CCTS
Newsletter 9

Economic and social development and inclusion

The group recognised the huge scope of this topic. In an initial overview, the point was discussed that there are many levels to economic development and that they include global, national and local economies. These levels are inter-related and impact on one another.

Experience in the group indicated that resource wars tend on the face of it to be zero sum games, with little room for compromise or negotiation. Resources are a key to economic growth of any kind and thus resource wars are particularly complicated to deal with. In our experience, however, few wars are solely about resources, as many other elements become part of an escalating conflict. However, if access to resources is the fundamental requirement of survival, and such access is prevented, then violence is likely to be used as a tool to regain access.

Economic growth - a term which is commonly used but rarely explored, and is based on the assumption that it is a 'good thing' - does involve the issue of distribution. If investment is to promote peaceful change rather than oppressive regimes, unjust economic structures have to be challenged to ensure the 'proper application' of resources. Again, the term 'proper application' is politically loaded and can mean different things to different people. As our emphasis was on creating a stable society in which the mass of the people flourish rather than the few, we regarded distribution as a key issue. Another was the need for special attention to be paid to women's economic development as they play a key economic role and use funds for credit schemes more efficiently and productively than men. Governance and the use of state power require fiscal policies that include taxation to pay for the infrastructure to meet the needs of citizens. Tax raising powers require monitoring and stability of income.

Local leadership has an impact on the social development of any community. We have observed patterns of international investment which either exploit or ignore local human resources and expectations. The question is whether the West, in promoting development, is simply trying to further its own agenda rather than listening to and acting on the needs of people.

How do we, as agencies or as activists, honestly respond to people's needs when they contradict what we think may be good for them? For our group, broad-based development at local levels was seen as a constructive way forward. This would include education, the establishment and practice of legal norms, the training of the police and the inclusion of minorities and the disadvantaged in social and political programmes. The group discussed briefly the fact that trade transcends ethnic boundaries and could be seen as a model for encouraging people to focus on their common needs rather than on their differences.

We looked at what economically developed nations are doing, particularly EU development aid to micro-credit schemes, and noted the growth of interest in ethical trading and fair trade co-operatives. These can provide models for future sustainable patterns of economic growth and social development.

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