The Concept and Practices of Development - Essay Example

The Concept and Practices of ‘Development’ The anthropology of modernity and development remains a of differentiation in the stratification of the global society in the various classes of countries. In reference to the development levels and agenda, the world rankings incorporate the stratifications of developed, developing and underdeveloped countries (Bhatia, 2012, p 131). The developments in the context of the world perception incorporates various approaches to implementation of physical actions in achieving results that lead towards modernity and some form of positive achievement, constituting development. In view of the global stratifications, development entails the various levels of political, social and economic achievements of the country in consideration. In achieving these set standards defining development, the countries meet various challenges as they structure their concepts and practices for development. These concepts and practices constitute development agenda for the various countries. In the discourse of development, the sectors of the concepts and practices incorporate the three key essentials of economic, social and political milestones in development (Ove, 2013, p 313). All these concepts emanate from the various political activism procedures, developing the concepts and procedures accordingly. For instance, in analyzing the concepts of development form the economic perspective, various theories and approaches as well as challenges to these concepts are evident. Escobar, as he seeks to evaluate the concepts of economic development in the relation to third world countries, he notably states and evaluates the role of economists in the processes incorporated in development (Escobar, 1995, p 7). Thus, this as a starting point, considering the concept of economic perspectives in development, several factors come into consideration. Firstly, what constitute the economy of the country in question, as well as, the facilitators of this concept of development. The economy of a country vastly defines the class it belongs to in the global stratifications. Economic power is essentially the driving factor of development although it may not sustain the entire development process on its own (Bhatia, 2012, p 131). The concept of development form economic approach encompasses, firstly, the concept of resources that the country posses in determining its success level (Santander, 2014, p 65). The factor of distribution of natural resources within the various geographical locations is a relatively highly controversial concept in the process of development. It is notable that, most countries within the developed nation’s class have less natural resource endowment than to those in the developing and under developed countries. Secondly, the natural resources determine the capita strength of the country in investing accordingly. However, from this perspective of natural resources, the concepts and practices aimed at constituting development determine the success of initiated projects significantly. The procedures of exploring the resources available for the success of the country in achieving development agenda determine the success of the concept accordingly. For instance, n the developed countries, their success in the practices of development emanate from their ability and skill as well as technical knowhow in managing their resources towards the success of the country. On the contrary, in the developing and underdeveloped countries, notable factor is that the practices of managing the natural resources are void of critical elements of success (Kapoor, 2004, p 633). The involvement of factors such as corruption in these countries retards the development agenda. Thus, from this perspective, the concept and practices of development are essential in the development process, as they help identify and progress development of the countries further. Rejecting the concepts from economic perspective will result in under-exploitation of the natural resources of the various countries in developing their country positively. However, on the opposing perspective of economic concepts and practices of development, rejecting the development concept, the following argument holds. The concepts of economic empowerment cause the developing and underdeveloped countries to rely on aide and grants from other nations. Additionally, the developing countries incur debts from borrowing to extend that they are unable to repay. Such occurrences designate the country as a literal slave to their debtors. Thus, these aspect of economic crisis all driven by the various concepts and practices of achieving development in the various nations affects the larger good of the nation in question (Padmanabhan, 2013, p 1). Instance is the revolutionary Tea Party movement in America, a political activism unity that fights for budget and debt management by opposing excess funding of military action by the country in other countries among other sectors. This political movement represents an illustration of activism against the management of resources that lead a country to further debts; hence, economic crisis. Thus, from such happenings, it is possible to agree with the suggestions to reject the various concepts and practices of development. In view of the agenda of development, the concepts and practices ought to guide the nation to achieve success in the face of modernity and establish economic stability as the Tea Party activism movement advocates. However, the concepts and practices of development as projected in the case study of these third world countries presents the negative side of the concepts of development; hence, the reason for rejection. Political practices and concepts constitute a vast and elaborate procedure