Development | What is Development | Development Studies

Imran Hossain Bhuiyan
15 Mar 201910:16
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis academic video explores the multifaceted concept of development, highlighting its evolution from economic growth to a more holistic approach encompassing social, political, and environmental dimensions. It discusses the varying perceptions of development across disciplines and over time, from post-WWII era to the present, with a focus on human development and sustainable development goals. The video critiques the colonial roots of development discourse and its transformation to address global ecological crises, emphasizing the need for intergenerational equity.

Takeaways
  • 🌐 The concept of development is multifaceted and changes over time, encompassing economic, social, political, and infrastructural dimensions.
  • 📈 Economic indicators such as per capita income and GDP growth are traditionally seen as key aspects of development by economists.
  • 🗳️ Political scientists emphasize the importance of political freedom and freedom of speech as crucial components of development.
  • 🌟 Development studies experts consider a combination of economic prosperity, basic necessities, and political liberties as essential for holistic development.
  • 💡 Early definitions of development, like Goona Midd's, focus on moving away from underdevelopment and poverty.
  • 🌱 Wider's quote highlights development as a state of mind and a direction, rather than a fixed goal, indicating a continuous process of change.
  • 🏛️ Development in political terms involves creating a responsive political system that addresses fundamental issues and adapts to evolving demands.
  • 🏥 Social development is about improving people's lives through better access to health, education, housing, and cultural amenities.
  • 🏢 Administrative development is the growth of the administration's capacity to effectively deliver development projects and services.
  • 🏗️ Physical infrastructure, such as construction, is only one part of development, which also includes many other aspects.
  • 🏛️ The colonial roots of development ideas are often overlooked, with early conceptions being top-down and sometimes demeaning to non-Western nations.
  • 🌱 The idea of development has evolved from a focus on economic growth to incorporating social, environmental, and political aspects, reflecting a more comprehensive understanding.
  • 🌏 The concept of sustainable development, which aims to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations, has become a central theme in global development discourses.
Q & A

  • What is the concept of development according to the video?

    -The concept of development is a complex phenomenon that encompasses economic, social, political, and infrastructural aspects. It is not limited to economic growth but also includes aspects like political freedom, freedom of speech, and the provision of basic necessities of life.

  • How has the perception of development changed over time?

    -The perception of development has evolved from being primarily about economic growth to a more holistic view that includes social, political, and environmental aspects. It has transitioned from a top-down approach promoted by Western industrial nations to a more inclusive and sustainable approach.

  • What are the two major aspects of development according to economists?

    -According to economists, the two major aspects of development are per capita income and GDP growth.

  • What are the key aspects of development according to political scientists?

    -Political scientists emphasize political freedom and freedom of speech and expression as the most important aspects of development.

  • What does the term 'development' mean in the context of development studies?

    -In development studies, the term 'development' is a contested term that has evolved to include not just economic growth, but also social improvements, political system development, and administrative development to deliver projects effectively.

  • What is the definition of development by Gunnar Myrdal?

    -Gunnar Myrdal defines development as the process of moving away from underdevelopment and poverty, essentially rising out of an underdeveloped state.

  • What is the famous quote by Rostow about development?

    -Rostow famously stated that development is a state of mind, a direction rather than a fixed goal, highlighting that it is a rate of change in a particular direction.

  • How did the Bretton Woods institutions contribute to the development discourse in the 1950s?

    -The Bretton Woods institutions, namely the World Bank and IMF, rose to prominence in the 1950s by helping less developed countries devise and finance development projects and planning, with a focus on economic growth.

  • What was the first major change in the mainstream understanding of development?

    -The first major change in the mainstream understanding of development occurred when the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) acknowledged the importance of life expectancy and literacy alongside economic development, leading to the concept of human development.

  • What is the most cited definition of sustainable development?

    -The most cited definition of sustainable development comes from the Brundtland Commission's report, stating that it is 'development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.'

  • How has the idea of sustainable development evolved since its introduction?

    -The idea of sustainable development has evolved from being a concept that was criticized for its all-embracing nature to one that now dominates global development discourses, with the adoption of sustainable development goals as a global pledge.

Outlines
00:00
🌟 Concept of Development: Evolution and Dimensions

The first paragraph introduces the multifaceted concept of development, which is a dynamic term with changing meanings and perceptions. It discusses how development is not limited to economic aspects but also encompasses social, political, and infrastructural growth. The speaker highlights that development is a complex phenomenon that varies across time, place, and individuals. The paragraph also references various scholars' definitions, emphasizing the shift from economic measures like GDP to more holistic views including human development and political freedoms. It concludes by distinguishing the broader concept of development from the narrow focus on physical infrastructure by construction and real estate companies.

05:01
📚 Development in Academia: A Historical and Critical Perspective

The second paragraph delves into the academic use of the term 'development,' tracing its roots to the post-Second World War era and the early conceptions promoted by Western industrial nations. It critiques the top-down approach and colonial undertones of development, where Western countries played a 'master' role. The paragraph discusses the evolution of development planning in newly independent countries and the role of Bretton Woods institutions like the World Bank and IMF. It also addresses the shift from a growth-centric view of development to a more comprehensive one that includes social and environmental aspects. The introduction of the Human Development Index by UNDP and the concept of sustainable development, first defined in the Brundtland Commission report, are highlighted. The paragraph concludes by examining the critiques and evolution of sustainable development from 1992 to 2018, leading to the global adoption of sustainable development goals.

