What development theories should account for

Alvin Concha | Sociology of Development | MASOR Gender Studies | Ateneo de Davao University
Submitted to Dr Mae Ursos | 14 January 2006

A few Sunrise Papers back, I have pointed out that the Human Development Index takes
stock measures of life expectancy (to account for long and healthy life), simple literacy
and enrolment ratios (to account for knowledge) and per capita income (to account for
decent economic standard of living).1 In my previous Sunrise Paper, I briefly discussed
how grand theories or metanarratives, from which the elemental concepts of development
are derived, may miss out important nuances in sociological states and thereby reduce the
whole concept of development into a few “independent variables” that tend to be
reductionist at best. I also argued that human affairs have multifarious and intricate
dimensions that are too complex to be contained in one paradigm or theoretical
framework.

The following is a short list of attributes of human affairs that, I believe, “theories,”
“quasi-frameworks” or points-of view in development sociology or should embody.

• Development theories should be able to accommodate the basic human desire to live out life
creatively. Whether the fundamental goal of consequent human actions is utilitarian,
instinctive or simply artistic, the theory should be able to make sense of actions that produce
self gains.

• Theories in development should also begin to acknowledge human phenomena inspired by

rational choice, decision-making and ambition. Many consequences of practice get
established, reproduced and modified by individual or collective decisions and ambitions.
Oftentimes, there need not be economic or political motives in human actions.

• Human interaction, especially the kind that fosters collaboration, reciprocity and shared aims,
should also be a prominent feature in today’s development theories. Collectivized efforts are
rarely equal to the sum of their individual parts. Hence, practice assumes a different quality
and ability to influence culture when it emerges from an environment of human interaction
rather than from individual actors.

• There should also be room for human emotions of happiness, pleasure, suffering, pain, fear
and anger within the ramifications of development theories. Emotions are a powerful driving
force of human actions. Many decisions, actions and even large-scale human phenomena are
consequences of the different kinds of pleasure that people actively seek for.

• Practices that reflect human errors and the actors’ attempts to redress them should also be
given equal importance in a theory, as those that reflect correct execution. Errors, and
rectification of such, are very real and prevalent events in human affairs and development.

1
Human Development Network (2005). Philippine human development report 2005. HDN, UNDP, NZAID.