for examining the course of development. Comparison of the perspectives of the developed versus third world countries creates a significant aspect of discourse, as well as, consideration as motivation for further development to bridge the difference gap (Padmanabhan, 2013, p 1). The context of supporting the concepts and practices incorporated in the development include the interest of the international community to achieve equality among the nations. Development seeks to establish the growth of the third world countries, to the stage of the first world. Additionally, in configuring the concepts and processes undertaken by the first world countries in achieving their success, Escobar gives an anthropological account of modernity (Escobar, 1995, p 13). In his presentation, he notes the role of political will and support in enacting and implementing political structures to foster development. In the context of the various concepts, the notable driving concepts and practices include the institutionalization of legal structures to confine the activities of other nations with respect to humanity. The political confines and regulations that guard human rights, as well as, designate the factors of trade relations assist accordingly in driving the development concept (Litonjua, 2013, p 88). Such include the evolution of human rights activist movements such as The ACLU, which advocates for protection of the civil liberties of the American people, hence constituting judicial activism. The movement guards the liberties and constitution from misinterpretations and exploitation malicious persons. There are such movements in various countries parading as civil rights bodies protecting the public against issues of governance as they relate to the development agenda. Further, political interventions in the third world countries facilitate assistance in governance to foster the development of such countries towards modernity. The structures of configuration instituted through political action defining the various engagements, in addition to, the organization and institutions created internationally to aid in the process of development constitute the various political actions related to concepts and practices of development. Thus, observing from these positives, the concepts and practices of development remain vital in the road to civilization, modernization and development agenda of the third world countries. On the contrary, arguments supporting rejection of concepts and practices of growth in the framework of bonding the differences between the various classes of the countries, several aspects defeat the agenda and objective of these concepts and practices. From the article by Spivak, he presents a remarkable approach to analyzing the existing efforts of the practices and international interests of the Western nations, implicating the subject of the Marx theory (Padmanabhan, 2013, p 1). He raises several perspectives regarding the presentation of the third world in view of the Western discourse, with relative juxtapositions n emphasizing on his points. In the presentation of the arguments, Spavik critiques the aspects that, in the concepts and practices driven by supposed development agenda, there are aspects of pervasiveness and heterogeneity of power (Spivak, 1996, p 17). Further, she expounds that these factors of heterogeneity and pervasiveness of power create ignorance on the essence of ideology in achieving development. Thus, power pervasiveness overtakes the place of ideologies, certain the means for the Western nations to drive their international interests rather than favour development for the third world countries (Litonjua, 2013, p 96). Thus, approaching the discussion from this perspective, this argument presents a strong standpoint to object and reject the concepts and practices of development, as they exist today. In many of the concepts and practices of development, the effectiveness of these political aspects systematically disappears as the evidence of the ignorance of ideology paves way for the emergence and achievement of the interest of the Western nations. The factors of revolutionary acts and movements in driving the development agenda, legislation and other political engagements, the themes of corrupt approaches to power, post modernism colonization and flawed processes of democratization characterize the concepts and practices of development (Litonjua, 2013, p 103). Thus, from these observations, it is outright to reject the various concepts and practices of development. Analytical Marxism presents another framework for arguing the cause of the concepts and practices of development as experienced in the social-economic perspectives of the world. Liberalism as a framework for development amounts to nothing when it does not defend the freedoms of people. Liberalism in the concepts of development would remarkably excel in the two central arguments as presented by Kant’s moral philosophy. Thus, approaching the subject of the concepts and practices of development from these philosophical aspects, and analyzing the social-economic developments, it is notable the significance of the concepts and practices (Spivak, 1996, p 21). The initial forms of brutal colonialism, propagated through violence and dictatorship pave way for the democratic approach as well as aspects of equality among the genders and levels of development. The practices and concepts aimed at establishing social stratifications and systems to foster the success of the various countries remains key in development agenda. Moral accumulations, buffered by the various aspects of acculturation towards modernism constitute such vast and significant factors driving the development of the third world countries (Santander, 2014, p 65). These arguments in favour of development