Meaning and Concept of Development
Unit-1: 1.1
This course is all about how Communication is used in order to bring about Development in the world. Development is basically an empowerment of people, community and the entire society at large to contribute to their own growth and a better living in union with nature and the cosmos at large.
Development Communication is a subject in the field of communication that highlights the role played by Communication and Communication tools in the role of providing information and knowledge that leads to the socio-political and economic development of individuals, communities and the nation at large. In Development Communication, tools of Communication play a vital role in promoting and understanding the varied nuances that can contributed to a better living in society.
Before understanding Development Communication, let us primarily look at the word Development.
Etymologically, the word development is traced to a word used in the 1650s, from French développer. And it meant to ‘unroll or unfold’. It also finds its traces in the English word ‘disvelop’ (1590s) and French ‘desveloper’. However, this connotation is no more used and is considered obsolete. Following the year, 1750, the modern understanding emerged and it started to mean “unfold more fully, bring out the potential in” “come gradually into existence or operation” or “advance from one stage to another toward a finished state” (Online Etymology Dictionary) [1]. The meaning gradually turned to at state of growth or a state of advancement. In different subjects the word ‘development’ has a different connotation and meaning. For instance, in Photography the word develop is used in the context of developing a camera roll. We look at the word ‘development’ in the connect of Communication.
Initially the concept of Development meant a fast and drastic change brought about by an economic development on the foundations of Westernisation, Mechanisation and Modernisation. This concept of development was perpetrated by the rich and wealthy nations.
In economic terms, development has been understood as achieving sustainable rates of growth of income per capita to enable the nation to expand its output faster than the population (Todaro and Smith 2011). However, the above development focussed only on Economic growth and not on an all-round development of all citizens irrespective of their backgrounds, castes, culture, community, tribe, social or economic status.
Such a development may have increased industrialisation, but created an adverse impact on environment. Mass industrialisation led to labour exploitation, environment degradation and while it created a few jobs, it deprived many farmers of an environment on which they were dependent for their basic needs. Many of the market forces also destroyed traditional methods of farming and fishing and introduced newer methods using Chemical fertilisers and pesticides that may have had initial success but caused harm both to the soil and the consumer of the food. Fertile land was diverted towards industrial production and economically useful purposes which further led to increase in poverty. In many places, due to massive industrialisation and mining, fertile land was left barren and water levels were at an all-time low or polluted.
Over the period of years, this kind of a development only contributed to a disparity between the rich and the poorer or developing nations. Development which was done in the name of modernising the backward countries and using Mass Media to promote such a development was unsuccessful in bringing about a healthy development course. The dependent countries continued to be dependent. It did not decrease poverty, rather increased it. This concept of development was gradually opposed and a newer concept of Development emerged.
The economic Model was thoroughly questioned and a Participatory Model was promulgated that included the development of all peoples. This concept received a gradual thrust with environment consciousness. Today, the concept of Development has changed and it caters to everyone’s well-being. It envelops the betterment of Human and Creation as it includes Sustainability.
The ‘Society for International Development (SID), Israel’ defines Development as “a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components.” (SID Israel, 2018) Development today, is seen in a holistic manner that concerns the development and growth of not just humanity but nature as well. ‘Sustainability’ or eco-friendliness is an integral part of Development.
Other scholars have defined Development in the following ways:
A general definition stresses development as attempts to reduce poverty and world inequalities in an effort to guide the world to a situation of betterment and improvement over time (Potter, Binns, Elliott & Smith, 2008).[2]
Amartya Sen, developed the “capability approach,” which defined development as a tool enabling people to reach the highest level of their ability, through granting freedom of action, i.e., freedom of economic, social and family actions, etc. (SID Israel, 2018)[3]
According to Dr. Adebayo Oyebade, (2001), development means simply the ability of a nation to create a viable political and economic system capable of bringing growth and advancement to a nation. This means sustainable democracy, effective bureaucracy, accountability in public service, social justice and human rights, and a sound economy capable of providing better life for the great majority of the masses.[4]
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, 1997; 2010) describes development as “the three essentials of development which include the ability to lead a long and healthy life, to acquire knowledge, and to have a decent standard of life”.[5]
Dissanayake (1981) defines development as the process of social change which as its goal entails the improvement in the quality of life of all people without doing violence to the natural and cultural environment in which they exist and which seeks to involve the generality of the people as closely as possible in this enterprise, making them the masters of their own destiny.[6]
The Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, for example, has stated that "development is a whole; it is an integral, value loaded, cultural process; it encompasses the natural environment, social relations, education, production, consumption, and well-being."[7]
Singhal and Rogers (2001) note "Development is a widely participatory process of directed social change in a society, intended to bring about both social and material advancement (including greater equality, freedom, and other valued qualities) for the majority of people through their gaining greater control over their environment." (available on shodhganga)
Deborah Eade specifies that “Development is about women and men becoming empowered to bring about positive changes in their lives; about personal growth together with public action; about both the process and the outcome of challenging poverty, oppression, and discrimination; and about the realization of human potential through social and economic justice. Above all, it is about the process of transforming lives, and transforming societies.”
