Human Development: A Comparative Analysis of the 20th and 21st Centuries

To define the term ‘Development’ is a complex phenomenon, and what it connotes is subjective as well as relative. It is subjective as people can have multifaceted conceptual understanding of the term, whereas it is relative as it signifies varied aspects during different historical epochs.

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In simple words, development means the process in which someone or something grows or changes and becomes more advanced. 

WHAT DID DEVELOPMENT MEAN IN THE 20th CENTURY?

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defines Human Development as “the basic objective of development is to create an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives.” This article aims to do a comparative analysis of understanding the term ‘human development’ in the timelines of the 20th and the 21st century.

The 20th century witnessed rapid growth in industrialisation, and made advancement towards modernisation as cities and urban centres flourished. During this period, the economy prominently experienced the transition from primary sector to secondary sector.

With growth in industrial centres, people migrated from their hometowns and settled in these centres. These centres transformed into urban centres, attracting people for better employment, education, and lifestyles. This phenomenon of urbanisation contributed to economic development, and expanded trade and commerce.

The main factor that contributed towards this development is the thriving economic development. Taking the example of Bombay in the 19th and 20th century, rural populations from Konkan, and surrounding areas of the Bombay Presidency migrated to the city. The objective was to attain considerable development in their lives in terms of economic growth, social mobility, etc.

However, the city life, though economically thriving, lacked in few crucial aspects such as culture, comforts, clean environment, etc. Therefore, in the 20th century, development was predominantly understood in economic terms.

It lacked to broaden its spectrum into political, social, cultural, and environmental aspects. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) became synonymous with development, and still exists as a benchmark to measure development. The countries across the globe, mostly the ones burdened by colonisation, and the ones with traditional setting, aimed to follow the methodology of industrialised western nations in order to advance economically and socially. 

TRANSITORY PHASE

By the end of the 20th century, political aspects entered into the domain of development when the concept of ‘good governance’ became centre of the discourse. It discussed crucial issues like human rights, and paid emphasis on democratic institutions and the rule of law.

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Therefore, the political domain got a substantial centrality into the ambit of development. In the 1990s, the United Nations defined development as inclusive of economic as well as social aspects, and Human Development Index (HDI) was created to evaluate countries' performance based upon three factors. These include a long and healthy life, access to education, and a decent standard of living. Hence, the emphasis on social aspects became an important stakeholder in the spectrum of development.

EVOLUTION OF THE TERM ‘DEVELOPMENT’ IN 21ST CENTURY

In the wake of the 21st century, technology proliferated across the globe. It made the international community interconnected, so much so that McLuhan called the world a ‘global village.’

Exchange of perspectives, opinions, etc., opened an avenue for introspection of what real development is. This contemplation translated into thinking about what is around us and within us. The shift was indeed important, as the globe became more aware of environmental issues and took strides towards sustainable development. The sustainable development goals drafted in 2015 signify the importance, environment weighs in human lives.

One witnesses the shift in individualism in the 21st century, where things need to be centred around a human. Community perspective lost its relevance as the individual started to focus on his/her own growth in terms of economic, social, etc. Traditional value system lost its relevance and individuality seeped into the mindset of the population. The belief in individualism persists, however, its importance dwindled after the outbreak of Covid-19 virus.

This pandemic at the end of two decades of the 21st century, made people realise that being in a family and in a community are equally important for human growth. Most importantly, the focus shifted towards mental health. The pandemic made people realise the vulnerability caused due to individualistic attitudes.

Hence, by the end of it, a new renaissance began, and this time the developmental aspects included not just economic, political, and social, but also psychological and cultural. People became more keen to go back to their roots and embrace their innate nature. Many restarted pursuing their old dreams and passions, and started to prioritise their well-being and that of others.

The concept of development is still relative and subjective, however, with time it has evolved and accommodated the important aspects that were crucial during these transitions. Therefore, the wheel of life needs to evolve with changing times, by adapting changes accordingly. This is how societies grow and advance. This is how development still remains as the primary attribute of our lives. 

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BY ARYA GHADIGAONKAR   

TEAM GEOSTRATA

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