foster the continued support for social regulations as well as humanitarian basis of organizing and implementing the concepts of development today. The social-economic perspectives seek economic equality within the context of society while socio-political aspects consider the development agenda in view of the factors leading the change (Kapoor, 2004, p 629). The concepts from these perspectives incorporate the role of literature and education, the health industry, the research and technological advancements sections in fostering the concepts and practices of development. Thus, approaching the subject from the roles of various key social forces that drive development, it is notable the impact of the concepts and practices of development in driving change. For instance, the concept of approach from these perspectives as argued by Kapoor, presents the significances entailed in participation of the various sectors, in the agenda for development of the third world countries (Ove, 2013, p 321). Thus, establishing these sections of social stratifications such as education and health, as well as, research and technology, the concepts and practices of development remain viable in supporting the mainstream of social stratifications of the world classes. Arguing in support of rejecting for the concepts and practices of the sectors of healthcare, education, human rights, poverty reduction, Gender equality, environment and disaster preparedness constitute basis for the development. Various social-political activism movements advocate for various stance about the issue. They range from human rights movements to women based organizations, such as The Code Pink, which advocates for protection and incorporation of women in the development agenda. Such movements organise strikes and public protestations to drive change within the development agenda. The discourse for development from the making and unmaking of third world countries is that modernization is the progressive route towards elimination of the archaic relations of the various social and cultural perspectives. The belief incorporates that capitalism is the ingredient for economic establishment while, liberalism of the sectors will constitute equality and mindfulness on the subject of development (Ove, 2013, p 329). The factors of urbanization and modernization resulting from processes such as Westernization and Globalization as concepts of political theories affect the practices and concepts of development. Thus, from the evaluation of these factors, evidential claims from the current developments depict a different image (Spivak, 1996, p 24). The concepts and practices constitute the differences among the societies, such as the aspects of superiority of a certain culture over another. These constitute inequalities within the context of development. Further, the interests of the various stakeholders in processes of development constitute constraints to the achievement of the goals set in the agenda of development. Additionally, since the concepts and practices of development originate from the considered developed countries, the aspects of bias among other constraints affect development processes. Thus, these factors support the supposition to rejection of the concepts and practices of development. As the political accounts of normative positions, similarities and differences of the political, economic and social concepts and practices of development deepen, the incentive remains to evaluate strategically the various systems. The choice to reject or foster the concepts and practices of development remains on the cost-benefit aspects of the practices and concepts in place with respect to the country in consideration. Thus, the differing positions should engage accordingly to reach an arrangement for addressing the concepts and practices of development. Bibliography Bhatia, A, 2012, Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) Conference: Capitalism and the Common Good. The South of the North: Building on Critical Approaches to International Law with Lessons from the Fourth World,’ Oregon Review of International Law, Vol.14, p. 131, LexisNexis Academic: Law Reviews, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2014. Escobar A. 1995, Encountering Development: the Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton/N.J. and Chichester: Princeton University Press. Chapter 1: Introduction: Development and the anthropology of modernity, 3-20. Litonjua, M D 2013 “International Development Economics and the Ethics of the Preferential Option for the Poor,’ Journal of Third World Studies, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 87-119, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2014. Kapoor, I. 2004 “Hyper-self-reflexive development? Spivak on representing the Third World ‘Other’. Third World Quarterly,Vol. 25, No4, pp. 627-47 Ove, P 2013, ‘Governmentality and the Analytics of Development,’ Perspectives on Global Development & Technology, Vol.12, No.½, pp. 310-331, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2014. Padmanabhan, VN 2013, ‘The Human Rights Justification for Consent,’ University of Pennsylvania Journal of International Law, Vol.35, p. 1, LexisNexis Academic: Law Reviews, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2014. Santander, S 2014, ‘The EU and the Shift of Power in the international Order: Challenges and Responses,’ European Foreign Affairs Review, Vol.19, No.1, p. 65, Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File, EBSCOhost, viewed 30 April 2014. Spivak, G. C. 1996 [1993-4] Bonding in difference: interview with Alfred Arteaga. In: Spivak, The Spivak Reader: Selected Works of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. Ed. Donna Landy and Gerald MacLean. Routledge, London and New York, pp.15-28 Read More