. Discuss concepts, dimensions and perspectives of
8. Characteristics of Development development.
2. Discourse on development theories from gender lens.
3. Critique different development approaches in the context
COURSE DESCRIPTION of Philippine setting.
4. Explain the role of social movements in changing
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK societies.
BSSW is a comprehensive four-year program 5. Apply development theories in critically analyzing current
designed to prepare students for responsible entry into the development trends and evaluate the development
human services. theories, who benefits and who losses.
It provides students with the necessary knowledge
and skills to engage in professional social work practice. Values:
It prepares students for direct practice in social work 1. Articulate appreciation on the importance of social
with individuals, families, groups and communities. movements in transforming societies.
The BSSW curriculum consists of general education 2. Justify relevance of participatory in a people-centered
courses and units of professional courses which cover four (4) and sustainable development.
curricular areas:
1. Human Behavior and Social Environment Skills:
2. Social Welfare Policies, Programs and Services 1. Create an IEC material to synthesize learnings on social
3. Social Work Practice change and development perspectives.
4. Field Instruction 2. Prepare a concept map that presents the various
development theories discussed.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
PHYSICAL & SOCIAL REALITY
REPUBLIC ACT 4373
Social Work Law which recognizes the Social Work Physical Reality
profession in the Philippines. ● Refers to concrete situations
The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) is ● For example, on September 1, 2002, two (2) planes
an undergraduate program specifically designed to prepare flew into the World Trade Centre.
students for the direct and inclusive practice of social work ● This fact is concrete. It can be proven
with individuals, families, groups, and communities.
The primary objective of this profession is to actively Social Reality
promote the growth, empowerment, and social progress of ● Is not concrete
marginalized individuals, families, groups, and communities ● It deals with an interpretation of the physical reality
while addressing discrimination and inequality. and is not necessarily shared between society.
The profession’s distinguishing characteristics lie in ● Emergence of virtual reality, virtual community
its commitment to facilitating employing problem-solving, through internet.
empowerment, and social change, fostering approaches ● Refers to the constructed and shared understanding
within human relationships. of the world and social phenomena as perceived and
interpreted by individuals and groups within a society
SOCIAL CHANGE & DEVELOPMENT or community. It includes the collective beliefs,
PERSPECTIVES values, norms, and attitudes that shape people’s
interactions and perceptions of the social
Social Change and Development Perspectives is one environment.
of the foundational subjects of Social Work that introduces ● It is inherently subjective, as it is shaped by the
students to the critical analysis of social change, development perspectives and experiences of individuals and

