Development: Social

Abstract

The concept of social development encompasses at least three connotations developed in the sociological literature. In its most basic form, it is simply defined as improvement in the standard of living of a population. A second approach, while recognizing that the economy constitutes a powerful factor in social development, emphasizes wealth distribution. A third, less economistic, perspective identifies social development with the social differentiation arising from the capitalist and industrial transformations that gave rise to the modern world. This article presents a brief genealogical review of social development, identifies its principal trends and theories, and characterizes the different ‘schools of thought’ in the area of development. Social development is examined in relation to those other overarching concepts: economic and political development. The article identifies three phases in the development of this relationship: an initial optimistic phase in which the goals of social, political, and economic development were seen as inherently compatible; a second phase emphasizing their intrinsically conflictive natures; and a third characterized by a concern to generate policies capable of reconciling those goals.