Sustainable Development

Form of development that ensures that economic growth, rising living standards, and other types of development can be maintained for the current and for future generations. Sustainable development is domestically acceptable, economically sound, eco-friendly, and culturally sensitive. It embraces the regular types of development—economic, political, social infrastructure, health, and education development—and makes certain that progress in these areas can be continued. Moreover, it includes the replenishment and development of cultural and social resources as well as traditional material ones. It is a form of development that tries to improve the present without compromising the future. The principle of sustainable development recognizes that today's human beings deserve a reasonable standard of living and that future generations should be given the same opportunity.

Development projects that are prompted by outsiders require local acceptance. They should be culturally, socially, and ethically appropriate for the region. Projects might be well intended, and indeed productive, but if they do not obtain buy-in from those in charge, they are not sustainable. As much as possible, however, sustainable development projects and ideas should come from the people (who are most aware of their own needs) and should be run and maintained by them. It is their participation, zeal, and long-term commitment that will keep a particular program running.

Economic sustainability is a major concern. It includes protecting natural and physical resources, as well as implementing sound policies that protect a nation's capital and goodwill resources. In developing countries—which tend to rely heavily on primary economic activities, such as agriculture and extraction—protecting natural resources is very important. Sustainable development argues for crop rotation (which depletes the soil less) and fallowing (allowing the soil to rest).

Sustainable development argues against monocrop-ping, in which farmers plant all their fields with a single cash crop such as peanuts or soybeans. Not only does such monoculture deplete soil, it is economically risky. A farmer is not guarded against loss if the crop is destroyed; and if the market price for the crop is low, the farmer may not be able to earn enough to feed his family—especially as some cash crops, like cotton, are not food. In terms of other natural resources, sustainable development argues against practices like deforestation (particularly in old-growth forests) and overfishing, and it argues in support of replanting and responsible harvesting.

It is likewise important for developing countries to protect their other resources, such as their infrastructure, machinery, and technology. Sustainable development includes the creation of a technological cadre—machinists, technicians, engineers—who have the knowledge and skill to design, build, maintain, and repair infrastructure and other elements of society. [Page 700]Past agricultural development projects, while well intended and productive, were stopped because local people had not been trained in how to fix broken tools or equipment.

Sound economic policies can help sustain all kinds of development within a state. It includes basic maintenance of economic machinery—not overspending; investing income, loan, and grant monies prudently; and keeping the money supply at appropriate levels to prevent inflation or deflation. Privatization, which is occurring in developing countries and is often mandated as part of the loan policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), must be pursued appropriately. The rate at which privatization occurs should not produce excessive unemployment, and it should give the population enough time to learn about private business management. Openness to foreign investment may help grow the economy, but it should be introduced at sustainable levels.

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