We've got some cynical responses here, and I like it.

Wow. We’ve got some cynical responses here (JS’s post), but I guess that is what asking for the definition of development is inciting (or baiting?) us to do: look cynically at this class, our readings, the industry and ultimately our supposed future professions. Take a good, long, contemptuous look at development. Do the Stern students have to define the term business? How about Steinhardt students defining education?

 

I find myself throwing the word ‘development’ (and especially the hot term ‘sustainable development’) around as much as the next guy.  My neighbor recently asked me what I was studying, and I replied “international development.” She then asked me what “development” meant exactly. I gave some vague examples: “oh, you know, like The Red Cross or the UN kind of stuff.” So that goes to show that I don’t know what my definition of development is, which is why I am taking this class--to do well-chosen readings, listen to others’ opinions and put together a better response next time I am asked that same question.

 

I do know that I have witnessed some devastating underdevelopment. I have lived in both the #1 country on the HDI (Norway) and # 182 (Niger). I am still trying to put together the disparities of these two places. I know that for now, because I am still reading, listening and learning about this field, my definition of development would be to try to make the disparities I witnessed between these two countries more narrow.

 

Comments

[JS]

Just had to throw it out there :)

When asked what I'm studying, I give the exact title of the program (long winded as it may be) and then I specify my focus on humanitarian aid and health issues. I mean, "development" is so subjective...

[Wag1]

In reading your post, I do not understand why you consider defining "development" as being a bad thing. Part of the premise is to force us to think critically and analytically about a given concept. What is wrong with that? At the very least, it helps us explain to others what we are studying.

In terms of Stern students having to define "business", or Steinhardt students defining "education", they may not be. But, I certain that Stern students have to define/interpret subcategories of business such as: sales or marketing. This is comparable to us defining "development", which is a subcategory under the umbrella of public service/affairs.