Human Development
Social development
Description:
Social development comprises improvement in living standards for the widest social masses; education, housing, health care and related concerns, increase in employment opportunities and improvement in the distribution of income and of social opportunities. Such preoccupations are not only justified social aims, they also improve the physical capability, the capacities and qualifications of man, all of which are of the utmost importance whenever economic progress is concerned. Similarly, the greatest possible involvement of all those able to work, in productive activities or in any other socially useful action, is not only a social objective, it can also have significant economic effects and help to raise man's abilities.Individual development and that of society are intimately linked; however personal self-transformation may seem, it nevertheless resonates in society as a whole. Indeed, personal development may be seen as extending the self in harmony with society and with nature. Integration of the individual with society has been defined as extending the boundary of the self. In this context, society is seen as a network of extended selves. A [human-centred society] favours the individual development of its members, ensuring that such development is equally available to all, that the integrity of other societies is respected and that, while not pursuing a course that will threaten similar opportunities for future generations, those alive at present are not jeopardized for some uncertain benefit yet to come. In such a society economic development is looked on primarily as a means of human enhancement, and human development as a synthesis of individual and societal developments.
The importance of the individual in social development may be demonstrated by the fact that economic efficiency depends primarily on human qualities, a capacity for rational action, innovative ability, energy, etc. Not only is the contribution of each individual of concern, but also the way it expresses itself in the social structure, where it acquires a new dimension and different values. Because of the importance of the human factor in increasing the economic efficiency of each society, the transformation of man (of his behaviour and of his socio-productive features) becomes an important point of concentration in any development strategy. In this way, it becomes possible to harmonize social and economic development objectives. A development strategy oriented towards the transformation of man cannot be implemented simply by increasing social outlays and calling for change. It must assume the form of an integrated programme covering the whole field and all factors affecting man.