State Development - Assignment Example

?Running head: Development Development s Development can be and has been the key agent in development The concept of development has been used in different contexts over the course of time. It is often used for positive expressions pertaining to ‘good change’ or ‘progress’. However these two terms in themselves are intricate and need to be thoroughly understood. Refining it further, development may also be availed in the context of being a vision, a historical process of change in society and finally as an intentional process influenced by agencies and government. The aspect of change deliberates that development is a process. Development is a broad terminology and encompasses various subjects and may be used in diverse contexts but here we concentrate our meaning more towards the development of societies and individuals within societies. This process of development is influenced by an amalgamation of both social and political factors. What is more important to understand is that this process of change entails a wholesome approach, pertaining to a desirable change that occurs at all levels and is not confined to improvement in one aspect alone. It also goes a step further in that this process is continuous in nature and sustains by regular evaluations and a self-building practice. The smallest unit of this web starts at the level of an individual, while encompassing the society at large, simultaneously. It is individuals that ultimately make up a society. Therefore, change at a large scale is the reflection of change taking place at the smallest of levels. Hence, change in the thought process of an individual, their means of interaction; strategies that they use for making livelihood and their perception of themselves are what form the fundamentals of this change. This brings the fact that development entails both negative as well as positive features. Altogether, what one can at least decipher from this is that development is a product of multiple raw materials and hence can be spoken of in multiple contexts. When speaking of development and capitalism working together two forms of development must be stressed upon namely; immanent and intentional development. The former states that development is inherently a process of self-building and growth occurring from within, without the influence of any extrinsic factors like policies. The latter, on the other hand involves the influence of policies and state agencies in giving rise to development. If we look at the start of the 19th century we realize that by its beginning capitalism had advanced into being a market society finally culminating into a global process. While when talking of development in the view of state the concept changes into being one that can be measured and analyzed statistically, hence more objectively. Therefore a developed society in this context is one that is modern and industrialized and not just rich in wealth but also one that is becoming economically stronger and striving towards growth and improvisation. This entails that GNP per capita is not only high but is always on the rise. This entails a set of characteristics which are mentioned as follows; the use of scientific knowledge, and its application rather than using traditional techniques. Another way of gauging the industrial development is by transition from olden subsistence farming to the commercial production of goods. Third is the evolution from the use of animal and plant power to the application of machines and last is the migration of individuals from villages to urban centers (Smelser 1968, pg126). Hence when we reflect upon the western industrialized countries what we realize is that they have undergone a process of development in their economy coupled with growth. The former includes an improved and augmented capacity and output while the latter implies an increasing GNP or GDP. This results in a higher income per capita. This modernization influences aspects relating to the quality of life by means of industry and industrialization. The industrial revolution in Britain itself is an illustration of economic development accompanied by change at the fundamental level, that is social aspect and a radical change in the though process of people (Kitching 1982, pg11). When we talk of the western societies and their development an important denominator is a democratic political system where people are given aspiration and independence to voice their thoughts. Hence, capitalist industrialization and democratic liberalism are closely approximated and together act as a viable platform for economic development. This aspect also helps to take into account the human potential and its role in development. It involves a triad of rightness, ability to sustain, and lastly inclusion of all individuals in this process of growth regardless of cast, creed and color. This can proceed to become a human-needs centered development involving measures that define development on the basis of minimizing levels of poverty, unemployment, inequality. Establishing national independence in the true sense of the word, employment of democratic political organizations and better literacy and accessibility to quality education, creating equal opportunities for both genders, sustainability and ensuring human security are other factors that contribute to development. Hence, in the light of above state encompasses a wholesome approach towards development. It takes into account all levels of human development and addresses a wide spectrum of issues, hence is a strong agent in bringing about development. What criticisms can be raised against this view? When we think of a developmental process we often relate it with decreasing poverty, however the fact is quite the opposite. Development often brings with itself an alleviating poverty. Hence the concern at this stage is whether economic progress is occurring at the expense of social development? Globally several critical schools of thought exist. Some believe that it is unjust and has failed in its purpose. Some state that the criteria on which economic and social development is precariously based on divides the two thirds of the world under the label of ‘underdeveloped’. While some regard it as one of the salient features of the times in which we live. Though some countries have shown an increasing economic rate in the past decade many have shown declining economic rates. This means that development has been applied to only some parts of the world, forming the basis of existence of the third world countries. In the various arguments against state being the key agent in development is one of free markets where public resources may not be utilized for the primary improvements in health and education, or in provision of better livelihood options. The World Bank uses GNP as a measure of national income and per capita as an estimate of average worldly living standard of a nation’s people. A positive increasing trend may indicate economic development, this criterion has its limitations, including only the average income on the basis of market value (Allen and Thomas 2000, page 11). It fails to address the true incidence of poverty. Furthermore, it underestimates subsistence and collective goods while overestimating commercialized and individualized goods. But this is still a relative strategy to measure poverty, because what may be considered an adequate income differs in every society and therefore comparison may not be accurate. Apart from this, this methodology does not take into account the visionary aspect of development since it only concentrates on one factor that is income. Another argument elucidates the fact that even in the richest nation of the world unemployment, increased dependency, falling average wages persist. There remains a constant show of those who please themselves with opulence and those who linger in dehumanizing conditions with an ever present fear of economic instability and insecurity. This has augmented onto the already existing social stress, which is evident in escalating crime rates, increasing violence and suicide rates. Yet the financial crisis plaguing the world continues on the rise. Simultaneously, the world’s resources fail to be shared equally. This discrepancy allows for passive and active triage in affected populations. Hence some who can gain assistance withstand the aggression while some are left to fate. In certain circumstances people are completely excluded as happens in passive triage while at times some people benefit at the expense of others. An example would be to avail resources used for subsistence earlier as an input for industrial goods. In the era when industrialization did not exist some societies inherently contained practices marred with inequality; however in the times of today industrialization is global and is therefore influenced by industrialized capitalism determined at a global level. So, it comes to horizon that with the process of development many have suffered deterioration in their living standards and given the option would like to change. Hence the mounting issues of poverty, unemployment, violence, crime, and the constant struggle to attain human rights all demand an intervention. A well prepared intervention that aims to improve the quality of life of people. But along side that what is significant is personal development. Inculcating personal qualities that enable well intentioned interventions to culminate into expected and desirable consequences is of utmost importance (Korten 1995, pg19-21). While there are many who support that the damage done by development can only be reversed by ending the process more still believe that such a radical strategy may prove to be futile. What will be lucrative is to adopt an optimistic approach towards a process that benefits the human kind. References Allen, T., and Thomas, A. Poverty and Development into the 21st Century. Oxford University Press. Smelser, N. J. (1968) 'Towards a theory of modernization', in Smelser, N. J. (ed.) Essays in Sociological Explanation, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Kitching, G. (1982) Development and Underdevelopment in Historical Perspective, Methuen, London. Korten, D. (1995) When Corporations Rule the World, Kumarian Press, West Hartford CT and Berrett-Koehler, San Francisco. Read More