10:04
📺 Stay Connected for More Insights on Development

The third paragraph serves as a call to action for viewers to subscribe to the channel for more content on the topic of development. It is a brief paragraph, indicating the end of the current discussion and inviting viewers to stay tuned for future videos, suggesting a continuation of the exploration of development concepts and their implications.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Development
Development in the context of the video refers to a multifaceted concept encompassing economic, social, political, and environmental progress. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating the evolution of the term from a primarily economic focus to a more holistic understanding. The script discusses how development has been perceived differently over time and across disciplines, such as economists emphasizing per capita income and GDP growth, while political scientists might prioritize political freedom and freedom of speech.
💡Underdevelopment
Underdevelopment is presented as a state of being that development seeks to overcome. It is defined as a condition characterized by poverty and lack of basic necessities. The video script uses the term to contrast with development, indicating a movement away from poverty and towards a more prosperous and equitable state, as illustrated by Goona Middle's quote about development being a process away from underdevelopment.
💡Per Capita Income
Per capita income is an economic measure that indicates the average income earned per person in a given area. In the video, it is mentioned as one of the major aspects of development from an economist's perspective, highlighting its importance in gauging the economic well-being of individuals within a country or region.
💡GDP Growth
GDP growth, or Gross Domestic Product growth, is the rate at which the economic output of a country increases over time. The script identifies it as a key indicator of economic development, reflecting the overall expansion of an economy and often used as a benchmark for progress by economists.
💡Political Freedom
Political freedom is the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic control and the presence of civil liberties. The video emphasizes its significance as a crucial aspect of development from a political science viewpoint, suggesting that development is not solely economic but also includes the political liberties and rights of individuals.
💡Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech is the right to express one's opinions without censorship or restraint. The script mentions it as an important element of development, indicating that the ability to voice opinions openly is integral to a society's progress and is valued by development experts.
💡Human Development
Human development, as introduced by the UNDP, is a broader concept that includes life expectancy and literacy alongside economic indicators. The video describes the shift from a purely economic view of development to one that encompasses human well-being, marking a significant evolution in the understanding of development.
💡Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is defined in the video as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is a key concept that emerged in response to environmental concerns and has become central to global development discourses, as seen in the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.
💡Intergenerational Equity
Intergenerational equity is the concept of fairness between generations, ensuring that the actions of one generation do not compromise the well-being of future generations. The video script uses this term in the context of sustainable development, emphasizing the need to balance current needs with the long-term health of the planet.
💡Decolonization
Decolonization refers to the process by which a country regains control from a colonial power. In the video, it is mentioned as a period following the Second World War when newly independent countries began to focus on development planning, highlighting the historical context in which development as a concept gained prominence.
💡Bretton Woods Institutions
The Bretton Woods Institutions, namely the World Bank and IMF, are international financial organizations that emerged in the 1950s to help less developed countries with development projects and planning. The script discusses their role in the post-decolonization era, indicating their significance in the economic development narrative.
Highlights

The concept of development is widely used and its meaning and perception are continuously changing.

Development is a complex phenomenon with no single definition, varying from place to place, time to time, and individual to individual.

Development encompasses economic, social, political, and infrastructural aspects.

Economists view per capita income and GDP growth as major aspects of development, while political scientists emphasize political freedom and freedom of speech.

Development studies experts consider per capita income, basic necessities, and freedom of speech as equally important for development.

Goona Middle defines development as the process of moving away from underdevelopment and poverty.

Widenar views development as a state of mind, a direction rather than a fixed goal, focusing on the rate of change in a particular direction.

Economic development includes national income and more equitable distribution of wealth and income.

Political development involves developing a political system that is responsive to the changing political demands of the people.

Social development focuses on improving people's social life by providing health, education, housing, and cultural immediacy.

Administrative development is about the development and delivery of projects by the administration responsible for delivering development.

Development is not just about physical infrastructure construction but also includes multiple other dimensions.

The idea of development has its contemporary roots in the post-Second World War era but was promoted by Western industrial nations as early as the 19th century.

The colonial root of development is often ignored in contemporary development studies.

The Bretton Woods institutions, such as the World Bank and IMF, rose to prominence in the 1950s to help less developed countries with development projects and planning.

The idea of development in the 1950s was predominantly centered on economic growth.

The growth-centric development model was criticized for failing to bring prosperity to the masses and for creating huge inequality.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) broadened the idea of development to include life expectancy and literacy in 1990.

The first Earth Summit in 1992 and the Brundtland Commission's report introduced the concept of sustainable development.

Sustainable development is defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Academicians and researchers have criticized the all-embracing nature of sustainable development for not providing specific direction on ensuring environmental sustainability alongside economic growth.

The idea of sustainable development has come a long way since 1992 and now the Sustainable Development Goals have become a global pledge for all countries.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Development ConceptEconomic GrowthSocial ProgressPolitical FreedomSustainable GoalsHistorical PerspectiveGlobal SouthPost-War EraHuman DevelopmentEnvironmental CrisisCultural Influence