Origins of Theories of Development

Holly Scheib, MPH MSW

ContextContext What IS development?

What IS social work?

What IS health?

Medieval Medieval Period/FeudalismPeriod/Feudalism

5th-14th centuries: church in control of society

Feudalism: political, economic, and social systems; land the source of power

Medieval Worldview Circular, fatalistic Faith, superstition Famine, disease are inevitable Social conditions are fixed

The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment European literary and philosophical movement, 1660-

1770

The “Age of Reason”

Belief in the powers of reason to understand nature and guide the human existence

The essential equality and dignity of all people and in basic human rights to freedom and happiness

Overcome superstition, deception, tyranny and oppressive traditions

A humane and rational approach to the organization of human life and society

An emphasis on moderation, proportion, balance (music, art, architecture

Enlightenment…Enlightenment… Progress is possible… through SCIENCE

Human intervention in history is directed towards steady and unlimited improvement in the human condition

Contract with medieval circular, fatalistic views (e.g.: famine and disease are not inevitable, not natural)

Enlightenment Metaphor: THE CLOCK

Enlightenment…Enlightenment… “Mechanistic” worldview

Isaac Newton’s universe Rene Descartes: Cartesian coordinates

Natural laws that can be discovered through empirical observation and rational thought Scientific method: “Truth” vs. tradition,

religious edicts

Means more freedom, possibilities for improving lives

Introduces the “Modern” age (vs. Medieval and “Post-Modern”)

WorldviewWorldview The general understanding a community

possesses about the world in which it exists.

A set of commonly held values, ideas, and images concerning the nature of reality and the role of humanity within it.

Comprehensive meaning system, providing a frame of reference (often unconscious) for interpreting the world.

RationalityRationality … the quality of being consistent with or

based on logic…

… the state of having good sense and sound judgment…

Many types… depends on the context. Scientific, technical, instrumental, political, communicative, economic…

TheoryTheory Systematic set of propositions to explain

and predict the world

Has testable hypothesis

Emerges from modern enlightenment science and social science

Vs. IdeologyVs. Ideology A body of ideas that reflects the beliefs and

interests of a group, society, nation, political system, etc., and underlies political action

A relatively coherent system of values, beliefs, or ideas shared by some social group and often taken for granted as natural or inherently true

… ideologies continually in conflict within any society; at any given point, however, certain ones are always dominant.

Is taken for granted and not always challenged.

Paradigm(s)Paradigm(s) From Greek: paradeigma, which means

“model, pattern, example”

a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind (Merriam Webster)

… explains the world to us and helps us to predict its behavior. When we are in the middle of the paradigm, it is hard to imagine any other paradigm

“A paradigm is a framework of thought… a scheme for understanding and explaining certain aspecs of reality” (Marilyn Ferguson)

Modern ParadigmModern Paradigm Post-Descartes period with emphasis on

individualism, the intellect, the universality of judgment, and the consequence of adopting these features

Replacing faith in superstition with faith in science and objectivity could build us a better world

Objective and factual language

Optimistic worldview: human reason and science are sufficient to understand the world and solve its problems

Modern Economic Modern Economic GrowthGrowth

Debating 18th century Schools of Thought

Mercantilism: Trade = fundamental source of wealth Natural tendency of mercantilism is to produce

wealth

“Physiocrats”: ruled by nature (Adam Smith) “First economic theory” Examined economy as machine Wealth came from land, use of it Gov’t interference hinders “natural laws”

governing the economy Laissez faire policies, liberalization of markets

Classical TheoristsClassical Theorists David Ricardo: Comparative Advantage

Differential relative price of labor, production leads to cheaper & more products through specialization, trade

Adam Smith: “invisible hand” Hand guides markets (supply, demand,

selfishness) Specialization and industrialization of process

Jeremy Bentham: Utilitarianism Cost-benefit analysis “public good” = aggregate

of individual welfare

(~late 18th, early 19th centuries)

Classical to Classical to NeoClassicalNeoClassical

Classical economics Attention to wealth of nations & overall

societal wellbeing

Neo-classical economics (mid 19th C) Mathematical, ahistorical

Walras, Pareto Individual behavior, supply-demand, micro-

economics Flawed assumptions

Perfect markets, no transaction costs…

Blow to Lassiez FaireBlow to Lassiez Faire

2020thth Century Economic Century Economic GrowthGrowth

Great Depression

Keynesian demand-side economics Gov’t spending New “paradigm” for “development”

WWII, Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan

Field of Development Economics

The rise of The rise of development development

economicseconomics Demand-side: government intervention in

the economy Civilian Conservation Corps, Tennessee Valley

Authority

Lewis “Dual Model”

Gunnar Myrdal “Cumulative Causation”

Albert Hirschmann “Unbalanced Growth”

Perroux: Growth Poles

Dudley Seers

A Dominant A Dominant Paradigm…Paradigm…

… in modernization and development economics:

Stages of Growth (Rostow: Anti-communist manifesto) 5 linear stages of evolution

Traditional Society Preconditions for take-off Take off Drive to Maturity High Mass Consumption

How? Some StrategiesHow? Some Strategies Economic growth & development

Specialization, industrialization Foreign trade Mobilize savings and investment

Social & Cultural development Education Social policies Government bureaucracy Urbanization

Indicators of Indicators of modernization?modernization?

Economic Comparative advantage & trade Rapid growth Industrialization (sectoral change) Investment Exports

Social-cultural change Education growth Urbanization Family Size Achievement orientation Secular Values Consumption

Next ClassNext Class Healy, L. (2009). Chapter 2, Theories and Concepts

Underpinning International Social Work: Globalization. In: International Social Work: Professional Action in an Interdependent World, Second Edition. Oxford University Press. Pages 25-51.

Elder, L. and Paul, R. (2009). Asking Essential Questions. Dillon Beach, California: The Foundation for Critical Thinking. Introduction and Part I, pages 3-20.

Key Concepts: Globalization, Structural Adjustment, Trade, Debt