Chapter One

Gambella University
Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

Department of Gender & Development Studies
Course Title: Introduction to Development
Studies
December, 2021
1 Introduction to Development Studies Gambella, Ethiopia

CHAPTER ONE:
Evolution and Definition of Development

Studies
Definition of development studies
 Development Studies is an interdisciplinary field of research and teaching
that takes ‘development’ as its central concern.

 Development Studies (also known as ‘international development studies’)
is a multi- and interdisciplinary field of study (i.e. not a discipline) that

seeks to understand social, economic, political, technological and cultural
aspects of societal change, particularly in developing countries.
 Development Studies is characterized also by normative and policy
concerns.
 It aims at contributing to possible solutions to societal problems that
development or its absence may produce.

3 Introduction to Development Studies
 It addresses the processes of social, cultural, ecological,
economic and political change, and also the people,

organizations, practices, and knowledges that engage in
these development-related processes.

History of development studies
The emergence of development studies as an academic discipline in

the second half of the twentieth century is in large part due to:
 Increasing concern about economic prospects for the third
world after decolonisation.
 Aiming to integrate ideas of politics and economics.

Concept and Definition of development
 Development has been defined variously by various scholars.
 There is no universally accepted definition of development.
 Initially, economic growth or development was taken to be
development by some economists. But, economic development is

only one of the dimensions of development.
 Other dimensions of development include socio-cultural
development, human development, environmental development,
political development and technological development.
 The various definitions given by various scholars of
development can be described under two broad categories:

Traditional perspective
Modern perspective

TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVE
 Traditionally, development was understood as an increase
in per capita income, national income, economic welfare

and positive change in economic structure.
 All the definitions based on such criteria as per capita
income, national income, economic welfare and economic

structure fall under the traditional view of economic
development.

 Until 1960s, the concept of economic development considering per
capita income and national income as parameters of economic

development was popular.
 But, after 1960 s, some economists such called into question such a
narrow concept of economic development. They argued that such a

concept glosses over (ignores) distribution of means and resources.
 According to them, it is not appropriate to consider an increase in
per capita income and national income as economic development if

such social problems as poverty, inequality and unemployment exist
in the country.

MODERN PERSPECTIVE
 According to modern view of development or economic
development, development is an improvement in quality of

life of people.
 Todaro defines development as the gamut (set) of changes
such as acceleration of economic growth, reduction of

inequality, eradication of poverty, etc. that leads to the
transformation of unsatisfactory condition of life into
materially and spiritually better condition of life.

 Anyhow, generally the literal meaning of development is “an
increase or improvement from lesser level or position to a higher

level or position”.
 The term development contains diverse and varied elements.
 There is no single definition of development.
 Different definitions of development given by different scientists
are:
 According to Amartya Sen , 1995 “Social Development is
equality of social opportunities”.

Fried Mann:
 Defines development: “As an innovative process leading to the
structural transformation of social system”.
According to W. Elkan:
 “A process which makes people, in general, better off by
increasing their command over goods and services and by

increasing the choices open to them”.

 Development is a process of improving the wellbeing of the
people.
 It is about raising the standard of living of the people, improving
their education and health and also opening out to them new and
equal opportunities for richer and more varied life.
 Better Health- A longer life with less sickness is a crucial to better
standard of living

Dimensions of Development
I. Political Development:
 May be defined as the capacity of the political system to deal with
its own fundamental problems more effectively while responding to

the changing political demands of the people.
 Gabriel A. Almond defines political development in terms of
performance capabilities.

The political component of development seems to be
consists of,
 Increasing rationality
 Secularization
 Equality and
 Participation in the political system

II. Economic Development
Essential components of economic development are:
1. Raising National income (Total earnings of resource suppliers

during a given period of time)
2. Reducing poverty and
3. More equitable distribution of wealth and income.

Main features of Economic development:
 Economic development is a dynamic process
 Economic development is a long-term phenomenon: Economic
development is not a miracle which can be performed in a short

span of time.
 Economic development is measured by the real per-capita income.
 Economic development is the quantitative as well as qualitative
improvement in the variables.

 It implies growth plus change.
III. Social Development
Social development lays stress on,

 Provision of health services
 Education
 Housing
 Protection of children
 A change in the status of women
 Improved status for workers and
 Reduction of disease, poverty and other social ills.