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 groups. Different people may perceive and interpret 2 SOCIETY’S REACTION TO SOCIAL CHANGE
the same social phenomenon differently based on
their unique backgrounds, cultures, and personal 1. Conservative/ Resistant to Change
experiences. - People in a society that is resistant to social
change as oriented towards maintaining the
SOCIAL CHANGE DEFINITION, TYPES AND “status quo” means current state/ existing
CHARACTERISTICS state and current societal practices.
2. Progressive/ Open to Change
Social Change - Society’s people who have instinctive
● The transition of society from one state to another curiosity for new knowledge and
any modification in the social systems, social experiences. It leads to dissatisfaction with
communities, social processes, institutions, the existing situation that results in the
organizations, their interactions. changes.
● The process which alters the structure of social
relationships in society. 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
● Reform and transform.
1. Social Change is Continuous and Inevitable. It is an
2 TYPES OF SOCIAL CHANGE ongoing and never-ending process rather than a series of
discrete events or fixated states. Continuous social
Social Reformation change suggests that societies are in a state of constant
● A narrower concept focused on the improvement or flux, with various aspects of cultures, norms, institutions,
modification of specific aspects or practices within a and behaviors constantly evolving and adapting.
society. It does not necessarily involve a complete
overhaul of the entire social system but rather seeks 2. Social Change is Temporal. It is subject to the dimension
to address particular issues or areas of concern. of time. Social Change occurs over a period of time, and it
scope : specific issues, practices or institutions within a involves shifts, developments, or transformations in
society. It may involve changes to laws, policies, or behaviors various aspects of society, such as culture, norms,
related to a particular problem. values, institutions, and behaviors, that tale place
example : reforms in education, criminal justice and labor gradually through a series of events over time.
laws, for example of social reformation.
3. Social Change is Environmental. Changes in society are
Social Transformation influenced by and often linked to changes in the physical
● Profound and fundamental change in the structure, environment. The way people live, work and interact with
values, norms, and systems of the society. It involves each other can be affected by change in the natural world
often a radical shift in various aspects of a society, and the physical surroundings in which they exist.
including its culture, politics, economy, and social
4. Social Change is Human Change. It emphasizes that the
institutions.
transformation of society is fundamentally linked to
scope : broad and all-encompassing; it aims to bring about
changes in human attitudes, behaviors, and actions.
sweeping changes in society and can involve the complete
When people change how they think and act, it can lead to
rendering the social systems and institutions.
changes in the broader society.
example : the abolition of slavery, the women’s suffrage
movement and the civil rights movement in the United States 5. Social Change may be planned or unplanned.
are examples of social transformation.
Planned social change : Intentional action
ALVIN TOFFLER'S THREE WAVE OF SOCIAL CHANGE ● is the result of deliberate efforts by individuals,
(ALVIN EUGENE TOFFLER) groups, organizations or governments to bring about
