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2 - Development and development cooperation theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2010

Nicolien van der Grijp
Affiliation:
VU University, Amsterdam
Joyeeta Gupta
Affiliation:
VU University, Amsterdam
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Summary

Introduction

Since this book is about development, sustainable development and development cooperation, this chapter examines these complex issues and their interlinkages. While some see development as measurable by gross national product (GNP), others argue that development is much more complex. Whereas sustainable development has been embraced by the scientific community (e.g. the IPCC), the political community (e.g. the Climate Convention and the Rio Declaration of 1992) and the private sector (e.g. as part of corporate social responsibility), its content is often not clear. Although development cooperation appears to be entrenched in the psyche of countries and in international law (Cárdenas et al., 1995), others focus on aid fatigue and call for its ending (Ruyter, 2005).

This chapter examines how the development literature has evolved over time, the evolution of the sustainable-development literature and why most DCs are still developing after 50 years of theory and practice (see Section 2.2). It examines the evolution of the development cooperation literature, the motives for providing assistance, the debate on the effectiveness of aid, the modalities of aid and the problems with aid (see Section 2.3). Finally, it makes recommendations (see Section 2.4) and draws conclusions (see Section 2.5).

Development theory

Introduction

This section discusses the evolution of development theory, the evolution of sustainable development and why popular images about how countries should develop are fading in the light of the reality.

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