Facilitator:
Development is a concept that has presented contentious meaning in the contemporary world. In the current era of economic hardship, the idea of development can better be defined in relation to the status of the involved subjects. Particularly, the concept of is essentially dependent on people’s beliefs and assumptions. The western world is considered to have the best political and economic structures in the world. In this context, western assumptions and beliefs on development have entirely affected how the global community defines this concept (Hulme and Wilkinson, 2012). The paper explores an argument that western assumptions and ideas have dominated perspective on what development entails or should mean.
The concept of development in the European countries focuses on high gross domestic product, characterized by high per capita income. The income per head only increases when people who are employed are earning salaries and wages that are high enough to compensate for the unemployed group. Postcolonial states have a tendency pushing people to demand salaries that they belief employees of their level should get. The development theories in most countries thus base emphasize the idea of good employee remuneration, which is characteristic of the labor laws in most European economies (Sachs, 1992). Furthermore, the concept of women and development leadership that traces its root to the western world is spreading to the global community. Male dominance in the corporate world is currently facing serious criticism. This has resulted from the adoption of the concept of equality that is popular in the western world (Kothari and Minogue, 2002). At the same time, the tax systems in most of the countries are a blueprint of the European markets. Taxation rates are relatively high with the view that such taxes will be directed to development projects.
The nature of development in most parts of the world, especially in the third world countries rely on investments from the European countries. The capital grounds in the third world countries do not allow people to invest in extensive development projects, which result to overreliance on foreign investment (Lerner, 1958). Upon launching their activities in the new environments, the western economies introduce their model of business in the third world countries. In essence, they run businesses that reflect what happens in the European markets. This highlights how western economies contributed to the idea of development since less developed countries are left with no option rather than following what their pre-colonial masters belief. Over dependence on these, developed economies limit less-developed economies from adopting a different perspective since they must appeal to the developed western economies to attract investments on their support.
Europe and European markets consider development as means of eradicating factors that cause underdevelopment. This involves poverty eradication through the mega million-development plans. Most of the countries have adopted this assumption as they prioritize the idea of eradicating poverty in order to be rated as high in terms of economic development. Adoption of the Western doctrines is apparent as in most capitalist markets; the pattern of male-dominated corporate world is fading out. Women are assuming development and leadership roles, a clear indication that such economies are wandering away from the chauvinist tendencies common in the postcolonial era (Frank, 1966). Women and young people now take top leadership roles especially in the liberal economies. This results from women empowerment, an idea popularized by the western culture.
It is apparent that aspects of European perspectives and assumptions towards the idea of development are currently informing developmental strategies in the global community. European systems control the tax, employment and poverty eradication systems in most of the economies. In this context, stating that the idea of what development means, or should mean, is dominated by western assumptions and concepts is rational.
References
Frank, A. G. (1966). The development of underdevelopment. Boston: New England Free Press. Gunder,
Hulme, D., and Wilkinshon R. (2012). The Millennium Development Goals and Beyond: Global Development after 2015. New York: Routledge
Kothari, U., & Minogue, M. (2002). Development theory and practice: Critical perspectives. New York: Palgrave.
Lerner, D. (1964). The passing of traditional society: modernizing the Middle East. New York: Free Press of Glencoe.
Sachs, W. (1992). The development dictionary: A guide to knowledge as power. London u.a: Zed Books.