specific changes in society. These changes are
⮚ Agriculture Age (began about 10,000 years ago) typically driven by a clear vision, goals, and
- People moved away from nomadic strategies.
wandering or hunting to villages and example : policy reforms, social programs, advocacy
cultures. campaigns and social movements are examples of planned
⮚ Industrial Age (began in the 18’th century) social change.
- People began to leave the peasant culture
affirming to work in the city factories with Unplanned social change : Emergent & Unintentional
machinery. ● occurs without prior intent or design. It often emerges
⮚ Information Age (current era) in response to unforeseen events, shifts in
- Wealth is increasingly contingent on the technology, or evolving cultural dynamics.
possession of knowledge and information example • natural disasters, economic crises, technological
breakthroughs and cultural shifts are examples of factors that
can lead to unplanned social change.

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6. Social Change is not Objective but also Subjective. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IDEOLOGY,
PARADIGM, AND PERSPECTIVE?
In an objective sense, social change refers to observable
quantifiable shifts in various aspects of society. These changes IDEOLOGY
can be measured using empirical data, statistics, and objective ● Is a set of beliefs, values, and principles that guide
criteria. and inform an individual’s or a group’s thoughts,
example : objective indicators of social change may include actions, and decisions. It often covers a
changes in economic indicators (e.g. GDP growth), comprehensive and organized system of ideas about
demographic shifts (e.g. population aging), crime rates, politics, society, economics and morality.
educational attainment, and healthcare outcomes. ● Ideologies can be political, religious, social or cultural
in nature. Examples include: Liberalism,
In a Subjective social change, involves people’s perception, Conservatism, Feminism, Marxism, Capitalism, and
interpretations, and experiences. religious fundamentalism.
example : Includes people’s feelings of empowerment, social ● Ideologies tend to be prescriptive and normative,
justice, well-being or cultural identity. It can also encompass providing a framework for understanding the world
how people perceive changes in societal values, norms and and offering solutions to societal problems.
cultural trends.
PARADIGM
7. Social Change may create Chain Reaction. Means that ● A paradigm refers to a dominant or widely accepted
a single change or event in society can trigger a series of framework, model, or pattern of thought within a
interconnected developments or consequences much like particular field of knowledge or discipline. It
a chain of events. These consequences can ripple through represents a set of shared assumptions, methods,
different aspects of society, influencing behaviors, and theories that guide research, problem-solving,
policies, and cultural norms. and understanding within that field.
● Paradigms are most commonly associated with
THEORY, IDEOLOGY AND PARADIGM scientific discipline. For example, the Copernican
Heliocentric model of the solar system replaced the
THEORY Ptolemaic geocentric model as the dominant
● A set of interrelated hypotheses, concepts, and paradigm in astronomy.
constructs, based on facts and observations that PARADIGM SHIFTS
attempts to explain a particular phenomenon. ● occur when there is a fundamental change in the
prevailing assumptions and theories within a field,
PERSPECTIVE leading to a new way of understanding and
● It means an emphasis or point of view interpreting phenomena.

