Database results:
examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Development Strategies
Development strategies are planned approaches that countries use to improve their economic growth and quality of life. Different countries choose different paths depending on their resources, history and goals. Let's explore how countries try to develop and what works best in different situations.
Key Definitions:
There are two main ways countries approach development: from the top down or from the bottom up. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Top-down development is when big projects are planned by governments or large organisations. These often involve large amounts of money and focus on infrastructure like dams, roads and power stations.
Examples: Three Gorges Dam (China), Aswan Dam (Egypt)
Pros: Quick results, visible change, attracts investment
Cons: May ignore local needs, can cause environmental damage, benefits may not reach the poorest
Bottom-up development starts with local communities and focuses on small-scale projects that directly address people's needs. These projects often involve local people in planning and implementation.
Examples: Microfinance schemes, community water projects, local farming cooperatives
Pros: Meets local needs, empowers communities, more sustainable
Cons: Slower results, may lack funding, difficult to scale up
Countries use various strategies to develop. Here are some of the most common approaches:
Many countries try to develop by building up their manufacturing sector. This can create jobs and boost exports.
In the 1960s, South Korea was a poor agricultural country. The government created a strategy focusing on building industries like shipbuilding, steel and electronics. They protected these industries with tariffs while encouraging exports.
Results: South Korea transformed from one of the world's poorest countries to a high-income nation in just 50 years. By focusing on education and technology, they moved from simple manufacturing to high-tech industries.
Challenges: The rapid industrialisation caused pollution and poor working conditions initially. The strategy also created large conglomerates (chaebols) that dominated the economy.
For countries with large rural populations, improving farming can be a key development strategy. This can involve new farming techniques, better seeds and access to markets.
Introduction of high-yield crop varieties, fertilisers and irrigation to boost food production.
Example: India increased wheat production dramatically in the 1960s-70s.
Farming methods that protect the environment while improving yields.
Example: Agroforestry projects in Kenya that combine trees with crops.
Ensuring farmers get fair prices for their products.
Example: Fair trade coffee cooperatives in Latin America.
Many countries with beautiful landscapes or interesting cultures use tourism as a development strategy. This can bring in foreign currency and create jobs.
The Gambia, a small country in West Africa, has developed its tourism sector since the 1960s. The country attracts tourists with its beaches, wildlife and culture.
Benefits: Tourism provides about 20% of The Gambia's GDP and employs thousands of people directly and indirectly. It has led to improved infrastructure in tourist areas.
Challenges: Most profits go to foreign companies that own the hotels. Tourism jobs are often seasonal and low-paid. There are concerns about environmental impacts and cultural changes.
Not all development needs high-tech solutions. Sometimes simpler, locally-appropriate technologies work better.
This approach uses technology that fits the needs and capabilities of local communities. It's often cheaper, easier to maintain and more sustainable than high-tech alternatives.
Examples:
Small-scale renewable energy can bring electricity to remote areas without expensive grid connections.
Examples:
In 2015, all United Nations member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a blueprint for development by 2030. These goals recognise that ending poverty must go together with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality and tackle climate change.
These goals help countries plan development strategies that balance economic growth with social and environmental concerns.
When looking at different development strategies, it's important to consider multiple factors:
Does it create jobs and increase incomes? Is growth sustainable? Who benefits economically?
Does it improve education, health and quality of life? Does it reduce inequality? Does it respect local culture?
Does it protect natural resources? Does it contribute to climate change? Is it sustainable long-term?
Foreign aid can play an important role in development strategies, but its effectiveness depends on how it's used.
Aid given directly from one country to another. This might come with conditions about how it should be spent.
Example: UK aid to Tanzania for education projects
Aid channelled through international organisations like the World Bank or UN agencies.
Example: World Bank loans for infrastructure projects
There's no one-size-fits-all approach to development. Successful strategies usually:
The most successful countries often use a mix of approaches, adapting their strategies as they develop and as global conditions change. What works in one place may not work in another, which is why understanding the specific context is so important.
Log in to track your progress and mark lessons as complete!
Login NowDon't have an account? Sign up here.