Development...hmmm. When we think about development, our minds become inundated with various: concepts, definitions, projects/programs, "developing" nations and more. This is partially due to our confusion and desire for definitive answers to our bewildering questions. After all, what is development supposed to accomplish (or not accomplish)? What are the markers/milestones that tell us development is actually occurring? A person may be in the middle of it and not even know it. At what point is something (i.e. a nation, a project, etc.) officially developed? There is certainly no shortage of questions. At times, it feels like the more we learn, the more confused we become. But we must be optimistic, and remember our confusion also reflects the wide array of topics under the expansive umbrella known as "development".
We must not forget the complex nature of development lends itself to ambiguous answers; and that is okay. Rather than having the comfort of a cozy, well-defined answer, we have an opportunity to be creative and blaze a trail, so to speak. What is wrong with defining development in our own normative terms and having it serve as our road map? It does not matter whether everyone has the same definition or not. Who cares? As long as we hold on to one that inspires us to be positive and achieve the great things we all dream about. Development is messy... but not impossible. With that said, I will leave you with my normative definition of development.
Development: the process of putting the necessary resources in place to ensure a better quality of life that is self-sustainable over the long-term; the goal is to achieve equitable lives for all.
You bring up a point that I always think about... When is a country developed? Does such a state even truly exist. If anyone has ever been to or worked in the Delta region bordering Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee he/she would not feel like he/she is in a "developed" country. This holds true for many other areas of the U.S. So as the definition of development above mentions, "the goal is to achieve equitable lives for all," aren't all countries developing. Lives are certainly not equitable in this country. (Just one more overwhelming component of this complex topic.)
Posted by: VZ | October 25, 2009 at 07:26 PM
I agree in that it is rather difficult to have one general definition of development as it is complex. I really don't think that everyone will have the same definition for development because it has so many different meanings and interpretations to many different people. It has worked for some and failed for others. And you're right..its an opportunity for everyone to be creative...come up with their own definitions and use it in a way that is most beneficial to them. Obviously everyone has a different point of view of what development is but I think the most important is like you said to ensure a better quality of life.
Posted by: Adrienne D. | October 25, 2009 at 08:43 PM
I also wonder: When is a country developed? Furthermore…Who determines this? If we can’t agree on the definition of the process, how can we agree on who evaluates the process? What gives a country or an institution the right to assess the “development” of other nations?
As VZ noted, our own country struggles with poverty, homelessness, inequality, unemployment, etc. The National Center for Children in Poverty estimates that 29 million children in the US currently live below the poverty line. Can the US be deemed a “developed” nation when millions of our smallest members are fighting for basic needs? And if we are a “developed” country, does this give us the right to evaluate the status of other nations?
Posted by: Michelle | October 28, 2009 at 06:16 PM