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES HOW PARADIGMS CHANGED OVER TIME

● A set of assumptions about reality that inform the ● Pre-modern : there is a strict and fixed social order
questions we ask and the kinds of answers we arrive with unshakeable views about what is true; people
at as a result. understand the world through myths and rituals rather
● A theoretical perspective can be understood as a lens than science.
through which we look, serving to focus or distort ● Modern : the belief that science and knowledge are
what we see. objective and we can know the cause and effect of
behavior
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THEORY FOR SOCIAL ● Post-Modernism : truth is provisional and subject to
WORK? revision as new knowledge emerges; recognizes
Theories help social workers to know which way to go and diversity and multiculturalism
how to get there.
1. It explain and predicts: PERSPECTIVES
- Individual human behavior (micro) ● This refers to an individual’s or a group’s unique point
- The impact of larger social structures of view or way of looking at a particular issue,
(mezzo) situation or set of circumstances.
- Social problems (macro) ● It is influenced by an individual’s background,
2. It guides an informs: experiences, beliefs, and values. Different people
- Social work practice may have different perspectives on the same topic
- Social policy and knowledge development based on their personal or cultural context.
3. It directs social work research ● Perspectives can be temporary and context-specific,
4. It gives credibility to the profession whereas ideologies are more long-term and
overarching in nature.
Theories can be classified as either ideology or paradigm. ● While ideologies and paradigms often shape an
individual’s perspective, a perspective can also be

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 influenced by immediate factors, emotions or personal
experiences. ii. Conflict Approach (Karl Marx)

MACRO THEORIES OF ORIGIN ● This theoretical orientation is considered a macro

level approach that focuses on inequality.
SOCIOLOGY ● Society is composed of unequal distribution of desired
● The study of society, Including its structure resources that benefit a minority at the expense of the
institutions and patterns of social relationships. majority. This unequal distribution of desired
resources causes conflict within a society.
ECONOMICS ● Those that have the resources develop structures and
● The study of production, distribution, and methods to maintain these resources. Those that do
consumption of goods, services as well as the not have resources are always creating new ways to
management of resources. acquire resources; hence this approach views society
in constant conflict.
POLITICAL SCIENCE ● Major sociological theorists or contributors to this
theoretical approach include: Karl Marx, W.E.B.
● The examination of political systems, government
Dubois, C. Wright Mills, and Ralf Dahrendorf.
structures, and political behavior.

DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
HISTORY
● The study of past events and their impact on
- Is a branch of economics that focuses on the
societies, providing a chronological account of human
economic development of countries,
experiences.
particularly those with lower living standards,
less developed industrial bases, and lower
DEVELOPMENT
Human Development Index (HDI) rankings.
● The process which people go through from a certain
The primary goal of development economics
state of marginality, dissatisfaction, unawareness, and
is to understand and address the challenges
incapability to a relatively better state of awareness,
and opportunities associated with the
capability, suffi-ciency and satisfaction
economic growth and well-being of nations.
● A process that creates growth, progress, positive
change, or the addition of physical, economic,
Development Economics concerns with: ¹ Poverty
environmental, social, and demographic components.
Alleviation, ²Inequality, ³Economic Growth, ⁴International Trade
and Finance, ⁵Human Development, ⁶Institution and
DEVELOPMENT THEORIES
Governance, ⁷Technological Innovation, and ⁸Sustainable De-
● Collection of theories about how desirable change in velopment.
society is best achieved.
● Such theories draw on a variety of social science
DEVELOPMENT AS ECONOMICS GROWTH
disciplines and approaches
● Depending on which theory that is being looked at
● Equating development with economic growth.
there are different explanations to the Process of
● This perspective emphasizes the quantitative
development and there inequalities
increase in the production of goods and services,
●
typically measured by, metrics such as Gross
CATEGORIES OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES
Domestic Product (GDP) or Gross National Product
(GNP).
i. Systems Theory/ Structural Functional Approach ● GDP measures the total production within a, country’s
(Emile Durkheim)
borders, regardless of the nationality of the entities
● This theoretical orientation views society as a
involved.
complex interconnected systems of parts that work ● GNP measures the total, production by a country’s
together in harmony
residents, regardless of whether that production
● This approach points to the importance of social
occurs within the country’s borders or abroad.
structure, any relatively stable Is pattern of social ● The underlying assumption is that as an economy,
behavior. Secondly, This approach looks for any
grows, there will be improvements n living standards,
structures social function, the consequences of any
increased employment opportunities, and a rise in per
social patterns for the operation of society as a whole
capita income.
(Macionis, 2016).
● Structural functionalist approach society from a
Also focused on:
macro level perspective; they view society and its
- Trade and investment
pieces as a whole. Major sociological theorists or
- Active in regional economic cooperation
contributors to this theoretical approach include:
- Fiscal strength and generation of taxes
August Comte, (considered the father of sociology),
- Strong alliance with the financial sector
Emile Durkheim, Herbert Spencer, Talcott
Parsons, and Robert Merton.

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Critiques on the concept: governance, can lead to efficiency gains and
- Narrow focus on economic indicators might overlook improved services.
social and environ- mental dimensions of
development. PROPONENT:
- Concerns about income inequality and the unequal
distribution of the benefits of growth have prompted a Walt Rostow, an American economist, is known for
broader understanding of develop- ment that his influential work The Stages of Economic Growth: A
incorporates social justice, environmental Non-Communist Manifesto, published in 1960. Rostow
sustainability, and human well-being. introduced the stages of growth, within the Modernization
perspective. He proposed a linear progression of development
PROPONENTS: through stages such as traditional society, preconditions for
take off, take off, drive to maturity, and age of high mass
Adam Smith, a Scottish philosopher and economist, consumption.
is considered one of the foundational figures in the history of Daniel Lerner, an American social scientist,
economic thought. One of Smith’s key ideas is the concept of contributed to Modernization theory through his work on the
the invisible hand, arguing that individual’s, by pursuing their role of mass media in shaping attitudes and values during the
self-interest in a competitive market, unintentionally contribute Modernization process. Lerner's work explores the role of
to the overall economic well-being of society. This idea has mass media in shaping the attitudes and values of individuals
been foundation in the understanding of how markets can lead during the Modernization process. He argued that mass media
to economic growth. accelerates the transition form traditional to modern societies
Simon Kuznets, a Nobel laureate in economics, is by disseminating new ideas and lifestye.l
know for his work on economic growth and development. He
developed the concept of Kuznets curve, which examines the Critiques on the Concept:
relationship between economic growth and income inequality. - Technological Determinism: assuming that
While Kuznets focused on economic indicators, his work has technology alone can drive development. Critiques
been associated with the idea that economic growth can lead argue that development is a complex and
to improved living standard. multidimensional process influenced by various
Dambisa Moyo is a contemporary economist, author, factors, and focusing solely on technology may
and international public speaker. She has gained recognition oversimplify the challenges.
for her views on economic development, global - Digital Divide: refers to the gap between those who
macroeconomics, and international affairs. In her book Dead have access to modern information and
Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There is a Better communication technologies (ICT’s), such as the
Way for Africa, published in 2009, Moyo critiques the internet and digital devices, and those who do not.
traditional approach of providing foreign aid to African This disparity can exist on various levels, including
countries, arguing that it has not led to sustainable economic access to technology, internet connectivity, digital
development and in some cases, may have hindered progress. literacy, and the ability to effectively use digital tools
Instead, she advocates for alternative methods of financing for educational, economic or social purposes.
and development, such as promoting private sector Job Displacement: automation and technology-
investment, improving governance, and encouraging economic driven changes in industries can lead to job
self-sufficiency. displacement. The shift to digital technologies may
create new opportunities but can also result in the
DEVELOPMENT AS MODERNIZATION obsolescence of certain skills and occupations.

