Community Development

Sociology 130, Spring 2006

Development Philosophy
Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
Physical needs.
Physical and emotional security.
Social needs.
Status, respect, power.
Self-actualization.


History of Development Thought
Modernization Theory
Western nations as the example.
Development = physical and economic growth.
The global society: physically and culturally.
Centralized planning coming from Western nations.
Capital intensive technology.
Individual blame approach to lack of modernization.

History of Development Thought
Dependency Theory
Economic leakage.
Perpetual status.
Environmental degradation.
Social disruption.
Loss of economic, political, cultural autonomy.
Technological imperative.
Pessimism about the opportunities for growth.

History of Development Thought
Post-Modernism/Post Industrialism
Rejection of the philosophy that people can have
rational control over their natural and social
surroundings.
The emancipation of humanity is not achievable.
There is no single truth of development.
Universal values do not exist.
Development is in the eye of the beholder?

History of Development Thought
Neo-Liberalism
Rise of globalization in the mid-1970s.
Increased interest in comparative advantage.
Free-market ideology.
Lack of state interference.
New modernity, wherein the state assumes
responsibility for its citizens.
All ships rise with the tide, including those of the poor.

History of Development Thought
Neo-Liberalism Critiques
See critiques of modernization theory.
The new modernity is simply neglecting
responsibility to the poor.
Neo-liberalism focuses on the needs of the power
elite, leading to the pauperization of most persons.

History of Development Thought
Summary
Modernization: The poor should emulate us.
Dependency: The poor cannot emulate us.
Post-modernism: There is nothing to emulate!
Neo-liberalism: Globalization will cure all ills.

Current Trends in Development
Participatory, People-Centered Development
Decisions about development goals, objectives, and
the means to achieve these goals and objectives are
decided by the people.
Development must be sustainable (i.e., ecologically
sound, cost-effective, local control).
Modest and achievable goals. No utopias.
Feedback on goals, objectives, methods of
development.
Current Trends in Development
Participatory, People-Centered Development
Appropriate technology.
Sustainable technology.
Informed technology.
Control over technology.
Place-based technology.
Adaptive technological change.
Current Trends in Development
Participatory, People-Centered Development
Decentralized decision making.
Participatory decision making.
Iterative decision making.
People as the planned beneficiaries.
Informed experimentation and action.
Current Trends in Development
Participatory, People-Centered Development
Women in development.
Gender in development.
Current Trends in Development
Participatory, People-Centered Development
Interdisciplinary focus.
Integration of economic and social change.
Addresses problems rather than symptoms.
Goal of reduced welfare dependency.
Emphasis on volunteerism.
Emphasis on cultural diversity.
Current Trends in Development
Participatory, People-Centered Development
Create awareness.
Focus on defined needs, goals, objectives.
Monitoring and evaluation.

Current Trends in Development
Obstacles to Participatory Development
Customs and traditions.
Lack of skills.
Apathy.
Depression.
Tensions among competing groups.
Macroeconomic and social forces.
Resources for a more labor-intensive approach.