Defining Development

see also Development Mantras

In spite of being a commonly used term, “development” is not at all a univocal term. It is a concept that both facilitates consensus and polarizes divergence. Different perspectives of development often generate political oppositions and divisions.

We always need to make the effort to understand the perspectives of others and make sure that we accord common meanings to the words we use. So, when we step into the field of “cooperation for development”, we need to promote social dialogue on development .

Development activities are often carried out with the presumption that our vision about development is universally valid. The result is a lack of understanding about others' perspectives on development that might lead to low cooperation effectiveness or even cooperation failure. One of the most important benefits arising from successful international cooperation projects is the expansion of people's outlook on development. (See definition of “ International cooperation for development ").
 

Although intellectually out-dated, the terms "development" and "growth" are still widely used as equivalent terms, especially by media. However, most people agree that growth which is not organic, spontaneous and balanced cannot be called “development”. There is a growing global consensus that social and economic development requires a balanced mixture of freedom and order, of spontaneity and rule, of solidarity and competition. However there is much disagreement of what should come first (freedom or order?) and where to set the balance (more spontaneity or more governance?).

Freedom and order are two vital factors of development and indeed challenging it is to achieve a balance between them. On the one hand, they promote each othe and on the other hand, they destroy each other especially if one of the two grows too much at the expense of the other.

A similar balance between two seemingly contradictory, and actually reciprocally enabling factors, is the synthesis, in development, of  “change” and “continuation”. 

In fact, development has a dynamic character implying simultaneously that something is transformed and something is carried on. When we talk of "development" in the human and social context, we refer to a course of action that integrates two processes: a change for the better and a preservation of a cultural identity and its value system. A social change that is implemented independently of the value system of the persons whose environment is changed is not development. And neither is the preservation of an old value system, independent of the aspirations of the new generations, development. Using another terminology, we could say that “development” is when there is synergy and creative communication between “progress” (moving ahead) and “tradition” (taking forward one’s values).
 

Since development requires “spontaneity” and a “preservation of identities”, it cannot be superimposed (neither with violence nor with seduction), but requires authentic cooperation and dialogue. Dialogue, understanding and solidarity amongst all development stakeholders are the key elements for success in development. Although a change in the behaviour of the beneficiaries is a legitimate objective of international cooperation projects, we should remember that no person can be changed by others. Development will happen only if persons change themselves, in accordance with their value system, once they have the opportunity to do so.
 

Social development is analogous to personal development; and behavioural change is analogous to the process of learning. Change and learning are not produced by social workers and by teachers; they are produced as responses of persons to the external inputs they receive. Authentic development aid workers, in the same way as authentic educators, will aim at “empowering” the persons and will help them develop their potentialities.