Servaes, J. and Malikhao, P. (2002) summarise various scholars and provide the following criteria for a unique development
- Basic needs: being geared to meeting human, material and non-material, needs.
- Endogenous: stemming from the heart of each society, which defines in sovereignty its values and the vision of its future.
- Self-reliance: implying that each society relies primarily on its own strength and resources in terms of its members’ energies and its natural and cultural environment.
- Ecology: utilizing rationally resources of the biosphere in full awareness of the potential of local ecosystems, as well as the global and outer limits imposed on present and future generations.
- Participative democracy as the true form of democracy: not merely government of the people and for the people, but also, and more fundamentally, ‘by the people’ at all levels of society.
- Structural changes to be required, more often than not, in social relations, in economic activities and in their spatial distribution, as well as in the power structure, so as to realize the conditions of self-managements and participation in decision-making by all those affected by it, from the rural or urban community to the world as a whole.[8] (Servaes, J. & Malikhao, P. 2002)
Development entails a change for betterment in the quality of life of people in a country and a positive approach towards nature. Development necessitates a growth that is education oriented, politically aware of its rights, socially active, environmentally conscious, economically stable and does not propagate a Social inequality based on Caste, Creed, Race or Gender Discrimination.
PURPOSE OF DEVELOPMENT
Development should cater to address every strata of people in society and not a chosen few and this is the primary purpose of Development. Another important element that cannot be avoided is the fact that often in the course of development ‘Nature’ is harmed. Development today includes Sustainability and protection of Environment.
There are many indicators of a country that needs Development. These include, Poverty, Malnutrition among kids, Death rate in the country, Illiteracy, Social inequality, Low productivity, Unequal access to Natural and Biological resources, Job Scarcity, Nature degradation and Foreign Debts.
Therefore, as rightly mentioned by SID ISRAEL, “The purpose of development is a rise in the level and quality of life of the population, and the creation or expansion of local, regional income and employment opportunities, without damaging the resources of the environment. ” (SID Israel, 2018)
[1] https://www.etymonline.com/word/develop
[2] A. A. Salami, S. L. Tilakasiri and Y. A. Ahmed, The Indicators And Indices Of Development, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324005468, Downloaded: 27.07.2020
[3] https://www.sid-israel.org/en/Development-Issues/What-is-Development, Downloaded: 25.07.2020
[4] NIILM University notes, http://niilmuniversity.in/coursepack/media/Development_Communication.pdf, niilmuniversity.in › media › Development_Communication, Downloaded: 25.07.2020
[5] A. A. Salami, S. L. Tilakasiri and Y. A. Ahmed, The Indicators And Indices Of Development, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324005468, Downloaded: 27.07.2020
[6] http://rccmindore.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Development-Communication-BAMC-VI-Sem.pdf, Downloaded: 25.07.2020
[7] Quoted in Vincent Rigby, July 1993, developed and developing countries:promoting equitable development, Political and Social Affairs Division, http://publications.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/bp347-e.htm#(2) Downloaded: 14.01.2019
[8] Jan Servaes & Patchanee Malikhao, 2002, Chapter 7. Development Communication Approaches in an International Perspective. In:SERVAES, J. (ed.), Approaches to Development Communication, Paris: UNESCO, http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/approaches_to_development_communication.pdf
Congratulations Michelle. It will be really useful to the students.
ReplyDeleteThank you Fr Jose, Very kind of you to comment!
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