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  • Essay / Sociology of Development

    The word “development” is a concept which poses a certain difficulty in determining its extent and its impact. This is due to the different phases and meanings it can take on depending on the situation at any given time. We identify development in social life and human efforts, economies, technological capabilities, etc. This suggests some form of increase or progress; it is a further step compared to a previous state. Development began in 1949, after World War II; The reconstruction of countries was mentioned. Countries that overcame the effects of wars were first world countries, while others were second and third world countries (Escobar, 1995). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violence”. Shouldn't video games be banned? Get the original essayUnfortunately, the concept of development is associated with the Western world, giving rise to developed, developing and underdeveloped countries across the world. This gave a sort of definition to the development; so much so that other countries cannot define the changes or progress they are experiencing because the West has set the parameters for measuring development. As development takes hold and the third world rushes to keep up, some important practices and ways of life become depreciated and, therefore, eradicated over time. These, among other things, are the implications of embracing development as a whole. Therefore, there is a decline and diminution of morals and values ​​which are essential factors in the culture of any human society. Development has been the parameter to ensure global success. First, we see the development earlier, before the wars and how it affected the continents of Africa, Asia and Latin America. These effects are still seen and heard today. One of the solutions proposed by the West to respond to the persistent problems of these continents is development; however, this did not bring the expected result. Rather, it set them back further and created a gap for exploitation and underdevelopment persisted. (Escobar, 1995). Development then became a cover name for various forms of exploitation and dependence. Human and mineral resources are extracted from developing countries due to the demands of the industrialized world, which is high; developed countries keep pace with development, while developing countries lag behind because development possibilities and opportunities are limited. Raw materials and mineral resources are obtained cheaply from developing countries and are processed and transformed into expensive goods. and services in developed countries with their enormous intellectual and technical workforce. This makes the rest of the world (the third world) more dependent on developed countries. There is a fixed image of developing and underdeveloped countries. This portrays them as weak and helps researchers; this is due to the level of education and scientific and technological knowledge which, in turn, leads to the unavailability of progressive ideas that can bring about development. This relationship of dependence goes beyond the dominating power of world powers, but also the exercise of power by their elites. Escobar discussed three axes of development in underdeveloped countries: forms of knowledge, system of power and forms of subjectivity. All this results in: inequalities in the distribution of income, a decline in the economic importance of the middle class, difficulties in changingfamily profession due to social class barriers, insufficient income, persistent world hunger and poverty, a monopoly of business establishment that exploits employees and consumers, increase the per capita income of developed countries. Another strategy developed by the West to solve the problems of the third world (reduction of poverty, improvement of the standard of living) which further reinforces their level of dependence consists of creating organizations such as the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank. They reinforce the dominant and exploitative motivations of the Western world by imposing solutions that are out of sync with their economies and standards of living. (Escobar, 1995) Along the same lines, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. It is easier to trace the flow of money from developing countries to developed countries than to trace the flow of money from developed countries to developing countries. This is why they are still in development; the third world's persistent yearning for more, more efficient, more pleasant and more advanced approaches has placed developed or first world countries at the limit and they have always proven themselves ahead. Questions have arisen about the way forward from the current situation of the world. developing countries; only if developing countries looked inward and harnessed the potential inherent in their cultures and traditions. Escobar gave the example of “the hybrid of cultures in Latin America.” They managed to mix their culture and that of the West; in addition, increased local and political representations will help develop the minds of leaders. Terms like gender equality, sustainability, poverty eradication The capitalist system has imposed a rigid international division of labor that is responsible for the underdevelopment of many parts of the world. Unequal power relations and the discourse of hegemony show this. economic growth in advanced industrialized countries does not necessarily lead to growth in poorer countries (Foucault, 1991). Dependence is a historical condition that has shaped a certain structure of the world economy in such a way that it favors certain countries over others and limits the possibilities for the development of the subordinate economy, a situation in which the economy of a certain group of countries (underdeveloped/developing) is conditioned by the development and expansion of another economy, to which theirs of the developed world is subject. Sen, 1999 proposed another vision and another idea of ​​development. It considers development as a means of freedom and opportunities open to human society. These freedoms contribute to society; he explains that contributory freedom includes: political and social freedom, economic opportunities, transparency, protection and security. Development is not described by income level, but by the willingness of humans to exercise their freedom at all times. Freedom comes through processes and opportunities; processes are the decisions made on development issues, while opportunities are the human capacities to make choices at any time. The term "development" evokes the idea of ​​more, better and progress on the part of the North, but at the same time, they I don't want any of this to be real, otherwise the world would have seen the peripheries become semi -peripheries and semi-peripheries become central, but on the contrary, world hunger continues to increase and developed countries become more and more developed while poor countries become poorer. The countries.