It focused on infrastructure Development and DEVELOPMENT AS ELIMINATION OF DEPENDENCY

Technological Advancements
● Information and Communication Technology: Lead to ● The concept of development as the elimination of
the development of information or knowledge dependency is rooted in Dependency Theory, an
societies, with resulting changes in social interaction, approach that emerged as a critique of traditional
economic and business practices, education, health, development theories, particularly Modernization
and entertainment. theory.
● Digital Infrastructures: ensuring widespread access to ● Dependency Theory, which gained prominence in the
the internet and modern communication tools: 1960s and 1970s, posits that the economics
broadband networks, communication technologies, development of less developed countries is
and digital platforms. constrained and shaped by their dependence on more
● Transportation and Energy Infrastructure: Physical developed nations.
infrastructure such as roads, transportation networks, ● Dependency Theory Perspec-tives: the theory
and energy grids are also important to facilitate argues that the world is divided into a core of
economic activities and improve connectivity. developed countries and a periphery of
● Technological Adoption: Actively promoting the underdeveloped countries. The core exploits the
adoption of technology across various sectors, periphery economically and maintains a relationship
including agriculture, health care, education, and of dependency.

LUMANTA, KHENT BRIAN OMEGA 5

 ● Development Goal: from the perspective of context of nation’s historical narrative,
dependency theory, development involves breaking acknowledging the influence of past events on its
free from this unequal relationship and reducing social, economic, and political realities.
dependency on the core. This may involve
challenging economic, political, and social structures
that perpetuate dependency. Karl Marx's Stages of Human Society

PROPONENTS: ¹ Primitive Communism: early human societies were

characterized by a form of primitive
Raul Prebisch, an Argentine economist and one of
the early proponents of dependency theory, served as the ² Slave Society: following the stage of primitive communism,
executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Marx identified a stage characterized by slavery. This was a
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). He historical period where societies were organized around the
argued that the terms of trade were biased against the institution of slavery, with a slave-owning class exploiting the
interests of developing countries and advocated for policies to labor of slaves.
reduce economic dependency.
Andre Gunder Frank, a German-American economic ³ Feudalism: emerged as the dominant social and economic
historian, known for his contributions to dependency theory. In structure in medieval Europe. It was characterized by a
his influential work, Capitalism and Underdevelopment in hierarchical system where lords owned land, and peasants
Latin America and The Development of worked the land in exchange for protection and a share of the
Underdevelopment, Frank argued that the global capitalist produce.
system perpetuates underdevelopment in peripheral regions to
benefit the core nations. ⁴ Capitalism: is characterized by private ownership of the
Immanuel Wallerstein, and American sociologist, means of production, wage labor, and the pursuit of profit. It
associated with the World-Systems Theory, which incorporates involves a class structure with bourgeoisie and proletariat.
elements of dependency theory. He argued that the global
system is characterized by a core-periphery structure where ⁵ Communism: the final stage in Marx’s theory is communism,
core nations exploit peripheral nations economically. where class distinctions disappear, and society operates on
the principle of “From each according to his ability, to each
Critiques of the Concept: according to his needs.” In this stage, Marx envisioned a
- Simplistic Division: Critics argue that Dependency classless, stateless society characterized by common
Theory often oversimplifies the global economic ownership of the means of production.
system by dividing countries into “core” and
“periphery” without considering the complexity of Socialism: a transitional stage between capitalism and
economic relationships. This binary classification may communism. In this stage, the working class would seize
not fully capture the diversity of economic interactions control of the means of production, leading to a more equitable
between nations. distribution of resources and the elimination of class
- Neglect Of Internal Factors: The theory's emphasis distinctions.
on external factors sometimes leads to a neglect of
internal dynamics within developing countries. Factors Critiques on the concept:
such as domestic governance, institutions, and - Neglect of Contemporary Factors: focusing too
policies are important in shaping development much on historical factors may lead to neglecting the
outcomes but may be overshadowed by the focus on importance of contemporary conditions and global
external dependencies. dynamics. Development is also influenced by current
- Globalization Dynamics: with the advent of geopolitical, economic, and cultural factors that are
globalization, characterized by increasing not solely explained by historical processes.
interconnectedness, global supply chains, and the - Western Bias: focuses primarily on the development
flow of capital across borders, the dynamics of experiences of Western nations, neglecting the
international relations have changed. context of colonization which some countries in the
East have experienced.
DEVELOPMENT AS HISTORY
PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT
● The progress and evolution of societies are
deeply intertwined with their historical ● Emphasizes the active involvement and participation
experiences. of individuals and communities in the decision-making
● It recognizes that the historical context, including processes and programs that affect their lives.
factors like colonization, cultural heritage, and ● It seeks to empower communities and promote their
last economic structures, plays a crucial role in ownership, agenda and self-determination in the
shaping present conditions and future development process.
trajectories. ● It promotes a bottom-up approach starting from the
● This perspective emphasizes the need to grassroots level and building upwards. It prioritizes
understand development within the broader

