Strategiy/Reform Plan for Bangladesh - Essay Example

This is what amounts to human development and the function of modernization can be understood as to bring about the above-discussed, comprehensive, human development (Inglehart and Welzel, 2005, pp.3). The modernization theories say that modernization can suffer from a “retarding effect of tradition” and also that it will have a “lasting imprint on a society’s world view” (Inglehart and Welzel, 2005, pp.5). The theories have also suggested that modernization is not linear amd that post-industrial modernization has an inherent tendency to support democratization (Inglehart and Welzel, 2005, pp.6). Though modernization is brought about by developmental reforms, they can trigger new issues, by way of the interplay of “political conflicts” and “economic contradictions” (Goodman, pp.127). This is the complex situation in which modernization and developmental reforms have to be understood and dealt with carefully.

As it is seen that “implementation is a key to developmental reform”, any attempt for it should not be limited to central government level alone, but should include local level application as well (Goodman, pp.127). Examples of China and East Asian newly industrializing economies show that compared to East Asian NIEs, who implemented reforms in centralized mode, in China, where regional strategies were adopted, better results were seen (Goodman, pp.128). In Bangladesh also, its high time developmental reforms are initiated, with a focus on local level implementation.

Challenges Rising food prices are provoking riots in Bangladesh (The LDC Report 2008, pp.83). The overseas developmental assistance received by LDCs, especially Bangladesh, has been very meager (The LDC Report 2008, pp.28). In 2007, the progress that was made by Bangladesh in hunger elimination has been termed as ‘low’ (The LDC Report 2008, pp.74). The annual growth rate of the country in 2000-2004 has been 1%, and in 2004-2005, it was minus 7.7% (The LDC Report 2008, pp.29). In 2005-2006, the situation worsened with an annual growth rate of minus 11.

3% (The LDC Report 2008, pp.29). There have been some positive trends as well. In 1990s, Bangladesh moved over to the medium human development group of countries, child mortality was reduced by half, life expectancy and women’s economic participation improved, and deforestation was brought under control (IMF and Bangladesh Parikalpana Kamisana, 2005, pp.11 of preface). But still, the nation is in the perils of underdevelopment. Obstacles to modernization A regression analysis of Bangladesh carried out by IMF and Bangladesh Parikalpana Kamisana (2005) has suggested that the factors which obstruct poverty reduction and modernization are, lower literacy levels, absence of skill development programmes, absence of basic infrastructure like electricity, limited scope of female stipend program and larger household size (pp.19). Lower literacy level and large household size are social obstacles while absence of skill development program, absence of infrastructure and absence of effective welfare programs like female stipend are economic as well as political obstacles.

A customized plan for change The customized plan for Bangladesh must include steps to address the country’s specific issues and goals. Four major components of the plan can be, pro-poor growth strategies, pro-poor distribution of productive assets with focus on land reforms, policy changes and women empowerment. Pro-poor growth-a