The Position of the Human Element in the Path of the Evolution of the Development Concept

Abstract

This theoretical study aimed to address the most important definitions proposed around the concept of development, review the important changes in its content, highlight the nature of the human element and its importance in development models, and emphasize the dialectical relationship between economic growth and human element throughout those models. The study relied on the historical descriptive-analytical method to achieve its objective, using books, previous studies, and research as tools for data collection. The study showed that the concept of development emerged in the economic field. Consequently, the concept focused on economic growth as a declared goal, objective, and means. And ignoring the human element. The importance of the human element evolved throughout the trajectory of the development concept's evolution from an undeclared means in older development models to becoming a declared goal, objective, and means in modern development models. Conversely, the importance of economic growth declined from being a declared goal, objective, and means for development to becoming an undeclared goal and objective, yet a declared means. This means economic growth still holds importance in modern development models as an undeclared goal and objective, which might be a reason for their deficiency and distortion. The study anticipates the emergence of future development models that focus solely on the human element as the ultimate declared goal, objective, and means. In such models, economic growth would be merely a means, whether declared or undeclared.