GEN 214: Introduction to Development Studies ( Section 1, 2 & 3)

Thomas Malthus’ Perspectives on Population and Environment:

Essay on the Principle of Population (1798)

 Population and food supply expand in different ways.

Food supply increases the arithmetically , i. e. with every generation food supply increases the
same amount , by, for example, brining new land into cultivation. This leads to linear pattern of
growth. In contrast, even if the population of children per family remains the same, the
population will grow geometrically because in each generation there will be more people to
have children.
Criticism:
 Didn’t consider the technological contribution to food supply
 Issues of food distribution.

Modernization Approach and Environment:

Green revolution
Industrialization
Urbanization

Limits to Growth:
Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring (1962) emphasized on the environmental side effects of
certain forms of modernization.
DDT issue.
Donella H. Meadow et al. The Limits to Growth (1972) commissioned by the club of Rome, a
non governmental research organizations dealing with global problems.
 Relationship between economic growth and natural environmental at the centre of debate.
 How current development methods would lead to a catastrophe for the human population
in terms of both rapidly declining population and (as predicted by Malthus) and huge
decreases in rates of industrial growth.
  Complex system model which emphasized on five main processes: food supply,
population, pollution, non renewable resources and industrialization.
 Decision about ‘income distribution’ could have significant impact

Concluding Remarks:
 The role of developed countries
 Rather than stopping the development in the south, the resource use must be cut back in
the north and attempts must be made to promote more effective and sustainable
development throughout the world.

Intermediate technology:
E. F. Schumacher Small is Beautiful
Rather than concentrating on maximizing the flows of money and economic growth, Shumacher
argued that economic policies everywhere in the world, should be people centered
Schumacher stressed the use of technology that would employ large numbers of people in
productive activities, particularly in rural areas.

Sustainable Development:

“Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs” (WCED 1987).
‘Sustainable Development enables individuals and communities in underdeveloped regions of the
world to raise living standards through profitable products, consistent with minimizing adverse
environmental effects.’

 Sustainable development is a notion that deals with future generations. It is about the
capabilities of future generations and their options to deal with the problems we presently
have. That is the contribution brought in by the Brundtland Report. The report explained
how environmental destruction would limit forms of economic growth, but also how
poverty and disadvantage contribute to environmental destruction.
 Sustainable development is not limited to material or physical resources, but also about
natural capital. That natural capital is a great good and common good that needs to be
preserved.
 Sustainable development focuses on people centered approach.
 Sustainable Development deals with equity. Equity deals with creation of option.

a) Intra generational equity: Emphasis us to minimize the gap within and between the
nations during the development process..
b) Inter generational equity: Emphasis us to minimize the adverse impact on resource and
environment and suggest us to handover a safe, healthy and resourceful environment to
our future generation.
c) Major components:
a. Environmental
b. Economic
c. Social
d. Political
 Economic sustainability: sustainable livelihoods and improved well-being through
growth and poverty reduction

 Environmental sustainability: Target agricultural land, forests, water resources, protected

areas, and biodiversity, so that opportunities and options of future generations are not
degraded

 Fiscal and institutional sustainability: must be realistic about cost and institutional
requirements of instruments

 Dark Green or Eco-centric approach is much more radical and calls for massive shifts in
the economic and political structures. Much focus on smaller – scale, local forms of
organization.

 Light Green or Technocratic approaches do not involve radical changes in the current
economic and political systems; rather a technological approach is adopted. This may be
 in the form of improved industrial or energy generating systems which reduce pollution
for example.

HAPPY PLANET INDEX

Goal of Sustainable Development:

Achieve a reasonable and equitable distributed level of economic well-being that can be
perpetuated continually for many human generations.

Why Sustainable Development?

 Human presence on a global scale
 Gap between rich and poor
 Global warming
 Unprecedented growth in population and consumption
 Protected energy challenge/crisis
Principles of Sustainable Development:
 Respect and care for community of life
 Must be people centered and improve the quality of life
 Conserve the earths viability and diversity
 Minimize the use of non-renewable resources
 Change the personal attitude and practices
 Enable the environment to care for their own environment
 Provide a national framework for integrating development
 Care a global alliance
If we choose Sustainable development -
 What is needed is development of new concepts that will mold industrial, social
environment interests into an integrated, harmonious system.
 A new paradigm (pattern), an alternative to our present model for society and economy
 Less consumption: (Consumption is worsening inequalities)
a) Less land consumed
b) Driving less & better health, more time
For example:
 Active solar power
 Fosil fuels