The Concept Development

Every person and nation strives after development. Thus development is universally desired.
However, many people define it in their own context according to their surroundings, immediate
needs, ideology and historical experiences. Development is a subjective and value-laden concept
and, hence, there cannot be consensus on as to its meaning
According to Seers (1979), development is the process of creating the conditions for the realization
of human personality, which implies a reduction in poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Development is about change in social, political and economic structures of society/county and
with relations among different countries. Therefore, development can be defined as planned
positive change meant to improve people's lives and enable them to meet their needs and
aspirations as individuals, groups and societies.
Robert Chambers (1983) Development is a concept that is a stands for improvement, advancement
or progress.
Development is positive change involving improvement in Education Standards, health care and
economic measures of prospects such as Gross National Product (GNP) - per capita income.
Chambers argues that development must entail deliberate efforts to achieve higher levels in terms
of a society's set objectives such as
 Increase in real income per capita (economic growth)
 Improvement in the distribution of income (equity)
 Political and economic freedom
 Equitable access to resources, education, health care, employment opportunities and justice
Hence, development takes place at all levels ranging from individuals to communities, and nations
and the world as a whole. Development is cherished by all individuals, communities and nations,
irrespective of their culture, religion and geographical location.
Therefore chambers concludes that development can be understood at three levels:
i. as a vision or an idea
ii. as a historical process of social change in which societies are transformed over long
periods of time
iii. including activities of development agents that includes the government, civil society,
organizations and social movements
From chambers analysis, the term development should be understood as a multi-dimension process
of change involving the reorganization and reorientation of entire economic, political and social
systems.
According to Todaro (2004) besides improvements in income and output development commonly
involves radical changes (radical change is change that occurs relatively fast and modifies the
functions of social structures) in institutional, social and administrative structures of society as
well as the popular attitudes, customs and believes. Development represents the entire scope of
needs and desires of its members so that they can move from a condition of life perceived as
unsatisfied towards a condition of life regarded as materially and spiritually better. For Pritchett
and Kenny (2013), development can be understood as an improvement in the life of human beings
with improvements in education levels, health, freedom, and food security; or in life satisfaction
levels or happiness.
It means that development is an elevation of a society towards a better and more satisfying life.
This better life has 3 component values which together represents common goals bought by all
individuals and societies. This are,
1. Life sustenance
2. Self esteem
3. Freedom
Life Sustenance
Refers to the ability to provide basic human needs without which life would be impossible. It
means that no country can be regarded as fully developed if it cannot provide its people with basic
needs like food, clothing, shelter, education, security etc.
Therefore a basic function of development is to provide as many people as possible with the aims
Self Esteem
Refers to A Sense of worth/self-respect. It can also be referred to as identity, dignity, respect,
honors or recognition. The nature and form of self-esteem may vary from society to society and
from one culture to another. Today economic prosperity has become the most important measure
of worth. This is because society gives high value for material things and therefore confers high
value and prestige to those having material wealth. Therefore once the common view of a better
life includes materials things, it becomes difficult for those who are materially disadvantaged to
feel respected or esteemed. Therefore poor people and societies seek development in order to gain
the esteem which is denied to societies living in disgraceful poverty freedom.
Freedom
Means liberation/emancipation from alienating material conditions of life which enslaves people
to nature, social system, other people and institutions as well as dogmatic belief. Freedom involves
expanding the range of choices for people and their countries/societies while at the same time
minimizing the constraints that limits the pursuit of life goals such as happiness.
Amatya Sen (2001) has proposed that developments should be regarded as freedom. Freedom for
him entails removal of all the major sources of unfreedom such as poor economic prospects, social
deprivation, poor leadership etc. According to him therefore, development as freedom must be
about ability and opportunity in equality with other members of society to obtain and satisfy one's
needs without any influence from somewhere.
Objectives of Development
Development is both a physical reality and a state of mind in which societies have secured the
means for obtaining a better life. In other words the main objective of development is the
promotion of human well-being. However, for all societies development must have the following
three objectives;
1) To increase the availability and widen the distribution of basic life sustaining needs such
as food, shelter, health care, security etc.
2) To raise the levels of living which may include higher income, provision of more jobs,
better education and more attention to cultural and humanistic values. According to Todaro
(2004) this not only enhances material well-being but also generates individual and
national self-esteem.
3) To expand the range of economic, political and social choice available to individuals and
nations by freeing them from the servitude of nature and dependence to other people and
nations and also from the forces of ignorance which create human misery. According to
Arthur Lewis (1978) for a society to be free it has to generate economic growth because
economic wealth increases the retch of human choice

Development Studies as an Academic Discipline

Development is a multi-disciplinary branch of social sense which addresses issues of concern in
developing nations. Development Studies is an inter-disciplinary and applied subject area which
is concerned with analyzing the processes of social, cultural economic and political change in poor
parts of the world. Originally development studies emerged as a branch of economics but it has
grown to become increasingly inter disciplinary and multi-disciplinary subject incorporating
political, sociology, geographical, international relations, gender studies, disciplinary etc.
People study development because they want to focus on real world issues and problems rather
than being concerned with disciplinary perspectives. A study of development studies enables
students to;
i. Understands the main development theories, concepts and debates in their historical and
contemporary context with a view to applying this knowledge in their professional work.
ii. Engage in an informed and critical way with professionals from diverse backgrounds
concerned with development issues in particular diplomats, lawyers, economists, political
scientists, economists, anthropologists etc.
iii. Approach development problems with confidence and knowledge and to have the ability
to work collaborate with others to identify solutions to national and global development
challenges.