Three Core Values of Development
Three basic components or core values serve as a conceptual basis and

practical guideline for understanding the inner meaning of
development. These core values are:
1. Sustenance: The Ability to Meet Basic Needs: These life-

sustaining basic human needs include food, shelter, health, and
protection.
When any of these is absent or in critically short supply, a
condition of “absolute underdevelopment” exists.

2. Self-Esteem: To Be a Person: A second universal component of
the good life is self-esteem—a sense of worth and self-respect, of not
being used as a tool by others for their own ends.
 All peoples and societies seek some basic form of self-esteem,
although they may call it authenticity, identity, dignity, respect,

honor, or recognition.
 The feeling of worthiness that a society enjoys when it’s social,
political, and economic systems an institution promote human

values such as respect, dignity, integrity, and self determination.

3. Freedom from Servitude: To Be Able to Choose
 A situation in which a society has at its disposal a variety of
alternatives from which to satisfy its wants and individuals

enjoy real choices according to their preferences.

Three Objectives of Development
1. To increase the availability and widen the distribution of basic

life-sustaining goods such as food, shelter, health, and protection
2. To raise levels of living, including, in addition to higher incomes,

the provision of more jobs, better education, and greater attention
to cultural and human values, all of which will serve not only to
enhance material wellbeing but also to generate greater individual
and national self-esteem.

3. To expand the range of economic and social choices
 available to individuals and nations by freeing them from
servitude and dependence not only in relation to other

people and nation-states but also to the forces of ignorance
and human misery.

Key Terminologies of development studies
Gross National Income (GNI)
 The total domestic and foreign output claimed by residents of a
country. It comprises gross domestic product (GDP) plus factor
incomes accruing to residents from abroad
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
 The total final output of goods and services produced by the
country’s economy, within the country’s territory, by residents and
nonresidents, regardless of its allocation between domestic and
foreign claim
Income per capita
 Total gross national income of a country divided by total population.

Role of Women in Development
To make the biggest impact on development, societies
must empower and invest in women

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Gambella University

Faculty of Social Science and Humanities

1 Introduction to Development Studies Gambella, Ethiopia

Evolution and Definition of Development

 Development Studies is an interdisciplinary field of research and teaching

that takes ‘development’ as its central concern.

is a multi- and interdisciplinary field of study (i.e. not a discipline) that

development or its absence may produce.

economic and political change, and also the people,

5 Introduction to Development Studies

The emergence of development studies as an academic discipline in

6 Introduction to Development Studies

 Development has been defined variously by various scholars.

 There is no universally accepted definition of development.

 Initially, economic growth or development was taken to be

development by some economists. But, economic development is

development can be described under two broad categories:

8 Introduction to Development Studies

 Traditionally, development was understood as an increase

in per capita income, national income, economic welfare

income, national income, economic welfare and economic

9 Introduction to Development Studies

capita income and national income as parameters of economic

narrow concept of economic development. They argued that such a

per capita income and national income as economic development if

10 Introduction to Development Studies

development, development is an improvement in quality of

such as acceleration of economic growth, reduction of

11 Introduction to Development Studies

increase or improvement from lesser level or position to a higher

 There is no single definition of development.

 Different definitions of development given by different scientists

equality of social opportunities”.

12 Introduction to Development Studies

structural transformation of social system”.

increasing their command over goods and services and by

13 Introduction to Development Studies

14 Introduction to Development Studies

its own fundamental problems more effectively while responding to

15 Introduction to Development Studies

 Participation in the political system

16 Introduction to Development Studies

Essential components of economic development are:

1. Raising National income (Total earnings of resource suppliers

2. Reducing poverty and

3. More equitable distribution of wealth and income.

17 Introduction to Development Studies

 Economic development is a long-term phenomenon: Economic

development is not a miracle which can be performed in a short

 Economic development is the quantitative as well as qualitative

improvement in the variables.

Social development lays stress on,

 A change in the status of women

 Improved status for workers and

 Reduction of disease, poverty and other social ills.

19 Introduction to Development Studies

Three basic components or core values serve as a conceptual basis and

1. Sustenance: The Ability to Meet Basic Needs: These life-

condition of “absolute underdevelopment” exists.

20 Introduction to Development Studies