Development perspectives for the 1980s

Since the sixties the Third World has been articulating its disenchantment with the reigning theory and associated practice of development. The promises held out by it did not materialize and there was little in the emerging situation to offer hope. The counterpoints in the debate sought to redefine the objectives of development and suggest alternative strategies. This led to a major paradig matic shift.

Development can no longer be under stood as the pursuit of an ever higher GNP. Its essence lies in changing the quality of life. A frontal attack on poverty is indicated, together with attention to the problems of population, food, and energy. For the success of development strategies, human resources must be mobilized and patterns of participatory planning and implementa tion evolved. The management of change has become so vexed that deve lopment alone cannot handle it. A new vision must inform development thinking and action if the survival of humankind is to be ensured.

This succinct overview, prepared after an international conference at the United Nations Asian and Pacific Deve lopment Centre, highlights the main issues in the contemporary development debate. The profile that it presents is grim but not without hope.