SOC354H5 Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Development Theory and Reality.docx
Document Summary
Development was defined philosophically as the improvement of humankind. European elites viewed development practically to social engineer emerging national societies of the non-european world (e. g. balancing technological change and class formation with social intervention) Development was a power relationship between colonial subjects and its european rulers. It introduced new class and racial hierarchies within and across societies. Development project is based on the ideal of self-governing states made up of citizens united by their sense of nationalism; focuses on self-maximizing consumers. Development policy holds that markets maximize individual preferences and allocate resources efficiently. Self-gain is realized as consumer preference in the market and drives the aspiration for improvement. To make market behaviour natural, other human attributes suffer. In rostow"s the stages of economic growth", he outlines a linear sequence of development. Depends on political context; markets couldn"t be natural as to not need maintenance; it needs an institution to nurture it.
