SUSTAINABILITY, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MARGINAL LOCATIONS

by
FRITHJOF KUHNEN
Institute for Rural Development, University of Göttingen

The discussion about developmental policy has progressed quite a way since the 1950s, where it was important to "catch up" by modernizing the economy and thus assure rapid growth and an increase in productivity. Today there is a broad range of themes being discussed, though a general development theory has yet to be found. It is clear to us that there is a connection between economic, social and ecological problems, we recognize the pressure put on natural resources by an ever-growing population, and we are aware of the often wasteful and reckless treatment of limited resources. The effects are plain to see: mass migration, lack of food, hunger riots and illegal misappropriation appear in more and more problem areas of the world.
As has so often been the case in development-policy discussions, this new awareness has given us a new catchword: sustainability.