LUMANTA, KHENT BRIAN OMEGA 6

 the needs and aspirations of communities and seeks ² Equity and Social Justice: emphasizes the importance of
to align development interventions with their priorities. fairness, equity, and social justice. It seeks to address and
reduce disparities and inequalities based on factors such as
PROPONENTS income, gender, ethnicity, and other social characteristics.

Robert Chambers, a development practitioner and ³ Community Empowerment: Empowering communities is a

researcher, is often regarded as a leading figure in central theme in social development. This involves engaging
Participatory Development. His influential work, including the communities in decision-making processes, recognizing local
book Whose reality counts? Putting the First Last, knowledge and capacities, and fostering self-reliance and
emphasizes the importance of listening to an understanding resilience
the perspective of local communities in development efforts.
Orlando Fals-Borda, a Colombian sociologist and ⁴ Inclusive Growth: ensuring that the benefits of development
one of the founders of Participatory Action Research (PAR), reach all segments of the population. It challenges
contributed to the participatory approach by promoting exclusionary practices and promotes policies that consider the
research methods that involve communities in the research needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups.
process. Hus work includes Knowledge and People’s Power:
Lessons with Peasants In Nicaragua, Mexico, and ⁵ Social Infrastructure: healthcare, education systems, and
Colombia. social services, is a key component. Investments in these
Paulo Freire, while primarily known for contributions areas contribute to the overall well-being and productivity of a
to critical pedagogy, his ideas on Participatory education have society.
influenced Participatory Development. His work, including
Pedagogy of the Oppressed, advocates for empowering Critiques on the concept
marginalized communities through participatory leaning and - Neglect of Economic Aspect: Social development
decision-making. perspective may sometimes prioritize social aspects
at the expense of economic considerations. While
Critiques on the concept: social well-being is crucial, a narrow focus may
- Time-Consuming and Resource-intensive: neglect the economic dimensions necessary for
Participatory development processes can be time- sustained development.
consuming and resource-intensive. “This can be a - Measurement Challenges: The quantification and
challenge for development agencies and measurement of social development can be
governments with tight budgets and deadlines, challenging. Relying on qualitative indicators may not
leading to the prioritization of quicker, top-down capture the full spectrum of social well-being, and
approaches. there is a risk of overlooking quantitative aspects that
- Tokenism and Manipulation: Critics argue that in are equally important.
some cases, participatory development processes
can become tokenistic, with communities being DEVELOPMENT AS FREEDOM
involved in a superficial or manipulated manner
decision-making power may still reside largely with ● Also known as the Capability Approach, is a
external agencies, limiting the genuine impact of theoretical framework in economics and ethics that
community participation. was developed by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and
- Power Imbalances: Power imbalances within further expanded by philosopher Martha Nussbaum.
communities can affect the effectiveness of This approach to development places a central focus
participatory development. In some cases, certain on enhancing individuals’ capabilities and freedoms to
groups or individuals within the community may lead lives they value.
dominate decision-making processes, marginalizing ● It goes beyond traditional measures of development,
vulnerable or less powerful groups. such as Income or GDP, and focuses on the
enhancement of individuals’ well-being and
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT opportunities. In simple terms, it’s about giving people
● Refers to the process of improving the well-being and the “superpowers” or capabilities they need, like good
quality of life of individuals, communities, and health, education, and the ability to make choices, so
societies. It involves efforts to enhance social they can lead lives they find valuable.
conditions, promote equity, and create opportunities ● Development as Freedom emphasizes policies and
for people to reach their full potential. Social initiatives that promote social justice, reduce
development encompasses a wide range of factors, inequalities, and empower individuals and
including economic, political, cultural, and communities. It’s about creating a society where
environmental dimensions everyone has the freedom to participate in decision-
making, access essential services, and pursue a life
¹ Human Well-Being: improvement of human well-being, that aligns with their own aspirations.
focusing on factors such as health, education, housing, overall ● The goal is to foster a world in which people have the
quality of life. It seeks to ensure that individuals lead fulfilling capabilities to shape their destinies and lead lives that
lives with access to essential services and opportunities. are not only economically prosperous but also rich in
meaningful choices and opportunities.

LUMANTA, KHENT BRIAN OMEGA 7

 Voluntary commitments may not be sufficient to
Critiques on the concept: address urgent global challenges, such as climate
- Measurement Challenges: Capabilities identified by change.
the approach are challenging to measure objectively. - Greenwashing: There are concerns about
Assessing individual freedoms and capabilities “greenwashing,” where organizations or governments
involves a subjective evaluation that can be difficult to may claim to pursue sustainable development goals
standardize across diverse contexts. without substantively addressing the underlying
- Inherent Subjectivity: The emphasis on individual issues. This could lead to superficial changes rather
values and aspirations introduces subjectivity into the than meaningful transformation
evaluation of development. This subjectivity may lead
to a lack of clear, universally applicable criteria for NINE CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPMENT
assessing progress.
- Cultural Relativity: The approach’s focus on I. Development is a Continuous Process.
individual freedoms and capabilities may not fully - The process of development continues from the
account for cultural variations and differing priorities moment of inception of the society. The society
across societies. What one culture values as a always marches forward. Sometimes the process of
fundamental capability may not be universally development is faster and under some situations, it
applicable. slows down. However, it witnesses no complete
halting point. It is ongoing in nature.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT II. Development Follows a Pattern.

