8.10C - Economic Growth as Success
For other countries, success is measured in terms of economic growth, with less attention to holistic development (human well-being) or human rights and the development of democratic institutions.
In some countries, the success of foreign aid, military interventions to end conflict and trade embargoes or sanctions is measured by subsequent economic growth rather than an improvement in human rights or a growth in democracy. The concept of holistic development (in all aspects of quality of life, not just one or two) where many aspects of human well-being are improved at the same time, is seen as less important than improving wealth and incomes.
In some ways, this makes sense:
- In developed countries, democracy and human rights are relatively new, having developed only in the last 200 years: they were largely absent as today's developed countries industrialised and became wealthy
- In developing countries, without government-funded welfare systems people have to pay for education, healthcare and clean water: rising incomes make this possible far more than the right to vote
- Families in developing countries often have to look after elderly relatives, and income is needed for this when there aren't any government pensions.
Holistic development is a combination of economic growth, human rights and democratic institutions.
On the other hand, ignoring the need for human rights and democratic institutions as part of the development process risks authoritarian rule, poor governance and corruption, and possibly even persecution of minority groups. There are examples of countries that have transitioned to democracy as they have developed economically such as Taiwan (1996), South Korea (1987), and Ecuador (1979) which suggests that growing wealth can promote democracy and freedom.