The term development has many connotations. It gained prominence in international affairs after World War II. The idea was that developing countries would use aid to prosper and catch up with the industrialised nations. There has been progress, but the promise of catching up has not been fulfilled. Moreover, environmental destruction has become a huge issue. Accordingly, the term development has been at the centre of many controversies. To clarify the concept, the UN added the attributes “human” and “sustainable” in the 1990s. Some critics remain unconvinced nonetheless. A big question is whether development is a western notion that ultimately promotes western interests or whether it stands for striving to promote and safeguard the global common good.
The Focus section pertains to all Sustainable Development Goals as adopted by the UN in 2015.