- Development occurs in an orderly manner and follows
● A concept that involves meeting the needs of the a certain sequence. Thus, primitive, medieval, and
present without compromising the ability of future modern are the different phases of development of
generations to meet their own needs. It the society. The society cannot skip one stage to
emphasizes a balanced and integrated approach reach at the other in the process of develop. The
to economic, social, and environmental pattern is always maintained.
considerations to ensure long-term well-being
and prosperity for people and the planet. III. Development can be evolutionary or revolutionary
● Sustainable development seeks to address - Development when occurs in a slow and gradual
current challenges while safeguarding resources manner it is said to be evolutionary in character.
and ecosystems for the benefit of future Evolutionary development takes its natural course,
generations. time and not very spectacular in nature. In the long
● The concept of sustainable development gained run the impacts of development become visible.
prominence with the publication of the Brundtland - On the other hand, revolutionary development refers
Report (by Gro Harlem Brundtland) in 1987, titled to the abrupt and rapid change in the society.
“Our Common Future,” which defined it as Revolutionary development is triggered by some
“development that meets the needs of the factors like education, migration in larger scale,
present without compromising the ability of future introduction of policies etc. Revolutionary
generations to meet their own needs.” Since development is marked in a quick span and is vividly
then, it has become a guiding principle for visible in nature.
policies, practices, and Initiatives aimed at
achieving a harmonious balance between IV. Development is Multidimensional
economic growth, social progress, and - The conventional notion of development always
environmental protection. insisted upon the concept of development focusing on
● Gro Harlem Brundtland’s leadership and economic growth. However, later on it was felt
advocacy for sustainable development had a economic growth is a parameter of development, but
lasting impact on global policies and discussions. not the sole or whole of it.
● Her work laid the groundwork for the United - Social scientists and development practitioners
Nations Conference on Environment and realized that development has to be multidimensional
Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth touching various aspects of the society. It should not
Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. confine to the economic dimension, but should have
● It also laid the foundation for the global its political, cultural and social dimensions.
sustainable development agenda. The
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) directly V. Development is universal, but not uniform
build upon the principles and recommendations - Development is a common process witnessed by
outlined in the Brundtland Report. every society however primitive or modern it is. Every
society witnesses the process of development in
Critiques on the concept: some form or the other. Right from the beginning of
- Lack of Binding Agreements: The absence of the society, development process is initiated. The rich
binding international agreements to enforce and the poor societies, the most developed and the
sustainable development goals is a criticism. most under developed societies too experience it. In

LUMANTA, KHENT BRIAN OMEGA 8

 some societies it is faster while in some societies it is Second meaning, economic growth is an increase in
slow. In some societies the yields of development are production of an economy by the use of its scarce resources.
more remarkable than the other societies. So, the
process is universal, but the outcome is not uniform. CIRCLES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH

VI. Development insists upon adaptability

- Development as process is driven by human needs.
Human needs change with the changing time and
situations. The process of development demands the
existing institutions to change and adapt to the
upcoming demands to fulfil the emerging needs of the
individuals. For example: with the process of
industrialization, there was increased migration which
required the feudal system to disintegrate structurally.

VII. Development is irreversible and dynamic

- Development as a process is always forward looking
and has no look back. There may be temporary
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
stalemates, but once a society is into the process of
● Human dimension of development presupposes that
development, it will never revert back to its original
development should be measured in terms of the
state. So, development is always progressive.
richness of human life. This concept was developed
- The concept of development is also against the notion
by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul Haq and later
of static so it is always dynamic.
expanded by Indian economist Amartya Sen in 1990
and was popularized by the United Nations
VIII. Development is diffusive
Development Programs
- Development never remains concentrated in the place
of its origin. It has a natural tendency to spread
beyond its place of origin. The best example of it is
that when a new technology is innovated, very soon, it
spreads to other areas beyond the place of its origin.
IX. Development is both qualitative and quantitative
- Development as a process can be judged through the
qualitative improvement of human conditions of living.
For example, when there is a reduction of violence
against women, we find a qualitative change in their
living conditions and term it as development of
women. Another example is the increase in the
number of educational institutions in a particular city,
the qualitative change is the improvement in the
overall quality of education.
- Thus, the qualitative aspects of development are felt
while the quantitative aspects of development are
observed.

FOUR DIMENSIONS OF DEVELOPMENT

1. Economic development
2. Human development
3. Sustainable development
4. Territorial development

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
● Is traditionally associated with the concept of
economic growth determined through an increase in
the per capita income. It proposes economic
transformations to initiate growth and does not speak
much about social transformation.

Economic growth has two meanings:

Firstly, and most commonly, growth is defined as
an increase in the output that an economy produces over a
period of time.

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