While the sharpness of the definition makes it an attractive choice, its implications and connotation can be problematic. Does this mean you cannot "develop" unless you "modernize" your country? What is modernization anyway? Is it urbanization? Is it about making your economy, polity, administration and society look like the West, Japan and to some extent Korea? I wonder what Bhutan's former king would have to say about this given his definition of development and the GNH concept!
In an attempt to test this logic on the ground, I started what I call my own little "social experiment" in which I asked a few colleagues the following questions, which I would like the readers of this blog to answer too (if you find it interesting at all).
- What is your definition of development? (In no more than 3 lines)
- What is your one-word description of development? Similar to Lant Prichett's "modernization"
- If country X (any developing country you can relate to) is said to have achieved development Y years from now, what features of the country constitute your definition of a developed country?
Not surprisingly, nobody so far has mentioned the word "modernization" - maybe I am talking to a non-representative sample of development practitioners! I would be keen to hear what you have to say.
6 comments:
1. What is my definition of development? (3 lines)
When change occurs by confluence rather than conflict, development is the measure of that change.
2. One word definition for development?
Convergence
3. If country X (any developing country you can relate to) is said to have achieved development Y years from now, what features of the country constitute your definition of a developed country?
Human culture, Self Governance, Food security, Carbon offset, Water security,
1. What is my definition of development?
Any social change that triggers/brings about positive outcomes. (Positive being measured in its own merit, particular only to the subject in question. Comparison with others must always be avoided.)
2. One word definition for development?
Consciousness.
3. If country X (any developing country you can relate to) is said to have achieved development Y years from now, what features of the country constitute your definition of a developed country?
Higher educational rates, citizenship participation, third-sector (non-governmental) development, personal freedom, political freedom, economical freedom, food/water/health safety, environmental safety.
(I don't think such a country exists nowadays.)
Correction:
*Economic (not economical)
1.when everyone is on the same platform in terms of opportunities(free of bias)and where every household is a prosperous and productive unit of country.
2.self-reliance.
3. where education is a fundamental right, modernization as its a strong tool to overcome age-old differences especially in India. trust and tolerance among citizens, free of violence and hatred(including domestic violence), everyone considers himself a part of the process of making the nation stronger.
1. Definition of development :improvement in quality of life economoically, environmentally and socially
2. one word for development : maturation
3. gdp, population growth, mortality rates, literacy, spm levels, crime rate
1. What is my definition of development? (3 lines)
Planned inclusive progress of society, where citizens can make their own choices, but with a mechanism to self regulate inefficiencies and excesses
2. One word definition for development?
evolution
3. If country X (any developing country you can relate to) is said to have achieved development Y years from now, what features of the country constitute your definition of a developed country?
citizen awareness, mutual co-operation, legal structure, income levels, income equality, level of corruption, environmental regulation, infrastructure development, access to basic needs
Post a Comment