Abstract
After more than six decades, the growth-oriented development strategy has failed to develop people’s essential well-being, social equality and better quality of socio-cultural life. United Nations called it: jobless, ruthless, rootless, voiceless, and futureless growth (UNDP, 1997). Recently, several new development approaches has been introduced, such as People-Centered Development, MDGs, Human Development, but those approaches are proposing more for the enhancement of some “social sectors”, rather than being oriented into developing a “good society”. Herewith, in this article a more sociological conceptualization of social development is introduced by emphasizing that developing human being has to be done through developing the basic elements of social life, namely structure, culture and process of the society. The purpose of this paper is to propose and discuss the new and the more sociological concept of social development. An action research has been conducted to explore some empirical evidence of social development practices implemented in Surakarta city as an illustration.
Highlights
The Crisis of “Developmentalism”The growth-oriented development concept has failed in developing people’s essential well-being, social equality, inclusiveness and good society
The social development in Surakarta City is rooted in Mayor Jokowi’s value system of “inclusive” economy which he promoted during political campaign when he runs as a mayor candidate
Jokowi’s administration has consistently translated the vision-mission into some other structural re-arrangement: (a) a policy that shopping center and mall development is not a priority, while the street vendors (PKL) accomodation is the top priority; (b) the implementation of street vendors empowerment is done in accordance with the effort to promote Solo as an eco-cultural city; (c) budget restructuration is done to support the implementation of street vendors relocation program; (d) dialog is the best way to communicate the program, any form of repressive action is not allowed; (e) various forms of PKL relocation program management has been set up, including budget restructuration, formulation of standard operation procedure (SOP), Implementation Manuals and Technical Guidelines, and data collection
Summary
The growth-oriented development concept has failed in developing people’s essential well-being, social equality, inclusiveness and good society. This approach has created a jobless growth (unable to provide sufficient and dignified employment), ruthless growth (growth that is producing poverty and increasing social gaps), rootless (un-rooted economic development to local community and destroying the local tradition and cultural values), voiceless (no people’s aspirations are heard, undemocratic and non-participative) and futureless (destroying the environmental sustainability) (UNDP, 1997). Korten (1990) has identified that the development approach has produced three major global crises: violence, poverty, and environmental damage. This so called “developmentalism” is too much technocratic, too materially oriented, perceive human beings as “one dimensional” and reduce them as an “object” of development. We definitely need a more sociologically substantive, clear cut, workable and measurable Social Development concept
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
