Scribd
Upload
6 views

Topic

The document discusses the multifaceted concept of development, emphasizing its political, social, economic, and technological aspects. It outlines three broad scholarly perspectives on development: Modernization, Dependency, and Marxism, with a focus on the Modernization School that views development as a linear progression from traditional to modern societies. Key indicators of development include improved infrastructure, economic growth, and social advancements.

Uploaded by

chykwums
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
6 views

Topic

The document discusses the multifaceted concept of development, emphasizing its political, social, economic, and technological aspects. It outlines three broad scholarly perspectives on development: Modernization, Dependency, and Marxism, with a focus on the Modernization School that views development as a linear progression from traditional to modern societies. Key indicators of development include improved infrastructure, economic growth, and social advancements.

Uploaded by

chykwums
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Topic (1) THE CONCEPTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

INTRODUCTION
This course will be a mirage if the concept of development is not discussed. The word
development has a multifaceted application to an individual, a family, a society, and the
nation at large. One may see development as anything new which ranges from road network,
electricity, telecommunications, pipe borne water, intensified security, and improved health
system etc. Others may see it as civilization, modernization, industrialization, and improved
standards of living. But the above misconstruing of words do not mean development in the
real sense, rather they are indicators of development.

Development as a concept is an encompassing whole. It covers the political, social, economic


and technological spheres. The emphasis on the political aspect are; mass political
participation of all interest groups, competitive periodic election among political parties,
regular conduct of free and fair elections, and strict adherence to the rule of law, stability in
the political system through the smooth transfer of political power, freedom of expression,
respect for fundamental human rights, and according to G. Almond and S. Verba (1963), “the
institutionalization of civic culture.” The economic aspect looks at development from the
improvement of the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) of the domestic currency, increase in the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Product (GNP), drastic reduction in the level
of poverty, and the creation of employment opportunities etc. The technological aspect sees
development as it manifests in improved communication system, industrialization, and
mechanized agricultural practices.
The entrenchment of social norms and values, advancement from a less sophisticated nature
to a more sophisticated one, or a movement from a simple to a complex nature, and an
evolutionary process from a less developed structure to a more advanced one which is
manifested in the government’s attempt to meet the educational, health, and other social
needs of the people are the social aspect of development.

However over the years, different scholarly debates have given birth to three broad assertions
on development. And they are;
i. Modernization
ii. Dependency
iii. Marxists school of thought

A. The Modernization School


This school sees development as a desired state of affairs through which all nations must
aspire to attain. And it is likened to an evolutionary process where a society moves from a
backward stage (traditional) to advancement (modernity). Proponents of this school are Walt
Whitman Rostow, David Apter, David McClelland and Edward Shills etc. Rostow opined in
his work ‘The stages of Economic Growth’- A non communist manifesto; “That development
is a uni - linear process of transformation through which all nations must pass through”. As
such he outlined the traditional stage, pre-take off stage, take off

You might also like