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.
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